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Trashing Tassie ... it's beyond salvation 17-Mar-2011 At 9:03:42 PM Grunt Master

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Hello all,

I happen to be the lucky person who owns the property at the base of the cliff know as Bare Rock, in Fingal, Tasmania.

First let me state that I am in no way any form of 'good' climber, in fact, I am far from it. I do however love it. What I do not love, is the rubbish that some people spray. Insulting... petty...etc. Almost every climber I have MET in PERSON has been respectful, polite and generally great to be around. I thoroughly enjoy sharing my home / rope / days with such people. We share a common passion, so that is not so hard to achieve. Where has this respect gone?

As for the bolting at Fingal, I have been personally involved in a bit of it lately. Bolts have gone where no trad route was possible (to my admitedly less than 'ultimate' climber eyes), so I struggle to see why "jesus" is saying that this is trashing the crag. Routes have been inspected for trad possibilities long before bolts have been placed. (Yes I am therefore 'wussy' for not going ground up... but that was my decision, based on my abilities and I am not pretending any different to seem more 'hardcore'). The intention being quality routes, but obviously not a bolt sitting next to a perfect gear slot!

Have you even been there lately and tried some of these new routes? Personally, I think the climbing is great, most who I have talked to agree, and I certainly think these climbs ADD to a section of the cliff that has not been developed previously. If you have been out here, then you failed to (out of courtesy) ring and say hi, as requested when we purchased the property. This process was only implemented after our place was robbed... now the neighbours look out for it. It would however seem to be simple courtesy to say hi when using someone's private road, as well as (usually) parking on their property. I would certainly have loved to shout you a beer and have a chat. Some of my homebrew is even "passible" these days!

On the access issue...yes it is a private road, that I just spent thousands fixing up, with a side bennefit that ALL climbers can access this place if they wish to. (A call to alert the neighbours and I does not seem a high price to pay for this). It saddens me to think that people would think so poorly of the efforts to enable all climbers the opportunity to enjoy more of the amazing climbing that is to be found on this cliff. If you have not visited lately, perhaps you should come and try these routes before you condem / trash them?

Whatever the outcome, I know that I am unlikely to change the very fixed opinions of some... but can I please ask that you simply consider that someone else's opinion may also be equally valid to them? And a final request... how about a little more respect to each other... as stated, almost every climber I have ever met has been a great person... why can't we be that way on line as well?

Kind regards

Andrew