I'm gonna cut the root out of Parallels !!!

Part of the climb or are we too lazy to clean it? It's kinda like a draw you can grab. I say cut the F'kr out. And if not I'm gonna carve my initials in it.

What if there's a HUGE jug behind it and the climb becomes easy????

edit too add: dude, how bored are we right now...

I'm pretty bored right now.

not until I send it! Give me a warm weekend, at least!

I have studied the root and crack system extensively. I don't believe it will yield any significant hold or placement.

Don't do it Ben! With the root there you can choose to use it as a hold for the easier variation or skip it for the hard variation. So you get two different cruxes on one climb. It's a two for one deal.

On the other hand, if you pull it out I'll have an excuse to go back and do Parallels again.

I didn't use it so I think everyone should do it the way it was intended by the master route setter, the right way. If we don't take a stand on smaller details like this how can we lay the ground work for consistency on larger issues like David Lama. Think small, think local!

I guess my question is what cutting out the root improves- the route, or the way you feel? If removing the root improves the route, does it do so for you or for others? If for you, then how many more times will you do the route? If for others, are you sure?

I ask this because obviously nobody else was very motivated to remove it. Perhaps they wouldn't want it removed at all.

I don't have much skin in the game here, but I think that these are things to consider.

Its all up to the route setter...if people are using the root and it wasnt intended to be used then the setter has every right to chop it.

Ben Walburn wrote:I have studied the root and crack system extensively. I don't believe it will yield any significant hold or placement.

NO WAY a root that big is not gonna leave something of significance behind. Like the gateway to Narnia?

Skip Guerin is the routesetter. He'd prolly say carve a mono into it Ben.

In the event there of...Bondo and Rustoleum (for coloring). I'm not some hack first timer!

RockinOut wrote:Its all up to the route setter...if people are using the root and it wasnt intended to be used then the setter has every right to chop it.

So what you are saying is that the first guy to crawl up a rock (which happens to be one of the oldest on the continent) has the right to control the growth, or in this case the remnants of vegetation, forever?
I don't see why we endow the first ascentionist with such omnipotent power the way we do. Sounds like a sniveling school yard...
"I was here first"
"Na ah"
"was to, you gotta do it my way"
"I don't want to do it your way. I want to do it my way"
" Waaaah ... I'm telling" "MAAAAAAAAA RockinOut is being a D-bag"

Ben,
Is there a big difference between the FA-ist (no such thing as a route setter unless they are chipping) telling someone what style to do it in and you chopping out the root? And if so, (aside of the fact that the FA-ist would be making verbal demands, while you would actually be FORCING the issue), what is that difference?

What you do with it is your decision and burden once made, but these are things you might want to consider in the formulation of any given conclusion, be it action or inaction. My decisions sometimes change when I consider my motivation and if it is the right one rather than considering my initial impulses alone.

Perhaps you've already done that, but your response over the proposition that the FA party should decide seemed ironic if so. If they shouldn't dictate a style, then who are you to do so? It's a question worth asking oneself.

Ben Walburn wrote: So what you are saying is that the first guy to crawl up a rock (which happens to be one of the oldest on the continent) has the right to control the growth, or in this case the remnants of vegetation, forever? I don't see why we endow the first ascentionist with such omnipotent power the way we do. Sounds like a sniveling school yard... "I was here first" "Na ah" "was to, you gotta do it my way" "I don't want to do it your way. I want to do it my way" " Waaaah ... I'm telling" "MAAAAAAAAA RockinOut is being a D-bag"

Way to blow that out of proportion...I havent seen any sniveling. Next thing you know there`s tat on the root...

No one said he was the keeper of the rock or the vegetation that grows there but it something is affecting his ROUTE then yea they have the biggest say in it. If a tree is growing out of a flake do you yank it when its just a mere stick or do wait for it to pry that flake off the face?

The "master route setter" = mother nature. Excellent point Tony. FA'ist original work and forcing an issue, not a whole lot of difference. You think Skip was debating whether or not to pull that thing out or was he pre-occupied with moving next door and climbing Foxtrot. If anything maybe the bark was still on it and he thought it would feel good to ex foliate the bottom of his bare feet?

I like to climb routes not roots. So is this root worthy of being left in simply because it's been there so long, because some people grab it, because the FA'ist simply cut a weed at the stock and left the root or should I not even bother to make mention and just go (carefully) rip it out. Leaving the border to Narnia wide open??

Ben Walburn wrote:So is this root worthy of being left in simply because it's been there so long, because some people grab it, because the FA'ist simply cut a weed at the stock and left the root or should I not even bother to make mention and just go (carefully) rip it out. Leaving the border to Narnia wide open??

Well, are you going to repeat the route enough times that the action should be determined by what you want?
The many hundreds of people that have climbed the route (root?) have already spoken with their inaction. If they felt as strongly as you that it should be removed, someone would have already done it.
Personally, as I said before, I don't care. Thus prompting inaction on my own part.
I think you've taken the right step to gauging public reaction and not making it about you alone by raising the issue here, and that's commendable. I'll step down off of the discussion floor, having said all I have to say about it already.

Ben Walburn wrote:In the event there of...Bondo and Rustoleum (for coloring). I'm not some hack first timer!

Save the Bondo and Rustoleum for the station wagon.

Leave no trace

Regardless of ethical issues, according to park rules "removing vegetation, or trimming trees is not allowed".

Jay Eggleston wrote:Regardless of ethical issues, according to park rules "removing vegetation, or trimming trees is not allowed".

Doh!

And on that note there goes the all the fun. The community prevails victorious once again.

Tomorrow should bring climbable weather. Hope to see all ya'all out there because I wont be seein' you here!

Todays word for the day "Facetious"