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I don't think it has anything to do with being "lesser of a climber" it has to do with what you get out of the experience. Leading can offer more but on the same note it can take away from people who don't like it. I personally feel that it is something the person should try to work on because a lot of the fear, for lack of a better word, that comes with leading is all in your head and by going out and experiencing you can realize that it was all just in your head

That's it Wes keep pushing the point someone will crack here soon

"true climbing is leading"
you are trying to put to much on something as silly as climbing rocks. This is recreation man

I just noticed Power2U's signature, I could have just copied and pasted that instead of my last post

Wes misses the old flame fests.

As an aside, I let someone lead on my preplaced gear last year. He took a horrible fall - fell upside down with his foot stuck in the crack and the ligament ripped the bone from his ankle. My piece held, but I was traumatized by his accident and subsequent, lengthy recovery. I kept thinking "what if..." - what if the piece had blown? I'll never let anyone lead on my gear again.

Now people, humor Wes and say what you really feel!

I think that cleaning the anchors are safer to do after leading. If you clean a route after top roping it you probally took all the draws from the route.What is backing you up.If you clean a route after leading it you have all those draws backing you up.

I just want to have fun.I see so many people who beat themselves up because they are not leading at level, or are being afraid while leading. Leading is some hyped-up bullshit. If you want to lead then lead. Don't lead because you think it is the "proper" way to climb.
Free climbing has not been around that long,even less so for sport climbing. How did they climb before then? Do you think they were kicking their own ass because they weren't doing "it" properly.

T/R'ing is just as legitimate of a climbing venue as Aid,Traditional,and sport.

J.H. wrote:
T/R'ing is just as legitimate of a climbing venue as Aid,Traditional,and sport.

No, it is not.

And I am kinda serious about the leading thing. Leading is where it is at. If you cannot or will not lead, then you are not particapating in the same activity as someone who does lead. I am not trying to make people who don't lead feel bad, or to try to make leaders seem super brave or whatever. I am saying that leading is harder, and if you believe otherwise, you are wrong, and just lying to yourself.

Wes

I agree that leading is different and even harder but how hard of a climb it is just isn't the point. The true difference is what the climber gets out of it and what he wants to get out of it

Wes: I agree that leading is harder. I never claimed that it wasn't. Here's my deal though, I climb because I like it. Primarily because it is the only thing that keeps me from thinking of 5 million things at once. I do not climb so that you will say "oh wow, look at Morgain, she climbs HARD." If I want to lead, I will. Also, you are wrong. Leading is more dangerous. You can get hurt more easily and it does scare me. Falling isn't simple and you can get hurt. I have been, I know.