by Burley » Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:38 pm
I put up a line with Heni in July. I didn't end up going where I wanted to finish because I would have had to add a bolt half way up and didn't want to add a bolt. I will try it again over the winter. I can't do it clean aid... yet, but I'll try to avoid the bolt addition. It was scary and went in the A3 area - hardest aid line I've done. There was a corner that went from a bomber pin (fixed now - this was my life saver), to ok shallow #2 (I put in two of them), to a 5.6 free move and a half with 40 lbs on your back wearing kicks, to a thin and shallow pin that was better than I thought according to Heni, to a bomber hook, to a hook (for reach), to a nut behind a blocky flake scary thing, then onto better gear. A scare fest on a crap route for 4 hours+ or so... I loved it.
The finish I want is a project. So if you pass my pin please don't add any bolts... I'll let ya know how I make out. Given the rope drag I think I'll need to go roped solo to do in one drag-free pitch.
Why should you not add a bolt to this line? Yes, adding bolts on this line would make it safer and easier. That isn't my interest - not that I deeply care that there are holes in the rock or that I want to get hurt... its just that I'm interested in process required to climb the line without them or the style as some might call it. Hammerless is one thing boltless is another.