UKC

Having read the thread about climbing classic gritstone routes and damaging them what is the general consensus on chalk climbing?

I understand you have to use ice axes and crampons which clearly damages the chalk. Is it illegal? should it be?

In reply to Steve-J-E:



It'll probably fall down next week, so don't see what the problem is.

In reply to Steve-J-E:

Considering there's probably only a very very small handful of regular chalk climbers compared with gritstone hordes I don't really think it's much of an issue.

In reply to Steve-J-E:

I use powdered gritstone on my hands when I climb chalk. It seems only fair.

In reply to Steve-J-E:



The fact you need balls as a big as a dump truck - think Mick Fowler & Phil Thornhill - it is not a branch of the sport with that many advocates, and therefore unlikely to become an environmental issue

In reply to Steve-J-E:
Well we did Skeleton Ridge, The Needles, IoW a couple of weeks ago and it was impossible to prevent the rock (Or cheese) from breaking off in your hand. Leading the final pitch I must have reduced the ridge by a few kilos with the amount of loose rock that fell off while bum shuffling my way along it. And that was without axes and crampons so on vertical stuff I doubt there would be anyone mad enough to try it in rock shoes without axes and crampons. So from a climbers point of view I don't see much of a problem, if it left nasty horrible scars on the cliff that detracted from the beauty then maybe it should be stopped.

Who the hell knows though.

In reply to Goucho:

Skeleton Ridge is probably the only chalk route that sees regular ascents, and its climbed with ordinary rock climbing gear. You don't need ice axes or crampons. Nor do you need balls as big as a dump truck - in fact they would be a serious handicap on the à cheval sections.

In reply to Steve-J-E:



Climbing chalk is ok as long as you dry your hands in bags of powdered gritstone.

In reply to abseil:


Shit, beat me to it. Thought I was being a right funny f*cker!