This thread began with a question about adding a bolt to an existing climb, at a point where previously men have ascended in the absence thereof. Yes, the adjective "wimp" appropriately describes the person who wishes to add such a bolt. Allow me to explain. A wimp is a person who cannot find the courage necessary to perform some task, somebody who avoids hard work, somebody who is lazy, somebody who has no respect for the courageous accomplishments of others, somebody who desires to achieve a goal but who refuses to risk failure, injury or just getting dirty when those who have previously achieved the same goal assumed that risking failure, injury and getting dirty were part of what made the goal a worthy objective. That's my definition of a wimp. No word better describes the selfish bastard who is willing to disrespect the wishes of previous ascenders and essentially neuter and sterilize an existing free climb with the addition of a bolt.
Let's suppose there exists a climb that has been free climbed without bolts (or with a minimum of bolts). Suppose there is a section that is difficult to protect and somewhat challenging relative to my free climbing abilities. Remember that others have negotiated this pitch but it is currently out of my comfort range. Here are my options:
1. Top rope the climb and be satisfied.
2. Top rope the climb until familiarity makes the difficult/dangerous section more reasonable.
3. Develop more experience/fitness to meet the challenge.
4. Find a more reasonable challenge.
5. Add a bolt and pretend I'm doing the community a favor.
Clearly only one of these options is wimpy. Old number five.
I appreciate the moderators who have allowed this conversation to evolve without editing.
just checked in...
yup...still a tool...
