Dawes Rides a Shovelhead | E8 Trad climb at Raven Crag

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After making the first ascent with 2 pegs in place Dave Birkett placed a bolt just above the pegs. This was quickly chopped.

Bernard Newman:

It is difficult to understand the reasoning behind such a senseless act - I was always under the impression that a bold lead threw down a challenge to other climbers. If Mr Birkett's intention was to gain fame perhaps he has been successful.

Merely being a good climber is obviously not good enough these days... If, as we understand, he has been manipulated by others one can only feel sorry for him. Now that the precedent for bolting on mountain crags in the Lake District has been set, we can expect a rash of hard new sport climbs on Scafell and Dove Crag and anywhere else that protection requires a little thought and skill to place. [1]

References

[1] Mountain Issue 140 (1991), page 12