New Bouldering Areas

So here's the problem with new areas; The lack of approach trails. And the subsequent hacking of trails that will be required.

I've had to chop out MILES of trails to bouldering areas and near the climbing itself. It is a completly thankless task. If one were to climb a V15 super-duper-project, that person gets a ton of respect. But what about the loser who actually found it, hacked out the trail and scrubbed down the problem? Who loves him (or her, but in this case it's me)?

Take a look at the photo below. Yes, the right side of those rock are fairly lacking any form of obstructing vegitation. But the left side looks like the Amazon.



And this is nowhere near as bad as Little Cottonwood Canyon. I've almost given up on trails in that place. Even if you mow down a 3-lane highway in LCC, it will be overgrown again within 6 months.

But I had an idea the other day: how can one (again, me) enjoy the brutal task of cleaning and establishing trails and landings in a new bouldering area. How can this ungrateful, lowly job be given the status of cool that it deserves?

The answer is this: A big-ass Machete



Machetes were originally designed for cutting down thick, heavy vegitation like bamboo or sugar cane. Or at least that's what they say.

I'm calling bullshit on that story. Machetes are just a means of turning a tedious job like gardening, farming or landscaping into a slasher flick. What better way to kill an afternoon than by actually killing stuff with a long sharpened piece of metal.

I'm going shopping for a Machete. I'll let you know how it turns out.