I posted a response to a TR in the Alpine Lakes section, but it got deleted, because, it seems, IMHO, it was actually CRITICAL of the STYLE of a recent ascent of Serpentine Arete.
I'm not about to give someone a pat on the back for:
1) Climbing SA in mid-September with SANDALS for the descent.
2) Having "no idea" how to get off the mountain.
3) Starting the climb at 9am, with four people, given the fact that the sun sets this time of year at 8:30pm.
4) Taking 12h on a route that is frequently done C2C.
5) Enduring a forced bivy, with sandals on.
6) Having to RAP on the descent to Ass-guard pass.
7) Still can't feel toes after five days.
This is about some of the stupidest shit I've ever heard of. The value of the ascent, to me, is negated by the STYLE. Dragontail is a MOUNTAIN, not a roadside crag. MOUNTAINS are DANGEROUS, and should be treated at all times, and by everyone, as such. Better to have stayed home and read "Freedom of the Hills" than to head into the mountains with NO CLUE and risk serious but preventable injury for NO REASON.
And to have this criticism DELETED by a moderator? Isn't this board here to IMPROVE the climbing community? Or should we instead continue to uncritically accept and endore this kind of STYLE?
These guys, who I don't know, but assume are nice guys, got LUCKY.