Gerald,
Glad to hear that's not a current practice. I was hoping that wasn't a current picture. I wish everyone would learn from the past as well as from the new tech. The trees would benefit for sure.
I'd like to hear the reasoning on that one. It makes my stomach sick to look at what appears to be a magnificient tree with a climber wearing spurs in it. In my opinion if it takes that for a rec climb it shouldn't be done at all.
Brian