Shawn Snyder caught in the act: installing rebar steps up a 5.14 in Smith Rock

Climbing's very own...

Dustin B wrote:

Climbing's very own...

Lmfao. Never thought id see fed smoker on mtn. Proj

Would he keep doing this if he didn’t get all the attention (YouTube videos, MP posts)?

Christian Hesch wrote:

since you didn't quote, not sure if you're replying to me or not... but I'm curious, since a hammer to the skull would most likely kill you, how would you suggest defending ones self from a yahoo swinging a hammer at their head?

Prob wait and see if there is a cool guy round who can save me. God I’m such a pansy! Wish I was big n strong.

James Woods wrote:

If it doesn't matter if you condemn or condone - you implicitly condone. 

Sounds like your attempts to talk some sense into shawn snyder resulted in you pounding sand.

Ok, I condone it. He's got the grid (sport) bolters by the balls and I love it.

Your inability to explain the difference between sport bolting and rebar ladder is what will allow him to accomplish his goal.

A V wrote:

 - its mostly to mess with Alan + JC (why, exactly, nobody knows... he’s a deeply mentally ill person)

He’s jealous because they got that spread in the climbing mag. Shawn’s dream, they climb harder than he ever could, and because he’s 51 and not 21 anymore. 

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

You cannot protest what you disagree with by doing exactly the thing you disagree with. Can I protest whale hunting by killing all the whales until they stop hunting them??

Meh. It's a bold statement that admittedly doesn't make alot of sense but it's certainly having the intended effect.

Rebar ladders sound quite inclusive to me, does anyone know if it will eventually have a fixed line on it as well?

If there is make sure to not wear a Patagonia shirt while relaying on it. And for gods sake do not “pose”. 

Source: National Rebar Association photo archives

As I understand it, he is trying to make a statement regarding the failure of the climbing community to self-police/regulate.  I don't support his tactics.  Neither do I support delusional, wishful thinking about  the climbing community being capable of effective self-policing.  The careful, limited use of bolts should be considered an acceptable, de minimus violation of the prohibition against leaving gear or fixed installations that is a part of  most public land rules, because of the value that recreational climbing affords.  However, in many areas that lack any sort of bolting permit program, bolters and those who would add perma-draws to every bolt to duplicate gym conditions are not exercising reasonable restraint.  Bolting regulation might not be optimal, but regulation is preferable to bans.  If climbers want the transition to bolting review bodies to go well, climbers should support the process and encourage the implementation of such bodies in places where the land managers are not taking action to assure the continued input of active climbers through local climbing organizations.    

The gratuitous comments about violence are not helpful.  Even if putting in a via ferrata somewhere is a civil or criminal violation, would anyone think it reasonable (as in legally justifiable) to use force against an offender rather than documenting and reporting their actions?  

Greg Davis wrote:

Prob wait and see if there is a cool guy round who can save me. God I’m such a pansy! Wish I was big n strong.

great idea. sounds like shawn is the kind of guy who, when you ask politely, will wait to swing the hammer at your head until said "big and strong" guy arrives to save the day...so your plan sounds totally foolproof. alternatively, you could use a modicum of intelligence and realize that you've a low likelihood of winning a fight with a hammer to the skull, and thus choose the appropriate tool to defend yourself. Right tool, right job.

I wouldn't jump on a sport route with only a rack of cams, and wouldn't jump on a hand crack with only some quickdraws. 

(side note, I love how you completely fail to grasp the point of a tool that allows someone who is *not* "big and strong" to equalize the playing field and adequately defend themselves from threats, such as shawn)

Tradiban wrote:

Ok, I condone it. He's got the grid (sport) bolters by the balls and I love it.

Your inability to explain the difference between sport bolting and rebar ladder is what will allow him to accomplish his goal.

The question isn't whether there is a difference between drilling holes for bolts and drilling holes for rebar steps.

Snyder's position is that there is too much bolting. His action is to drill holes and fill them with rebar.

That is like:

• Burning down a forest to protest logging
• Punching people to protest violence
• Rolling coal to protest air pollution
• [Doing X] to protest [X]

PRRose wrote:

The question isn't whether there is a difference between drilling holes for bolts and drilling holes for rebar steps.

Snyder's position is that there is too much bolting. His action is to drill holes and fill them with rebar.

That is like:

• Burning down a forest to protest logging
• Punching people to protest violence
• Rolling coal to protest air pollution
• [Doing X] to protest [X]

There are some parallels between Shawn Snyder and Grant Hadwin. Sad both ways.

M A wrote:

There are some parallels between Shawn Snyder and Grant Hadwin. Sad both ways.

Biggest difference though was that man feared for his life for what he did.

PRRose wrote:

The question isn't whether there is a difference between drilling holes for bolts and drilling holes for rebar steps.

Snyder's position is that there is too much bolting. His action is to drill holes and fill them with rebar.

That is like:

• Burning down a forest to protest logging
• Punching people to protest violence
• Rolling coal to protest air pollution
• [Doing X] to protest [X]

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

And you're beginning to sound insane, just like him. Y'all can be buddies, traipsing across the land, being hypocrites and causing senseless destruction. 

"We are against bolts, so we will add bolts until no more bolts are allowed!" has the exact same logical origin as "we're against eating meat, so we're gonna kill all the animals until you people stop eating meat!" Can't you just for once not be a troll and just behave like a normal, educated human being? Is that really asking too much of ya?

Fellas, you are missing the point. By debating the merits of the protest you are falling for the trap, this is exactly what Shawn wants. Stop debating and start doing.

PRRose wrote:

Snyder's position is that there is too much bolting. His action is to drill holes and fill them with rebar.

This isn't exactly true.  Shawn's 'position' is ephemeral and ever-changing.  A year ago it was bolts, this year it was a fixed rope, between then and now it's been draws, caches, and whatever else ran through his head in the moment.  That's one of the main cruxes with him.  You can't have any kind of productive, logical discussion with someone incapable of staying on a specific topic of discourse for more than one exchange of ideas.  Reasoning with him is next to impossible.

The anti-bolt position is one of his many complaints, but his complaints and actions all eventually boil down to attention-seeking temper tantrums.

As painted here, Shawn comes across as the lovechild of the Taliban & Earth First! suffering from mental illness. Perhaps. Got me.

Maybe Snyder will give his battle a break. His message, and damage, has been received. 

On this Memorial Day, the freedom of the hills is truly appreciated. Hopefully Shawn takes time out to enjoy them with friends. Maybe, teach some kids how to climb along the way.

Tradiban wrote:

Fellas, you are missing the point. By debating the merits of the protest you are falling for the trap, this is exactly what Shawn wants. Stop debating and start doing.

Fella,

I'm not debating anything. I'm correcting your nonsense.

Whatever you're doing--it isn't working. Maybe it's time for you to sit down and shut up.

Max Tepfer wrote:

This isn't exactly true.  Shawn's 'position' is ephemeral and ever-changing.  A year ago it was bolts, this year it was a fixed rope, between then and now it's been draws, caches, and whatever else ran through his head in the moment.  That's one of the main cruxes with him.  You can't have any kind of productive, logical discussion with someone incapable of staying on a specific topic of discourse for more than one exchange of ideas.  Reasoning with him is next to impossible.

The anti-bolt position is one of his many complaints, but his complaints and actions all eventually boil down to attention-seeking temper tantrums.

This is almost a perfect description of Tradiban.