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Crag & Route Beta

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Topic Date User

Climbing banned Centennial Trev Blue Mtns - NPWS 5-May-2015 At 6:05:18 PM Snacks

Message

On 5/05/2015 Climboholic wrote:
>On 4/05/2015 Snacks wrote:
>>The best way to remove these particular bolts (on the arch) would be
>using
>>a scaffold platform. And it would probably end up being a lot cheaper
>(compared
>>to fully insured rope access workers).
>>
>>Damage to the site using a scaffold setup would only be temporary.
>>
>>Other areas that can be more easily accessed via abseil should be done
>>by an industrial rope access company. They might cost around $2-3k??
>for
>>a couple of climbs that can be removed in a day (long day including travel
>>time). And this wouldn't include any kind of patch work.
>>
>>Any official shortcuts should be investigated by WorkCover in my opinion
>>as I don't believe amateur bolters should be encouraged to carry out
>this
>>'work' and the risks go far beyond those accepted by typical Track or
>Bush
>>care volunteers. It might be a good time for NPWS to begin setting up
>a
>>framework to handle these issues sensibly and within safe work practices.
>>
>>Further to this, since the arch's structural stability has been called
>>into question it would be very inappropriate to expect work to be done
>>to the underside of the arch if they have some advice that suggests it
>>is unstable?
>>
>>
>>As a disclaimer; I am a rope access diagnostics engineer and am looking
>>at this predominantly from a liability point of view.
>
>Seriously?!!! You are the most dangerous person I have ever climbed with
>and you're claiming to be an authority on safe ropes access? What qualifications
>have you acquired in the 3-4 years since we climbed together in Thailand?
>
>I ask because you are spouting a lot of opinions that run contrary to
>the prevailing opinion amoungst the competent and safe majority in the
>climbing community.
>
>Just because you don't have the aptitude to climb safely, doesn't mean
>climbing should be regulated into submission.

Eh? I no longer climbed with you on that Thailand trip after taking a substantial fall with you belaying... I lost sight of you on that particular climb with you belaying lying down on your back talking to a girl... Tried climbing with you the day after and didn't feel comfortable with you belaying and came down. And this was witnessed by one person that still jokes about it with me today...

Don't remember dropping you or belaying you in a similar fashion.

Opinions? These are just simple liability eventuations... as mentioned elsewhere by Damian and myself, the swiftest way for this to get handled is by someone quietly removing them in a safe and with some prior experience with sandstone repair.

Rope access authority? The rough calculation that (industrial) rope access methods and scaffolding would be of comparable cost to sort the arch out (also being safer and better)?

Anyways, thanks for your contribution Andrew, your personal attack was pointless. I've spoken to reps of the OEH and NPWS about this previously when I cross paths in my working life... And really don't see how your comments relate to anything constructive whatsoever.