After reading this week's "White Mountain Report":
awwwww..... isn't that sweet....
Hi Folks,
Step right of the crack, put your left foot on the nubbin by your right knee, press through and rock over to where you can reach that sidepull way out on the right, NO NO on the RIGHT, now smear your right toe on that solution pocket by your knee and stand up so you can match both hands on that tiny crimper that's just below the slot where you'll need to place that number 3 RP to keep you out of groundfall range.
BETA... You love it or hate it. Regardless of your preference, climb enough and you're certainly going to hear it. Shoot - depending on the partner you might even get a steady stream of it as you climb, regardless of whether you're leading or seconding. Sure, a suggestion for a piece of essential gear by someone who has done a route before can be very useful. If you've never done Loose Lips you might appreciate someone mentioning that the purple Metolius TCU and a couple of very small nuts can be very useful to bring along. But, you might not appreciate anything close to the first paragraph above.
Over the years I've found that there is nothing more confusing to beginners than the running dialog of BETA that is so often proffered by what seems to be everyone around them. What's even more amazing is when people who have never climbed a particular route, and who can often barely climb themselves climb, offer up all manner of suggestions. It's interesting how someone standing on the ground, or even occasionally on another climb 40' away, can feel so compelled to try and get someone to climb in a particular way.
Over the years I've made the somewhat-conscious decision not to offer suggestions about how to make a particular move on a climb unless I was directly asked. Especially with beginners... Allowing a fledgling climber to make at least the first attempt on a route, if not a series of moves, without comment lets them focus on what they have to do and not be distracted by what they think you want them to do. If they make the move without my help they feel really good, even if they don't do it particularly well. If they flail for a while, then you I might offer a suggestion or two, remembering that very often what works for me may not work for then for them; for a wide variety of reasons - not the least of which are strength, weight, balance, experience...you name it.
And oh yeah. In my personal experience I really do think that keeping BETA to myself may have helped preserve my marriage. Your mileage may vary...
--Al Hospers