“Good job” to HCN for making waves in the climbing
community (HCN, 7/7/03: Invasion of the rock jocks). Until climbers
take the most basic step of using chalk that is color-matched to
the rock they are climbing on, their environmental ethics should be
questioned. Red sandstone boulders and cracks, yellow quartzite
cliffs, grey limestone faces, and black basalt canyon walls all
look like spray-paint vandals have been at work, once climbers have
smeared their routes with white chalk. Most climbing/access issues
are more complex, but this one is so glaring — and so simple
to address. Climbers, why not resolve to “leave no trace” next time
you climb?
Greg Woodall
Hurricane, Utah
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Climbers: Get with it.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
