A local climber has a $500 hole in his wallet after he was caught using a motorized drill to install fixed anchors on a climbing route in a Wilderness Area. A U.S. Forest Service Wilderness Supervisor observed the climber using the drill in the Patricia Bowl Area of Rock Creek Canyon in the John Muir Wilderness near Bishop, California. Full story on the thread link below.
I love stuff like this out of America. They always seem so confused. What was the offence here? Drilling holes in ancient rock that should be preserved for future generations, or using motorised equipment in a wild place? I guess if he was using a hand drill, that would have been ok?
Oh dear - just got my Local Wilderness Regulations for the area of Bishop out and it clearly states on page 1746, paragraph 104374 subsection 75.43.56.3.4.64.1, part N, that "Any person, persons or animal shall / shall not be found using / not using any or any other hand cranked tool on rock above the height of 3ft which may or may not be 45 degrees from the horizontal if a 9mm is being used. Maxuimum sentence - life imprisonment or death by top rope." I guess that clears it up eh? :-)
That's correct. If he been using a hand drill he would have been OK, it was the motorised drill that he got him into trouble. Many of the routes at Patricia Bowl are bolted (it's a beautiful place...about a 40 min hike, and in the John Muir Wilderness I think, maybe Ansel Adams Wi..). Ironically, one of the developers of this crag is a local Assistant District Attorney. I'm going to find out who the person was. M
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