Over the past few seasons, the same question keeps coming up in the Kalymnos climbing community: is it okay to leave project quickdraws on a route for a few days, or even for a week or two? Some climbers feel strongly against it. They worry it is unsafe, disrespectful, or that it makes a route feel “unclean.” Others see it as a normal part of projecting, and many of us have done the same elsewhere in Greece.

As members of the local community, we’d like to share how most climbers here look at this. Our goal is not to police anyone. It is simply to explain what is common on the island and how to keep things respectful and safe for everyone.

Leaving draws on a project: a local norm

In Greece, and especially on Kalymnos, it is common for climbers to leave quickdraws on a project for a short period of time. Usually this means a few days, sometimes up to one or two weeks. This makes it easier to work on a harder line over multiple sessions without carrying all the gear up and down each day.

This is not the same as leaving gear for months. Long-term hanging gear can corrode, wear out, or create visual clutter. The local norm is short-term, practical use only.

But what about safety?

Leaving draws for a few days does come with some responsibility. A few simple habits can make things safer:

• Use a wrench + Loctite glue if possible.
  If someone leaves their quickdraws, using Loctite between the bolt and the hanger/nut helps prevent the nut from loosening due to wind.
• Check and tighten bolts before leaving the route for the day.
  Wind can move quickdraws around, and in rare cases this motion can loosen a nut.
• Use clean, safe gear.
  Quickdraws left on a route should look trustworthy. Avoid leaving anything old or worn out.
• Think about route traffic.
  On very busy lines, other climbers may prefer to use their own gear. In these cases, it’s best to remove your draws at the end of the day.

It’s about respect

Please do not take quickdraws that are left on a route. They are not abandoned gear. They belong to someone who is actively projecting.

At the same time, leaving draws does not give anyone special rights over a route. Anyone is welcome to climb it. Use common sense: let others have a turn, don’t block a route for too long if people are waiting, and be polite no matter whose gear is hanging there.

Kalymnos brings together many types of climbers: people chasing hard sends, people who like to work slowly, and people who simply enjoy a clean lead. That variety is part of what makes the island special. If you see project draws, treat them as someone’s work-in-progress, but don’t assume the route is “taken.”

A message to everyone

To climbers who leave their draws responsibly: Thank you. Your care helps maintain a respectful and friendly climbing culture and gives others more chances to enjoy a route.

To climbers who feel uneasy when they see project quickdraws: your feelings are valid too. But leaving a few draws for a short time is not a sign of disrespect or lower standards. It is simply one of the ways our diverse community shares the crags.