Comments on: Tag Those Peaks

By: Geof

Geof — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:29:47 +0000

Funny, this was just discussed on another site not long ago. The cairn thing was the biggest issue along with summit registers. My question is this… Why have them in the first place? Was it CMC that did that, or some other entity. I think its a pretty silly practice really. Having said that, if they are there, fine. Cairns are another thing entirely. Some I think are ok, but massive backstop cairns are just pointless. With regard to flags, put them up, take your picture, take them down.

By: Lou

Lou — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:04:10 +0000

Johnbo, good points.

By: Hamish

Hamish — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:45:13 +0000

Lou,
Your cholesterol control on the Bells is reminiscent of the back-and-forth fuss over painting a giant “CU” on the third flatiron in Boulder. First it was painted in white, then painted over in a subdued brown/red that is still visible from anywhere around town. So now there are gallons upon gallons of latex paint hanging over Boulder “like a glacier” as Rossiter puts it in his guide. One way to look at these sorts of battles over permanent additions, just like bolt wars and ski-area expansion dramas is to see the wild as contested space where rules are still made up by participants. That’s why you, Lou, get to disagree with the eggheads, but the way the wrong you perceived gets corrected is by you actually doing something. Just like Scott Backes said: “all climbing is anarchy.” Good on you for putting action behind your ideals.

By: Johnbo

Johnbo — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:29:12 +0000

Flags aren’t patriotic, they’re nationalistic. Nationalists support the nation and it’s government, while patriotism waves a flag for the ideals shared by one’s countrymen. So, just because you see more prayer flags than American flags on an “American” mountain, that doesn’t mean patriotism is on the wane. I would say that means Americans -among others- are “conquering” these peaks for peace, just as they used to conquer them in the name of God, country, etc.

By: JohnnyV

JohnnyV — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:44:05 +0000

Lou, Stick to the main route and this time of year you should be fine. Be mindful of big cracks, but fine without any rope work. Remember never go anywhere with Sky without more energy than anyone, ropes and a nice Jetpack.