Needless bolts left on Castleton Tower...

If your neighbor's dog shits on your lawn you would expect him to clean up the mess.

"A new modern climbing ethic is to bolt-bolt-bolt."

Funny thing, a similar high line was rigged in 1999 with no bolts placed.

... ruin the environment.

I feel no pain or sense of ruin from the new bolts on Castleton ... The jabber of words just doesn't move my emotion button.

If placing the bolts is not illegal, and setting up the slack line isn't either, then I can understand the principle of leaving them. That's a pretty spectacular human accomplishment to make the walk between those two formations, and it's likely someone else, or the same people for that matter, will want to do it again. Then, in principle, it's really no different than climbers leaving bolts behind on a first ascent.

You could argue the quantity, or the size, or the position of the bolts, but to a certain extent, and again in principle, that's irrelelevant. Beyond that it stirs up sh#t that could come back to bite climbers in the ass in the form of scrutiny by The Man.

I think tolerance is appropriate here. If another crew had to set up new anchors to do the walk again, even one time, that's more damage to the summits.

Ethically, it would be cool if anchors for slack lining were removable. Without knowing jack about rigging a slack line like that, I would think that eye bolts could be used in relatively loose, drop in holes, since the pull is horizontal, and the eyes could be pulled afterward. However, to be an effective way to limit more drilling, this would require an understanding between all other parties who attempt to rig similar setups as to the specs of the anchors to be used in the existing holes, and probably some public record thereof to refer to before production. Probably way too much to expect, especially when climbers aren't held to any similar standard.

As to climbers mistakenly using slack line anchors for descent and having to get rescued because of it, unfortunately, the fault lies squarely with the climbers, IMO. Suggesting that bolts can lead to expensive rescues is a mistake in my mind, unless the goal of mentioning it is to encourage regulation. Slack liners could take responsibility for preventing this kind of situation by marking their anchors "For Slack Only", but again, climbers aren't held to those standards.

Rappelling off fixed anchors has always called for good judgement.

I understand why climbers find clusters of giant anchors on summits offensive, but I think in this situation it calls for tolerance on the part of climbers, and consideration of aesthetics on the part of slack liners.

My first thought when I saw the video of the guy walking the line was Dean would be proud! An amazing and beautiful human accomplishment...

My very first thought when I saw that slack line and where it was. "I wonder how they rigged that?" Followed by, oh crap, how DID they rig that!? There must be huge stresses involved, perhaps enough to lever off the top of that tower? Obviously not, but it got me thinking. I figured they would have wrapped it up somehow. Like slinging a big horn. Never figured they'd use bolts at all.

Camp 4 Collective has been mentioned - I think it was Renan Osturk and Tim Kimple who were there (I may be wrong) shooting the event. Both are well known climbers and I would be disappointed if they had anything to do with the bolting. I thought I had read that they were shooting from drones for the event so may not have even been up on the towers. I guess one could argue that they probably knew that it was going to be bolted and had the opportunity to give input, but maybe not. It would be nice before the self-righteous climbing community collectively strung them up by their balls, to hear their perspective.

Why not just take the hangers off while the line isn't being used? That would solve the problems of climbers mistaking them as rap anchors.

Does "Camp 4 Collective" smack of cheap capitalization?

Why not just take the hangers off while the line isn't being used?

So, the usual big corporate sponsorship redbull bullshit sellout?

Does "Camp 4 Collective" smack of cheap capitalization?

Yes, it's gross.

...impacts on other climbers/recreational users

I am sure you have seen how sand stone is damage by repealing and top roping.

These people bothered by bolts have cultivated their dislike of them: hence it is cultural -- the problems exist in their heads only. There are likely no significant physical measurements to show bolts are hurting/disrupting the ecosystem. Some of the people that cultivate the idea that bolts are atrocious become incessant complainers to land managers that are paid to politely listen to these type of complaints. The land managers may make cultural adjustments to grease the squeaking wheel--rules.

Needless bolts left on Castleton Tower ...

There's a big human component to the environment.

I have yet to see someone that studies the environment (botanists, ecologist, zoologists, chemists, geographers etc) have concern over bolts for affecting the environment. Anyone know of anyone getting research funding for the environmental effects of bolts on the atmosphere, plants etc?

These people bothered by bolts have cultivated their dislike of them: hence it is cultural -- the problems exist in their heads only. There are likely no significant physical measurements to show bolts are hurting/disrupting the ecosystem. Some of the people that cultivate the idea that bolts are atrocious become incessant complainers to land managers that are paid to politely listen to these type of complaints. The land managers may make cultural adjustments to grease the squeaking wheel--rules.

pretty much the issue of bolts boils down to a faction's aesthetics preservation vs. the public at large user's rights/privileges[here safety & maybe convenience?].

There are no scientific like variable here to study and hence the topic is not in the domain of science.

Again, the issues bolts create are a cultural phenomena -- purely in the heads of the aesthetic players. Aesthetics vs. Engineering for safety. And some of the ideas the players hold about bolts really do create high wattage brainstorms for them.

If your neighbor's dog shits on your lawn you would expect him to clean up the mess.

There is no 'public at large user's rights / privileges' to bolt on public land, but I'd say these days there's an overwhelming sense of entitlement to remake the outdoors into a facsimile of their local gym so they can avail themselves of risk-free entertainment instead of climbing.

It would probably entail a survey of different users to determine the value of the bolts to the people who use them, vs. the cost of the degradation of the aesthetics and other impacts to the people who don't want them.

Of course that is the case now but it was controversial in the past.

So these wants are relative and all just in the head? Cultivated ideas if you will?

What's your point? Being a pro athlete in a "lifestyle" sport (which climbing assuredly is) with no money in the competitive circuit means that your job is effectively to be a model. What else would someone be paying you for? This isn't exactly a recent development.

If you place bolts arguably not needed (they didn't need them in 1999) at least clean up your mess.

The point is bolts left on cuttion edge routes still have some purpose, someone might use them to repeat the route.
The bolts left on Castleton serve no purpose, the slackline has been removed. It took only a few days before unsuspecting (and apparently inexperienced) climbers used them resulting in an expensive nightime rescue.

About 10 years ago I counted 16 bolts placed at Gemini Bridges for a slackline. Seemed pretty egregious especially when there were plenty of suitable places for nest(s) of clean pro.

Right on Jim! I get that no one wants to clip off on Kor's old 1/4" spinners, but we've all seen the shitload of bolts that slackers place to feel secure. Why trash the place though? Hopefully the internet will show others that they can tie their lines off with out bolts, and save the day and the rock for future climbers and slackers.

If they are claiming a world record though perhaps it did not get walked the full disistance in 99 in which case this would not be a retro bolt..

Why not just take the hangers off while the line isn't being used? That would solve the problems of climbers mistaking them as rap anchors.

Safety will almost always trump aesthetics.

...the total pussification of climbing is a embarrassing disgrace.