Your dream....

[ynot]

you aren't a steak. you're a meat by product. you aren't fooling me. I know a hotdog when I see one. ah hell, now I sound like Crankmas.

[pigsteak]

if the dude who brewed and the dude who critiqued were one and the same, he's a jerk. ignore him.

haha, too bad that "jerk" has a lot larger tick list than you on YOUR wall!

he's banned. and so are you for bringing it to public light.

[KD]

I had a dream that i ate this great big marshmellow! Fuckin thing took all night! I woke up and I can't find my pillow anywhere!

[Danny]

Man, I keep looking at the poll and I really want to vote but I just truly don't think of it like that. It's not that I'm not interested in becoming a better climber, but I don't think of 5.x as some type of goal for myself. I do feel competitive with people right around my climbing level but it's not that I want to climb a harder grade, I just want them to pull a tendon or something.

[512OW]

I think people get too worked up about the "number chasing" idea of using numbers. (Not you specifically Danny... your post just reminded me.) We use numbers to quantify everything else in our lives... age, weight, bank account, retirement, mileage, etc... Every game we play has some way to quantify a winner or loser.

What is so bad about having a goal be a number? Its a goal... not the end all.

I initially chose 13b because I saw photos on SCINs computer of the route "Dracula '04". It looked like the raddest sport climb I'd ever seen, so I decided that day that I'd get strong enough to do 13b so I could someday climb that route.

It was, and is, easier to quantify how my training is going by using the numbers, rather than create a whole "closer to Dracula" system of quantification. Once I'm solid in 13b, I know I'm close....

Now I realize that there may be alot of really fuckin rad climbs I'll be missing out on if I stop at 13b...

So, my quantification of my goal is a number. Not the actual goal... just a way to measure it.

[dipsi]

My dream is to enjoy every minute of climbing and other activities to their fullest. This past week end I spent a day at Horse Shoe Canyon Ranch in Arkansas and followed that up with a day of Mtn. Biking near Mountain View Arkansas. I soloed every easy (and I mean easy ) 30 to 50 ft. climb I could do. It was great fun. I had to rest as much as I rode on the bike trail, but it was great. I will never climb as hard as most of you guys but I only hope you have as much fun at it as I do. Take nothing for granted.
Hey anti-climber. I have a song that is done in what my best brother friend calls step - music that features Martins speech as the lyrics - very awesome. If you would like a copy let me know how to get it to you.

Okay, color me jealous!

My dream is to climb at least one more time with all you guys. I might even lead Eureka again!

[Danny]

Chris, I agree with the idea that a number is a good distinct way to set a goal and I don't really have a problem with it in that sense -- maybe one of these days I'll find a magic number that twinkles my toes. But, you know, some out there try to disguise their ability behind a number and that's a little irritating just because I'm irritable I suppose. As far as you are conserned Chris, I am super stoked for you and happy that you started climbing a lot again. I've always admired your climbing skills and am looking forward to seeing how far you can take it. And I'll pray that your tendons always stay strong.

[512OW]

Thanks Danny... I'm prayin that my tendons don't snap as well...

I agree about those who try to "disguise their ability behind a number".

I couldn't have put it better...

That said, we should go do some long routes sometime soon... thats what all this trainin is for anyway....

[Danny]

totally dude

[Myke Dronez]

some out there try to disguise their ability behind a number

This reminds me of the whole, 'can you climb a 5.x or are you a 5.x climber' discussion. I'm assuming one's dream grade does not mean grade at which you are a solid well rounded climber, but
the grade of your hardest sends in the style you enjoy most. I don't see a whole lot of folks aspiring to climb 5.13 trad but it would be cool if they did.. 8)