Yosemite Bolt Wars

Sounds like an old-dog who is over the hill, past his prime, still feels the need to pee on a fire hydrant.

The magic left the bolt years ago.

Why did you need to remove it and spray about it on the internet?

But u just erased some history, that my boy JB did

but you can never take back what u destroyed.

Might as well draw a big penis on it

It's only a short lived gesture by the OP

And Moses went down from the mountain, but upon seeing the calf, he became angry. Moses burnt the golden calf in a fire, and ground it to powder.

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said: 'Whoso is on the LORD's side, let him come unto me.'

~Exodus 32:20

I like James

He's a good guy.

Good for you James. Way to follow your heart, and go and do. Instead of all the blow hards in here.

I've found that the people who mind don't matter and the people who matter don't mind.

blah blah blah, wank wank wank

What did CCMBA and Diarmuid Duggan say in the comment section of your Blog page? Seems the Administrator erased their comments, just curious.

Your a f**ing idiot. That image is a defining idol in the climbing community. For me it has been a lifelong pursuit. Be a climber for 20-30 years, poll your peer group, be committed to your position before taking it upon yourself to decide for the rest of us, whether that bolt should remain or not.

Otherwise, I might decide, without the agreement of my peers, to remove your front teeth if I ever run into you in the Valley.

Have you climbed it?

Extra blog hits and endless discussion in online forums = mission accomplished. The attempt at poignancy falls somewhat flat; however, if all publicity is good publicity, the stunt is a success. So it goes.

Seems as if people do care

Peaches- overall, I think your writing has improved. You're saying more with less, so good job on that. Your piece spoke to me, and your blog post also had good history and photos,so I liked the read. I interpret your action different than the majority here. I get what you were going for, and even though I love the bolt, I support your action. I think you probably love the bolt too and what it represents, that's why you did what you did. It's a little pretentious, but I dig the spirit nonetheless. Keep killing the Buddha.

Geez, amazing that no one can recognize a joke or find humor in it.

Geez, amazing that no one can recognize a joke or find humor in it.

^^^how do you know he really erased it? He is yankin' your chain.

Was it he (Bachar) who drew the Bolt originally?

it's obvious that he is a little attention whore

I suppose so. Lot's of attention whores here on this sight w/blogs. Even ones about climbing trade routes in the dead of winter.

I wonder, does James have blocks of petroglyphs in the trunk of his car..?

....we hold him down and prison tattoo the bolt on his forehead!!

“The Rangers at Camp 4 wouldn’t call it graffiti. In fact, there’s a certain respect and the emblem represents a certain time.”

Kauk mentioned he had spoken to Lucas directly about the lightning bolt’s removal, but that “he didn’t make a lot of sense.”

“A lot of times we’re struggling to be somebody,” Kauk said. “James might be a little clever for attention.”

I asked Kauk if he thought the bolt had become a trademark.

“It’s a connection to a time that isn’t trademarkable,” he answered quickly. “It’s so original. The lightning bolt recognizes the spirit of a story we created. We didn’t need a plaque or anything to remember it by. We already had our lightning bolt.”

Interestingly, Kauk then compared the chalked bolt to “ancient rock art,” saying, “It was our petroglyph and an icon of those times, which to me represents freedom. We certainly weren’t trying to sell anything.”

Vandalism of art refers to intentional damage of an artwork (for unintentional damage see accidental damage of art). The object is usually exhibited in public, becomes damaged as a result of the act, and remains in place right after the act. This may distinguish it from art destruction and iconoclasm, where it may be wholly destroyed and removed, and art theft, or looting.
Numerous acts of vandalism against art exhibits are known and some objects, such as Mona Lisa, Night Watch and The Little Mermaid, have been intentionally damaged several times. Many vandals were diagnosed with a mental disorder and some, such as Hans-Joachim Bohlmann, had a history of attacking artworks. A vast amount of damage consists of leaving a minor scratch, a stuck chewing gum, a pencil mark and so on, and usually escapes publicity.[1] More visible acts of vandalism were premeditated, as the tool of destruction – a knife, paint, acid or hammer – was intentionally brought to the scene. In most cases, the artworks were restored. Restorations were costly and time consuming and in many cases were followed by shielding the artwork from future attacks.

"Jeff Elfont · UCLA
James can forget about being Yosmite's next idol, he may get beat out.
Reply ·
· 2 hours ago"

James is still recovering from a bad head injury and is not totally in command of all he does. How many years has he walked by the bolt or tried the problem itself? Now all of a sudden he just can't leave it alone?

Everyone I spoke with felt that the magic was still very much a part of the bolt. So I decided to ask Lucas himself why he felt so strongly about removing the bolt, and how the drawing had become a trademark. Unfortunately, although he did respond, Lucas refused to be quoted.

I remember when RR chopped the bolts on the Harding route "wall of the early morning light" - back then I tried to figure out the logic of increasing the size of a physical scar that will never heal to satisfy a sense of personal superiority and or ego.

if anything, it shows how important this chalk art really is to climbers. maybe that was his intention.

Its (brief) "removal" seems to be a thought experiment for y'all and us all to consider what matters, and why.