Headmaster 

Yes, choping a excellent bolt Laddder put up by the Riverside Rescue team was a shame. The climbers decide to play God and remove a excellent training route. I wonder how they would of felt if their route was removed! Today,climbers hardley ever climb the 5.12 route on Headstone. However, many climbes before use to climb the route before it was chopped for Aid practice. I believe that is why we have problems with bolt Ladders today in the park. The Leaning Tower in Yosemite is a excellent route and 5.12 climbers today free climb using the bolts for protection ,the only difference ,they had respect for Harding by not "chopping" the route so other after them would still be able to get up the route and enjoy the route. How sad, the climbers who "chopped" the bolt Ladder on Headstone Rock did not have the respect for the Riverside Search and Rescue Team who installd the Ladder for training. Many climbers enjoyed climbing the Aid Ladder in the late evening , now it is gone for good thanks to climbers who decided their route was more important.How sad , our society is now a me generation, no respect for anyone, that is why our government now put restrictions on climbers, if we do not police ourselves our government will.

Chopping the bolt ladder may not have been the best idea, particularly since it was only top roped free (and not along the exact same line as the bolt ladder). Both "routes" could have co-existed well enough. If the route were lead free and bolts placed to protect it, there would be a stronger rationale for removing/replacing the bolt ladder.

With that said, I have a hard time viewing bolt ladders as anything other than a quant relic of the 1950s and 60s and of virtually no real value as "climbing" routes. Headstone Rock (aka The Can Opener) has several quite easy ways to the top; there is really no excuse for a bolt ladder. Mt Rubidoux in Riverside has bolt ladders enough to learn all that can be learned from a bolt ladder (next to nothing). And they are right in the RMRU's backyard so to speak too.

Stepping down from my soapbox now.

I have to agree..I learned basic aid on that ladder..Did a few midnight ascents of it too.It was great sitting up there at night pondering life and such, looking down at the valley on a full moon night.It was magical..

I agree with Randy. It's the placing of bolt aid ladders up a pristine piece of rock that smacks of hubris. Hey it's blank right? No one will ever climb it.....

I remember I was a little upset when Jonny Woodward chopped the ladder. I used to use it for teaching people aid climbing. When I asked Jonny why he chopped it, he said "I don't want bumblies kicking off the key holds." I thought this was strange, since his route was a TR and merely crossed the ladder at one point. I thought about replacing the ladder (as it was maybe the best one in Josh for practicing aid climbing) but never did.