Maybe some background is in order. Mud established Jingus as an aid route (with Clint) in 2000. He's always thought it would go free, but never quite got to it and now isn't in the same shape as he was, say, five years ago. We've razzed him about freeing Jingus over the years, most recently on Kevin's January, 2012 trip report about climbing Los Banditos.
Here's a link to that whole thread:
http://www.mudncrud.com/forums/index.php?topic=1626.0Near the bottom of the thread's first page, Mud said:
"Put it on your Calendar. I will go for the free attempt on Saturday, February 23 2013. At the end of the day, regardless of the outcome, I will provide beer, beverages, and munchies. You read it here."
We quickly deduced a little lower in the thread that the date he mentioned will be the last Saturday before Mud turns 50 years old.
This will be a very scary and very hard first free ascent. I hope he can be ready by then (I'd be honored to belay him if he decides to give it a go). On the other hand, if he decides he isn't ready to give it a go, then so what. In other words, I hope to hell he can get there, but if not, Jingus ain't going anywhere (unlike many Pinns routes that get climbed often - and are "going somewhere" - this one never gets climbed and what "holds" there are will be there for years to come).
My unsolicited advice? Dude, only if you're really ready; it's not worth getting hurt over.
