RRC Archives

So you're only allowed to climb outdoors if you have an apprenticeship at a gym?

In my experience gyms are as big a danger as they are a benefit. A lot of people come out of the gyms knowing just enough to get themselves killed. Its a miracle that more of them don't.

yep, the forest service should start asking for your lead membership card from a local climbing gym before you can enter FS land.

shoot, while we are at it, I think Miguel should ask for your guidebook, and see what routes you have ticked, before serving you pizza. only climb 5.11? one topping for you sir!

climb under 5.10? make it plain cheese...

but climb 5.12???? ha ha ha ha.....you, my friend, get miguel's tasty vegetarian delight loaded with all the goodies.

btw, all sends in the guidebook would need to be verified by the initials of at least two other individuals..neither related to you, so there is no cheating. you know how he runs out of ingredients on a busy weekend..problem solved.

BRILLIANT idea! Now that will the gumbies will get on routes over their head and for those who've worked hard for a couple of years will have to spend their days on Mr. Bungle because the line died. It's a good thing I'm Gumby Level 8.

Lead membership card? Um, that's archaic.

don't worry meadows..it all evens out....once people start climbing 5.12 and loading up on tasty miguel's, their waist line will balloon, and they soon will be flailing on 5.11's again. back to one topping only...shoot, it is sort of like a built in diet for climbers....

are you knocking those who strive to send mr bungle clean? seems that is a bit elitist, you snob.

Oh Pigsteak, I think you forgot that climbing 5.12s increases the metabolic index, thus enabling those 5.12 climbers not only to keep their waistline but possible decrease it.

people can't send that route?

Wow, did i see that Pigsteak called Miguel's pizza "tasty"?

question Pigsteak.

and forgive me if I have missed it in another thread....but why is 5.12 the magic number?

I think I need to go climb at the New.

no just ignore mr. i-wish-to-play-da-but-constantly-argue-against-myself.

as i recall (lol) when climbing first started there were no gyms. the bigger point is simply to be safe, smart and prepared.

Pig,
with your test of climbing 5.10 before being allowed outside, how do you account for the crusty old guard of the Red (and every other locale in the country) that climbed for years at the 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, and maybe breaking into 5.10 grades before sport climbing existed?. Albeit, these were all trad routes, but why can't every other newbie do the same?
Maybe that is the test. If you want to climb outside you help yourself to all the trad low end routes you want. Maybe we just eliminate all approachalbe sport routes below 5.10 and force anyone interested enough in the sport to self apprentice themselves through a curriculum of trad climbing.
This would thin out the masses for sure. The ones who stay with it will be safer, more schooled and more well rounded climbers.
What do you think?