In reply to Graeme Alderson:
> Treat the boulder/the gritstone with respect. Gritstone has a patina. If you break the patina then you destroy (eventually) the rock.
> The rock is more important than a single boulder problem. In my opinion of course.
> So the alternative is more work from you with a softer brush that will not damage the rock.
I understand that ethos with respect to problems/areas that see traffic- we don't want people brushing holds into oblivion, ruining the problem for many possible subsequent users, but how far can you extend it?
There's a random lump of chossy rock in a wood. Nobody has ever climbed it.
Someone cleans it with a wire brush, climbs it, writes it up.
Nobody else climbs it.
It returns to nature.
Someone else comes along, cleans it again with a wire brush, climbs it, sticks it in their UKC logbook.
Nobody else climbs it.
It returns to nature.
Nobody dies. The rock is still there.
No doubt the argument will be put forward that there is no way of knowing whether or not said lump of rock may at some point be some mega important site, with continental stars descending on it in droves to tick classics....
Post edited at 23:54