new bolts at Duncan's Ridge

Thanks for the input Joe. The top of the cliff line is indeed an erosion nightmare. While there are some climbs where top rope anchors can easily be set up, often an adequate anchor requires running large amounts of webbing across a flat landscape to sling trees 30 feet off the cliff. This causes erosion. I'm not saying that anchor bolts should or shouldn't be placed, however I do feel that the erosion that is being caused by climbing at Duncan's ridge needs to be minimized. It is my understanding that the current anchor bolts are not camouflaged, and aren't logically placed or set up.

I was talking to a friend of mine today who climbs up at Duncans more than I (and probably more than just about everybody), and he's been using the said bolts to top-rope (he's always taking family, girlies, and non climbing friends up there to get them psyched on the sport - of top-roping, I guess). He seemed to think highly of them and would like to see more. As he said, "there's a fucking road right there, an artificial resevoir right there, fucking motorboats crusing by right there, a goddamned mansion/trophy home over there... who gives a shit about a few bolts?" Made sense to me.

I really miss The Tropics :(

I'm not a FC local but FWIW, I think it's time for climbers to consider trees as off limits for anchors in popular areas. For example, a number of bolt anchors have been installed in Eldo, to replace dead or dying tree anchors.The environmental benefits of healthy vegetation for wildlife and erosion control seem to me to far outweigh the impact produced by two small bolts placed close to the edge of a cliff. It seems that a tipping point is being reached at areas like Duncan's and it may be time for climbers to reconsider the perceived need to avoid bolts. Is 40 feet of webbing dragging across the ground really leaving no trace? What is the effect of repeated TR-ing on trees? As the poster above said, albeit in more colorful language, who gives a hoot about a few bolts, especially given the surroundings?

Never been there and I typically do not chime on bolt conversations. Most of what I going to say has already been mentioned in one way or another, but why not beat the horse some more.

If there is natural pro reasonably close to the route (excluding trees), pull them out - immediately. Anyone with the correct tools can do this with no damage and easily patch the holes. A good patch job (hardly difficult) will always look much better that superfluous bolts next to cracks/features, ANY DAY.

If there is no pro and rigging anchors seems to be taking their toll (e.g. trees) then leave them, if approved by the NCCC.

Whomever put them in, obviously does not care what the community thinks and this is troublesome. The problem is that if nothing is done (what ever that might be), than this will happen again and again.

This makes me think of Mt. Woodson in San Diego, a popular top roping area. These bolts would have been chopped with out an ounce of conversation. There would have been a race actually, I have seen it happen out there many times.

Hope it all works out.

I think that only anchors like those at Cat's Eye and Pin-scar Crack are appropriate - ie: rusty solid 1/2" rods with thin, elongate rings worn thin. None of this 3/8" x 4 with real hangers nonsense. /sarcasm