Wings of Steel

It's kind of the same thing (manufactured risk vs. mitigated). I think the point was, they got to choose at any point when to eliminate the risk, vs that being dictated by the rock and possibly unknown (bottoming seams that look like they'll protect and then don't, etc).

If you like slab hooking, I'm sure it's the cat's ass of a route. If you enjoy aestetic "lines" that follow obvious weaknesses and features, then it probably seems like an exercise in boring and repetitive micro-flake/crystal hooking.

What I find interesting is that some folks take the view that it wasn't repeated because of difficulty....even spouting this view long after the crux pitches had been climbed by multiple parties who failed to summit for whatever reasons (time, water, heat). I think it stood so long without repeats because people don't value it as a line that calls to them. There are plenty of El Cap routes that are arguably harder, and there and plenty that are more dangerous.

But ya'll want drama about shenanigans and semantics. "He wants it, well....he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men"

self-defecating

I'm sure many would find a sustained hooking route monotonous and tedious just as others might find it thrilling and engaging. It sure wouldn't be my cup of tea, but my hard aid days are over.

I do have to say that I find a long run out slab route a very satisfying thing to climb though - nothing quite like looking at a 50 foot cheese grater down the face if you fail.

So, from that standpoint, it's easy for me to see that this route may have appeal to a select crowd, just as Jolly Roger appeals to a different crowd and free soloing the Phoenix appeals to another.

Beers on the bridge together, sh|tters and shat upon

Dingus, maybe we need to set a bounty on the Sh|tters' identity?