Nagarkot.... who's bolting?

[Jonathan Demenge]

Hi everyone!

I hope you still manage to climb in spite of the monsoon (quite mild so far, fortunately).

Does anyone know who has been bolting Nagarkot rocks recently?

We've been working on it since January and set up few routes there (4 so far), trying to follow logical and natural lines and looking for optimal clipping points. We've worked collectively, consulting each other, and spending considerable time and energy cleaning the crags (and there has been an awful lot of brushing done to get rid of the lychens and soil, believe me!) and getting the necessary material.

One guy of our group went to Nagarkot last week-end and was pretty shocked to discover that someone has bolted the whole face more or less randomly. Our concern is that it tends to destroy logical lines. Bolting at the right place takes time, thinking carefully about where you would like to have a bolt, where it is needed, and where you can hold comfortably to clip. And if it is not done that way, it easily destroys any interest in the routes, as well as destroying existing routes.

We certainly don't want to claim Nagarkot as our own, but would it be possible to work on it together? It's great to see that somebody else has some gear and the willingness to open new routes to increase climbing options in the valley for the benefit of others, but could we possibly consult each other and work on it collectively? Especially when a route crosses or is near to an existing one?

There are possibilities for all of us, there are probably plenty more crags to discover, and it could well become the best climbing spot in the valley, as long as we work together and do not enter a frenetic bolting race; this would just end up destroying the potential of the place.

Looking forward to meeting the mysterious bolter(s)!

Jon (and co.)