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The group in question is the climbing team from Metrorock. They were led by their coach and several younger "assistants." I know the coach very well. As far as I know, they take a trip every year during Spring Break. All the kids are out of school and they want to go climbing someplace besides a gym. What's wrong with that?

It seems there are two issues here:

1. Should large groups show up (never mind monopolize) at a popular crag?
Personally, I have no problem with it. Yeah, sometimes it frustrating to go to a crag and see tons of people there, but why should you deserve to climb there more than other people. If you don't want to see crowds and/or groups, then don't go to the most popular wall on weekends or during school vacations. Let's be honest, Sport Climbing is convenient. Convenience is going to draw crowds.


2. What is the individual etiquette or behavior of this particular group?
Knowing the coach personally, I would be very surprised if he wasn't accommodating (within reason) if approached or asked. Is this another rant after the fact on the internet, when NO attempt was made to resolve it at the cliff?

Josh

The question posted here was:

Is it cool to show up at the crag with 12+ people and hangdog the good stuff all day?

The results so far are:
NO: 60
YES: 5

Spread the group out if you want to be cool with the climbing community. They obviously don't like it.

i hope you can make it to the Red River Gorge Climber's Coalition meeting this coming weekend at Torrent Falls

SCIN wrote:The question posted here was:

Is it cool to show up at the crag with 12+ people and hangdog the good stuff all day?

The results so far are:
NO: 60
YES: 5

Spread the group out if you want to be cool with the climbing community. They obviously don't like it.

Etiquette: rules governing socially acceptable behavior.

Rule 1 could be just to spread out a little.

Climbingrocks wrote:How about we come up with some basic rules of etiquette and spread them around. Like 3 basic rules.

Common sense, politeness, respect. Either ya got it or ya don't.

blueeyedclimber wrote:...but why should you deserve to climb there more than other people.

Deserve to climb there more than other people? No. Deserve a chance to work into the mix. Yes.
Problem is that members of a large group tend to form one big cohesive unit with little chance for
outsiders to get on a route, or routes, that the group has claimed as theirs for the day. Personally, I think
if they leave their rope unattended for even just a few minutes then it's fair game to pull it as long as you are
willing to put it back up for them.

yall need to climber harder, or develop routes. Problem solved.

Andrew wrote:yall need to climber harder, or develop routes. Problem solved.

Or realize that there are more than 3 good 12's at Military...

Andrew wrote:yall need to climber harder, or develop routes. Problem solved.

Or climb trad. I'm not starting the sport vs. trad war - but in my experience large, rude crowds do not show up to climb trad. Party of 10 on Bedtime for Bonzo is an exception to this.

steep4me wrote: just as I thought it was our turn, two more from their group walked up and said that they were next (even though they had been at the other side of the Gallery up until that moment)--they were part of this group from Maine.

Sounds as though you need to be more assertive. They are not next in line unless they have been waiting in line, have a rope in line, or anything reasonable. Suppose I am waiting in line for Route A as another climber is climbing Route B. If he/she is climbing as I am waiting, they are not getting on Route A before I do. The same holds for someone not at the crag, on the other side of the crag, or no where in sight. I have pointed this out several times and never had a problem.