New crag in arginonta

[Anonymous]

Behind the village of arginonta on the road to vathy there seems to be

a new crag developped. We went there and what has happened to this

wall in simply *vandalism*. It was a wall full of wild plants, small

wild olive trees that had grown on the rock, cacti, etc, etc. Now this

*entire* face is shaved like a beaver. No even the tiniest amount of

vegatation, broken rocks and piles of dead plants on the base.

I will not argue wheter it’s ethical to remove vegetation in order to

make a new line. I think it is. The problem is that wild trees that

grow on the rock (and imagine how hard it is for an olive tree seed to

go up there and slowly grown on a tiny amount of soil) is often a *nice*

thing to see when climbing.

In this specific case vegetation was not removed in order to make a line.

The *entire* wall was cleaned of *all* plants like some kind of

industrial plant-killer vehicle passed from it.

The people who did it may think that this way they are helping

kalymnos, but maybe they aren’t. Except from the terrible ecosystem

destruction, the fashion of gym-like lines of routes next to each other

may fade in the future and climbers may start to appreciate more aesthetic

lines. But those trees will not grow up there again (at least not for some

generations). This is not pretty.

Please lets think ahead and maybe stop “helping kalymnos” this way.

[Anonymous]

is this the wall across and a little up from the arginonta red wall, north facing?

… had a look at that several times, and decided not to put in any bolts exactly of the reasons you mentioned. and although i’m happy of new routes every year, some of the recent sectors are a little industrial style and as clean as a climbing hall. it’s kind of outdoor climbing without what has been there in the outdoors …

[Anonymous]

Yes TJ its the wall across and up from Arginonta Red Wall, not 100% sure who bolted and prepped it, there are a lot of sectors sprouting up like this, totally sterile and devoid of plants.

My personal opinion, both as a climber and an equipper is that this is wrong, it is too damaging to the ecosystem and the environment we all cherish.

When I prep a line to bolt I only kill the plant that will interfere with the moves and rope retrieval everything else I leave for the bees and the insects, after all it is their home too, we are the “Guests.”

[Anonymous]

Interesting, so The new area in Arginonta Valley is subject to access restrictions, according to a “local” source 2 well known equippers enquired 8 years ago about developing the crag, the landowner expressly asked them not to and his wishes where upheld, he didn’t want his flocks disturbed or people climbing on his land!

This shepherd has NOT changed his stance, he has never wanted a developed crag on his land, with all the subsequent litter and excrement some ignorant climbers leave behind and this time around the equippers in question disregarded his express wishes.

[Anonymous]

New tricks here. Seems like small trees are removed from the root and then this becomes a “hold” after cleaning and some hammering (to make it obvious so the climber does not have to search too much for it but can see it from 4m down).

What next? Paint the bolts different colors?

[Anonymous]

Red Bolts would look nice or blue, what do you reckon Fred?

[Author]

Posts