RRC Archives

then stop talking

i only wish i had more options than krampus and ahab for cold or rainy days. those guys suck!

climbing is just like a friend getting a new "significant other." you hang out with your other friends less after that happens. it's the way the world works. some of us just use climbing as an excuse for not having a significant other, or as an excuse not to hang out with so-called friends, whatever works!

I have a couple of those friends who I used to climb with 3-4 days a week and they stopped climbing, so I see them about once every other year. We still have fun together and don't talk about climbing. The climbers that I find the most fun to be around are ones that have something to say other than what project they are working on and what routes they sent and where they are climbing tomorrow--YAWN!

Krampus is right on about the pothead thing. If all you talk about is pot and being high and one person quits---not much to say. Just like some climbers who are totally one dimensional.

thank God for climbing walls and even the poor bouldering around the Red- I enjoy being with people and I enjoy being alone at the Red as well- its easier for me to relate to others to just tell them I went climbing and leave it at that- it makes it easier to listen and focus on others- except my wife who can always bust me for acting like I'm paying attention

We quit climbing for four years and still talked to all our climbing friends. We talked about climbing and other things in life. We not only have climbing in common but kids, jobs, etc. So I guess it depends if climbing is your whole life...

This reminds me of the same question I used to ask myself after I quit doing drugs. Were they really my friends... or were they just hanging out with me because I liked drugs too?

And after that time passed, I see those people I thought were my best friends maybe once or twice a year. I even brought them all out for a climbing trip last year. They had more fun drinking at the cabin then at the crag. The opposite was true for me.

I would say a true friend transcends everything the two of you do, whether it is together or apart. Not many of those people I used to hang out with would I consider a true friend now. I don't truly blame them, but I can't truly blame the drugs and alcohal.

"I have seen the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness..." From Howl by Allen Ginsberg.

Is connecting with someone getting drunk, high or rock climbing together. I would say no.

However, on one hand, I now climb with one of my old party buddies at least 6 or 7 times a year and we have a great time doing things that don't involve anything that gets us high besides our own bodies climbing up cliffs.

Your life is truly sad if all you have is one pursuit. You are probably always out of balance.

whatahutch wrote:Your life is truly sad if all you have is one pursuit. You are probably always out of balance.

Wow that's a bold statement! What do you think of that Pigsteak?

whatahutch wrote: Your life is truly sad if all you have is one pursuit. You are probably always out of balance.

Yes, but in the specific context of leisure time climbing is my prime pursuit. Between work, family, etc...not much time to pursue other things. So I think it is reasonable that friendships with climbing partners wanes if you stop climbing....

michaelarmand wrote:

whatahutch wrote: Your life is truly sad if all you have is one pursuit. You are probably always out of balance.

Yes, but in the specific context of leisure time climbing is my prime pursuit. Between work, family, etc...not much time to pursue other things. So I think it is reasonable that friendships with climbing partners wanes if you stop climbing....

yeah, except your wife said that the only friends you have are your climbing whores/friends

rhunt, I think that michealarmand gets what I mean a little better than you. Life is not climbing and climbing is not life. I am sure there are many out there, espesually here, that would not agree with that. In reality I love climbing, but I think it is probably the most egotistical sport I have ever participated in, and probably the least applicable in everyday life. (I think the closest I have ever used my climbing skills in everyday life was after the ice storm and I climbed trees to trim them, and I have never needed to scale some wall like an assasin or escape artist).
Therefore all climbing does is blow up egos. It is just the person vs the rock and because you can gradually overcome harder and harder rock that starts to blow up egos. (Because I know so many real people who can climb hard and that makes them good people).
However everyweekend I am in the gorge I meet good people. I have met lots of great people while climbing, but there is always that pair or group that are just douches. Dirtbags that think they climb hard because they can send Ro. They live for climbing and that is it and they are bitter because of it.
People need balance in life. They need pursuits outside of climbing, boxing, church, family. That is why relationship coaches and psyciatrist say it is good for people inside of a relationship to have personal goals seperate from the relationship. It creates balance.
I am sorry if that offends, and if it does then you should probably take your singular climbing pursuit to the next level. For people that follow Christ, who devote their sigular pursuit to Him, they usually give ten percent of their income to their church.
I wonder how many climber who commit their life to the sport would actually do that? Would you send ten percent of your income, straight off the top before you pay your bills, to the RRGCC every month?
If climbing is your life, make it your life then.