I was always kind of torn about secret crags – although I had my very own semi secret crag for a long time.

As years pass by and our sport becomes increasingly commercialized and overpopulated I tend to justify more a developer’s decision to refrain from sharing his/her bolting effort. It occurs to me know that there might be more to that decision than good ol’ fashioned  climbing elitism .

Apart from the obvious loss of the solitude there might be cases where the developers are facing harsh and sometimes unfair criticism for their work.

More ironically such criticism comes from people who have never placed a bolt in their life (or for that matter contributed to the climbing community in any sort of constructive positive way). Most developers bolt lines for their own pleasure fueling their passion with their own precious funds and spare time. Such developers when faced with unjust criticism might decide to consciously keep their lines off the spotlight. Or if not that, to refrain from putting the extra effort to make the crags known outside a small circle of friends.

I don’t know if the crag I visited last weekend falls into that category since I do not know the developer or his motivations.

But I will respect his choice of secrecy and will only share my feelings of gratitude and not the location of the cliff. For been there and climbing some wonderful lines in total solitude was a privilege.

Parnassos delivered again…