In the early eighties there were three guys, Mike Head, Dave Head, I can't remember the third ones first name but of course his last name was Head. Anyway, they ran the show at Hueco Tanks State park outside of El Paso. One of the rangers was a climber and liked them and they were permitted to do whatever they wanted. Hueco has always had a lot of rules regarding fixed anchors, etc... Enter Todd Skinner bagging some hard lines, The Eagle and Gunfighter were two I recall. This did not sit well with the Heads and part of their reaction involved the rangers following Todd around and issuing him as many citations as they could. I think Todd ran into considerable legal difficulties as a result of their animosity.

Just make it up. Its not like you give a fuck about what really happened anyway.

DMT

Perhaps not, but I do, and I suspect I'm not alone. Please, gentlemen, if you have information by all means share it.

Not that I have the faintest clue what happened there, but since this thread doesn't seem to be about the truth anyway, I read somewhere (wildly unreliable hearsay!) that climbers were bouldering right over petroglyphs. I could see that causing a stink.

Yes. Thanks for adding noise instead of signal.

Any time. Thanks for the leading questions. I especially liked the part where you solicit speculation regarding jealously of Skinner's superior strength.

Skinner was unquestionably the better climber. It is quite plausible that the locals might react unfavorably to him coming in and upsetting their place in the dominance heirarchy. What is hard to understand about this?

Nothing. What is also easy to understand is that you've already created a nice little conclusion you wish to support with facts you don't currently have, facts which include speculation as to someone else's state of mind.

.... You're damn clever. (Or maybe you're really damn unclever. I can't tell.)

No no no caught the better part was where he blamed traditionalists for rap bolting.

Fracture you demonstrate your disrespect for the heritage of climbing with nearly every post.

DMT

I've given up on Dingus (he is apparently immune to rational thinking): but in case anyone else cares, here's a mostly-relevant elaboration of my thoughts about climbing history and respect.

Hey Philo and Hankster, You are right on about the 3rd guy being James Crump. I remember we called him Head as a joke, part of the Head Mafia. But I don't think I am so wrong about them getting the rangers after Todd. Philo is correct in saying that Todd made his own problems by not sticking to the style dictated by the locals, and they in turn were very adamant in their complaints about him to the rangers. Who did you think filled in the rangers on climbing ethics? As I recall, it wasn't really legal to drill at all there, but the locals were allowed to drill all the bolts they wanted to, which to be honest,was not many! They put up some incredibly scary routes. I liked all those guys as people, but I was (and still am) totally against rap bolting. When I first met Todd at Hueco I was prepared not to like him at all because of his climbing ethics, but he turned out to be a really great guy. I liked him a lot and had some great times with him. I still have more respect for the ground up, totally risking your life ethic. I was always very impressed with the courage shown in developing those routes at Hueco. I always thought Mike Head was one of the nerviest guys I ever met. Please don't think I am bad rapping anyone I mentioned because I have great respect for all of them. I'm just another old guy reminiscing.

I've given up on Dingus (he is apparently immune to rational thinking): but in case anyone else cares,

Were the Heads and Crump jealous of Skinner's refusal to play by their ridiculous and arbitrary rules?

Since you don't know anything about it, how can you say what was "ridiculous" or "arbitrary" ? If Mike had any rules I suspect they were well thought out. He put up some very stout routes in impeccable style and thereby is deserving of some respect.