South Bluff - North Face Gullies

This post was originally a comment in South Bluff - North Face Gullies

At one time quiet and highly sensitive areas like this were the closely held knowledge of a dedicated and respectful group of climbers who understood the sensitivity of the area and had good relationships with the local landowners. I fear that posting sensitive areas like this for the general public to see could jeopardize access to this area, areas like it, and possibly even broader access to climbing within the park.

I've never liked "locals only" or worse yet "in-crowd only" attitudes, but I don't think that's the situation here. I think this area was kept quiet out of respect for landowners and the area itself.

Aside from any jeopardy that may or may not result to access here from the publicity this area is now receiving I feel like something else is being lost here too. I can remember hearing about places like this as a budding climber and getting butterflies in my stomach. Waiting for the time when I too would be entrusted with the whereabouts of an area like this created a sense of reverence for the place. I also remember the great sense of pride and accomplishment when the day finally came that I was entrusted with the knowledge, and what a heavy responsibility the knowledge of such a revered place felt like.

Areas like this create benchmarks for young climbers, first they're told the stories of the place, through the stories they come to respect and revere the place, then brought there and entrusted with the knowledge, and can someday, when they feel they trust someone enough, share it themselves. Maybe I'm an old, washed-up, never-was, sell-out now -- but I think traditions and experiences like this are part of what made my time as a climber so rewarding and I hope we're not depriving younger climbers of their opportunity for experiences like this.

Ultimately I guess my message is this:

The Devil's Lake portion of MP seems to be caught up in a race to post every meaningless and meaningful piece of rock in the area. For some areas this may make them more meaningful, for some less meaningful, and perhaps even endanger some. I hope that in the future people have enough respect for the areas they're posting to consider the impact to the area and the community as well as their "rankings" in the points race.

Good call Doug, this is a better place for this discussion.