Wings of Steel

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donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Oct 19, 2011 - 07:49pm PT
Norton nuked his thread....just wondering.
Da_Dweeb

climber
Oct 19, 2011 - 08:11pm PT
Is this what all that was?

Much like anything in life, it's pretty much whatever you decide to make it out to be.

I'm enjoying your posts in the Occupy thread, by the way.
Gal

Trad climber
a semi lucid consciousness
Oct 19, 2011 - 08:20pm PT
Norton nuked his thread....just wondering.
...I was thinking something along those lines too ;-)
nick d

Trad climber
nm
Oct 21, 2011 - 11:51pm PT
Just to show that Nick Danger never lies!

Plus it wasn't the 3rd, more like 5th!

Let the pithy, make that snooty comments resume, here, where they belong.
Dr.Sprock

Boulder climber
I'm James Brown, Bi-atch!
Oct 21, 2011 - 11:52pm PT
you guys are crazy.
Da_Dweeb

climber
Oct 22, 2011 - 06:15am PT
I like your style, Nick.
Da_Dweeb

climber
Oct 22, 2011 - 01:50pm PT
Content-wise? A 30 year old climb - its climbers were harassed and their characters assassinated due to misconceptions about them and about their climb, with slander continuing to be perpetuated for 30 years, culminating in a 2nd ascent that demonstrated those statements inaccurate.

Process-wise? A forum-thread for the various (and often notable) members of the rock climbing community to showcase their true and ugly characters.

Also, ponies.

Studly

Trad climber
WA
Oct 22, 2011 - 02:10pm PT
Didn't Mark and Richard go on to do the hardest aid climb in the world at that time after they put up Wings of Steel? I can't remember the name of the climb.
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Oct 22, 2011 - 05:13pm PT
^^ It was Jim Beyer's "Intifada".

Here's Richard's writeup on their ascent:

http://jensenconsultations.com/climbing/intifada/intifada.html
mongrel

Trad climber
Truckee, CA
Oct 23, 2011 - 12:27am PT
Uh, Dweeb, I'm not so sure it's correct to say that the SA "demonstrated those [which?] statements inaccurate." The article in R&I, an excellent one by the way, definitely states that they encountered numerous drilled hook placements in locations not known to have been attained by anyone between the first and second ascents, of which McNeely says "At this point we were convinced that the dimples and bathooks had come from the first ascent." That seems to be contrary to what the FA party has said. And he provides hole totals: 30 more drilled hook placements than stated by the FA party.

That said, he nevertheless gives the benefit of doubt to the FA party, preferring just to consider the unclaimed 30 drilled placements as an unresolved mystery. I lean that way too, because everything I've read from the FA party has had a real ring of truth to it. But it's not correct to say that the observations from the SA demonstrated that statements about drilled placements were inaccurate.

The SA reported 140 drilled placements (plus anchors), which comes to somewhere around 700 feet of progress (half or more than half of the whole climb??) being made by drilling, more than would be my personal taste (though not meant to be a criticism of either party - I'm not in that game). But the rest sounds pretty damn technically difficult, and some of it really good quality.

It sounds like a pretty impressive achievement for anyone who has made it very far up the climb, especially the two successful parties. Much thanks to Jensen for the excellent post a few pages back about the experience of the climb. Sounds like it was an incredible mix of challenge, stress, physical effort, and beauty of the environment.

The most important question now is, have Honnold and Caldwell seen the photos? Looks like a mighty fine piece of rock with a lot of climbing space and at least a few features. Those guys don't seem to need too many.
Da_Dweeb

climber
Oct 23, 2011 - 12:45am PT
Have to head to work so I'll keep this short, but you have a fair point, Mongrel. I figured it best to keep to a one or two line response for that post, and it's true I could have been more specific about the statements I was referring to.

I can see how you're talking more about statements involving the FA team's reported number of drilled holes not matching the SA total, largely due to the WTF bat hook placements. I'm not sure what to say about that one, I'm of the opinion that the article says everything there is to say on the matter already. But I do see what you're saying regarding that.

The statements I'm referring to are the various historical comments - such as you see at the start of this thread and made at the beginning of the controversy - regarding Wings of Steel being a drilled pile, a real mess, and generally having no redeeming value, and Mark and Richard being made out to be the enemies of rock climbing ethics. These have over time been the most damaging and enduring statements, and any way you slice it they're pretty well laid to rest at this point. People can have their own opinions positive or negative on the climb, but Mark and Richard are no longer seen as villains by the community at large. At the end of the day, that's where I've wanted to see all of this get to, and I know the same is true of the FA team.
bergbryce

Mountain climber
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Oct 23, 2011 - 12:55am PT
^^ It was Jim Beyer's "Intifada".

Here's Richard's writeup on their ascent:

http://jensenconsultations.com/climbing/intifada/intifada.html

Fantastic read btw. That piece is what got me sucked into this whole drama. They downgraded Intifada.
Transmission

climber
Dallas, TX
Oct 23, 2011 - 01:02am PT
"That said, he nevertheless gives the benefit of doubt to the FA party, preferring just to consider the unclaimed 30 drilled placements as an unresolved mystery. "

I have to wonder if other parties that attempted ascents did those.
wildone

climber
Troy, MT
Oct 23, 2011 - 02:39am PT
Wow, just read the Intifada article and it confirms everything that I've ever heard about Beyer as a person, from people who know him. Btw, well written article!
edejom

Boulder climber
Butte, America
Oct 23, 2011 - 02:54am PT
http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/231645/Intfada


Whilst on the off-topic topic..
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Oct 23, 2011 - 10:15am PT
I agree, I think Jim Beyer deserves big kudos for doing solo what most other people will not even attempt as a team. He doesn't self promote his routes, and simply because he doesn't make topos or keep track of what he does pitch by pitch doesn't mean he is trying to decieve anyone. Sounds like the guy climbs for the sake and love of climbing. That I can appreciate!
'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
Oct 23, 2011 - 01:40pm PT
Studly and Jake,

Jim Beyer is a vandal who while climbing Martyr's Brigade destroyed bolts and rivets on an existing route on El Capitan - WOEML. These chopped anchors have yet to be repaired, and the WOEML route is currently unclimbable.

Accordingly, Martyr's Brigade is a botch job, and I have no respect for Beyer nor his climbing accomplishments. He should go repair what he wrecked.
Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
Oct 23, 2011 - 01:42pm PT
but what's the deal with the ponies?
Prod

Trad climber
Oct 23, 2011 - 02:04pm PT
Hey Pete,

What is the story behind that? Why did he do it?

Prod.
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Oct 23, 2011 - 02:13pm PT
I've done just about every kind of climbing imaginable. To me aid climbing is a means to an end and not an end in itself. I always wonder about the appeal of aid climbing to so many people.
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