 But Preuss would most likely have considered modern nuts and camming units to be artificial aid, even when just used for protection.Consequently, he would have condemned most modern climbing, even what we call “free climbing,” as artificial aid!So even though many today embrace Preuss as a precursor of Walter Bonatti, Reinhold Messner and Royal Robbins in their scrupulous avoidance of bolts, Preuss would have been appalled at their heavy reliance on other technological aids.