I started the previous thread on another channel. After trying a route last year , I came again for the first time this year only to find the same fixed setup had been virtually completely removed (this included a hand rail across the top, equalised belay off the top down to a rebelay at the top of the wall at some old pegs, backed up with a bolt. The bolt had been chopped. There had a been a fixed static up the back of the tower up the line of the HS (this was chopped to half way - didn’t understand why the person who took everything out had not removed it completely)).
On the day this meant I didn’t have enough time/correct equipment to rig the route in order to be able to try it. I suppose it was presumptuous of me to assume it would be in situ but I was a bit annoyed after the wasted journey.
I can see plenty of people take the ethical view of wanting to keep things pure and adventurous.
I personally enjoyed the convenience of it all but am happy to admit that was from a purely selfishly motivated perspective. I was also grateful for the convenience of all the roads carved through nice fields which I drove along to get there, the nice path I walked along and the helpful bridge I used to cross the stream.
I haven’t been back since . I can’t make my mind up if the route is personally worth the faff involved to be able to rig it up to be able to work it first from above. The belays on top are pretty crap and the e1 we did to get to the top was pretty shit and quite dodgy rock.
Out of interest, do the BMC area meetings get a good turnout to discuss matters like this?