Perusing winter route logbook entries I noticed a large number of entries from people claiming routes are undergraded.
Almost all of you are wrong. Here is why:
1) Grades are for average conditions. If you found it with a bit more rime than you generally like that does not mean the grade is wrong. It means you need to suck it up buttercup. And to those of you making comments like 'grade VI in today's nick', you know you're only kidding yourselves. You didn't climb a VI you climbed a V in heavy / difficult conditions. Good effort but just be happy with that, don't kick the arse out of it.
2) You probably climbed it with mono points and a pair of Nomics. The first ascenscionists probably climbed it with 12 point crampons and a pair of blunt Vertiges and found it to be that grade. With this in mind moaning about the grade makes you look churlish at best.
3) Just because you found it hard doesn't mean the grade is wrong. Maybe you had a bad day, maybe you're just a bit crap in general. That's fine, it's ok to be a bit crap, we can't all be Iain Small* but don't expect any sympathy and don't expect everyone else to validate your crapness by agreeing with your grading.
4) Grades are a band, not a point. Just because you hauled your arse up some soft touch at a given grade then had a 'mare on another route of the grade doesn't mean the second route needs upgrading.
5) 2 seasons in the Northern Corries does not an expert make. Nuff said.
6) Many winter routes are open to significant variation. Maybe you went the wrong way or missed a crucial hook?
7) Scottish winter climbing is tough, not macho BS tough mudder tough but real tough. Leave your ego at home, if you got a spanking take your medicine and learn to love it, don't go bleating about it online and looking for excuses. You're the problem, not the grade or your kit.
I think that's everything. For now anyway.
* There are probably days when even Iain Small isn't Iain Small.
Post edited at 20:32