Climbing impacts- spot the "cleaned rock"

Earlier this year I was on a caving trip through Hardwoods Hole, up on Takaka Hill. This cave entrance is an amazing 200m deep hole, about 80 across in places. Access is a 40m walk on a flat track through beech forest from a carpark at Canaan Downs. This pretty impressive natural feature sees a lot of people visit it.

See the obvious white stripe?

When we were there, it was very obvious some climbers had also visited recently. The scar of cleaned white rock stood out dramatically against the grey of the rock around it, rising up above the hole to the left hand side. We could also see the bolts and chain put in place to protect the climb.

It seems a rather arrogant thing to do, especially in a fairly public place in a National Park.... In terms of impacts, at least part of this one will fade with time, but perhaps something to think about when recreating in an area valued for its natural beauty.

Post from Pip Rees, caver, board member and outdoor educator