Oct 31, 2020
Bouldering is a game. Games have rules. Rules are what author Yuval Hurari calls intersubjective phenomena. "Intersubjective phenomena are neither malevolent frauds nor insignificant charades. They exist in a different way from physical phenomena such as radioactivity, but their impact on the world may still be enormous. Most of history's most important drivers are inter-subjective: law, money, gods, nations". - Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Like law, money, gods and nations, boulder problems are a shared fiction. If getting to the top in the most efficient manner was the goal, my dog is a champion boulderer.
Ghislain sent Surgeon General V10 in 2002. The description in his 2005 guidebook Halifax Bouldering was vague to the point that the original problem became a mystery. Over the years, the line turned into a link up with Au Bouleau V7. As is usually the case, the easier and more inclusive option won out over the more aesthetic eliminate. In fact, the OG line may have been unrepeated. Sean may be the first climber in NS history to play both games: Surgeon General V10 and Surgeon Au Bouleau V9 (translates to "Surgeon At Work"). Sean was impressed by the OG line saying: "This is a really beautiful line that offers some powerful moves down low followed by a committing topout up high. Bouldering is a game. Games are collective fictions. Choose which ever fiction appeals to you.