First off even though I'm sure ill get ripped for this I'm curious...
Since its common knowledge removing pins scars the rock, and lately I've been reading in this section about bolting and permanant alteration of the rock got me thinking, if I'm climbing a new route and come to a nailing section, knowing the only way up is to pound in pins, am I justfied to continue? If so have I just made the summit more important than the means? I want to know because It seems like everyone is getting ripped for altering rock permenently (definetly not talking about chippers, I can't agree with that at all.) But if I pound pins where the only other choice is a bolt no one cares, even though I've now scarred/rock just to get to the top. There's a lot of grey to me even though we seem to approach this with a black or white stand. Am I wrong on my thinking, is it unnacceptable nowadays to pound pins and I'm out of the loop? I'm talking on an fa, not repeating classic el cap routes or something. I've mainly been lurking and reading some posts and am curious what a few of you have to say. Please know I'm not calling anyone out or anything, but I'm sure in the end someone will be.
-jr