Is Ro Shampo really a 12?

[SikMonkey]

a). Yes I am after the numbers. Why shouldn't I be? It has taken me about a year to come this far so why not see how far I can go? It's not like I am climbing for charity, I am climbing for myself. Look at my quote after my signature. b). of course I don't have the skills to climb 12 trad (the original question concerned 5.10 trad, but no matter). I have been sport climbing for 99.9% of the time I have been on the rock. c.) If I wanted to climb trad, I would. Trad climbing is not sport climbing, just like sport climbing is not trad climbing. Apples and oranges. If climbing were climbing, then this whole post would have zero meaning. It all comes down to opinions and what people prefer. I prefer Buffalo Wings over Hagus, but food is food, right? If I like the wings, I should like the gut too. You do have the well rounded climbers out there who are mutants and can climb anything, but for us mere mortals, we tend to specialize in what we like. I am a Civil Engineer, so using your rationale, I should be able to also be proficient in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering too, right? After all engineering is engineering.

Mj

[no grain]

Having not carefully read everything in the topic, I must say: SikMonkey, I like your food and engineering examples to prove your point, well done.

[sparky]

Johnny makes a good point Climbing is just climbing and as long as your doing what you enjoy more power to you. I don't think it really matters if Ro is 12a or 11c or 5.7. It still is a pretty cool looking plate climb (even though the holds seem to be getting polished or i'm just losing my grip). The point i was trying to make earlier and what i think Johnny is saying is just climb the route not the grade. And be honest to yourself on what is way over your head.

[Joel]

"just climb the route not the grade"

But I read somewhere an honest assesment of the importance of numbers: they determine how much you get to spray, how many gear companies give you free stuff, and how attractive you are to the opposite sex.

[Johnny]

Monkey, I think if trad had soft ratings you'd be a trad climber because you allow ratings to feed your ego. My point is that if a route is rated 12 or 10 and you climb it, it doesn't make you a "12" or "10" climber. It simply means you climbed a route. Attaching a different rating to a climb doesn't make you a better climber or person for that matter.
Ratings are useful and you can play a game with them if you want (eg. I want to see if I can climb a 5.12), but don't be fooled into thinking that harder ratings (as opposed to harder climbs) actually make climbing more satisfying. Don't judge yourself by such an arbitrary standard. Take each route and day as they are.

[TRAD-SEEKER]

OHMMMMMMMM

[Gretchen]

I climb to enjoy the movement, not the numbers. It all depends on what my psyche is doing that day will determine what I get on. A route one day will totally appeal to me, and the next day~no interest at all.

[Sco Bro]

Climbing is climbing. Whether you like slabs or overhanging jug hauls, sport or trad; if you're not enjoying yourself then you should take something else up, like golf. At least then everyone would care more about your final score.

Monkey, if you just want to chase numbers and that, in and of itself, makes you happy then more power to you. To me, that sounds like having another job. I've got one job already. I don't need another one.

[Horatio Felacio]

man, i think rrg trad DOES have soft ratings. seriously, i've been on one route that really felt like it deserved the grade it got. windy corner, .9+.
maybe sikmonkey and all the other number chasers SHOULD check out rrg trad climbing.

it's weird that all the trad climbers come up with these outrageous ideas that their sport is way harder and more deserving than sport climbing. you're routes "are so much harder", "i'd like to see you on a .11 trad route and compare that to an .11 sport route", etc, etc. that's the biggest load of crap! you're just trying to pump you're own ego up for feeling inadequate for some reason. you're a fool if you really believe it.

what is true is that you could take a sporto up steck-salathe, him being a .12 climber and you being a .10 climber, and you would more than likely kill his skinny ass. the only reason being is cause you're used to it, not that it was harder than .12.

one thing about you guys though, is that you seem to be a lot happier as a whole than sport climbers. maybe not. i just know a few sportos who are definitely # chasers, competitive, etc that get really pissed when they get worked or don't send their project. don't know too many trad climbers really.

[SCIN]

Windy Corner is 5.9+ dog!