I swiped this off the RC.com board 'cause I thought that Travis had some cool insight~G
When I look back on my first days climbing I realize that I was concerned in all of the wrong things. I was asking questions about techniques, gear, different kinds of climbing, was 5.7 good, and yes, shoes.
While I was asking these questions I didn't realize that I was missing what was really important about our sport. Climbing is not about shoes, ratings, gear, and hype. What makes it the most incredible sport in the world is our community, our ethics, and our spirit.
I wish that I had been given answers to the questions I wasn't asking. And in my reflections here's just a few of the things I wish I would have been told 5 years ago.
Take a road trip as soon as possible to a climbing destination. Camp at the campsite the most crowded with climbers, sit around the campfire, and listen.
Find the old guys in your area, and listen to everything they have to say. Ignore the young guys with too much to say.
Get experience in all possible facets of climbing. Go trad climbing, sport climbing, top roping, and bouldering. Learn about aid climbing. Get on a multipitch climb as soon as you can safely. The real adventure begins more than one ropelength off the ground.
Climb with as many different partners as you can. You will learn what to do, and what not to do in half the time. You will learn what you respect in a climber, and what you hate as well. Emulate the good, and don't let yourself become that asshole that we all see occasionally.
It is no coincidence that the Best climbers in the world, do the least talking about their accomplishments. Nor is a coincidence that some of the worst talk even if no one is listening.
Become involved in the community. Join your local climbers group. Donate money if you like, but it is far better to participate. Seeing the fruits of your labor, and knowing you have helped make some of the best climbing memories. Don't complain unless you have an alternative. Don't ask for anything until you have contributed.
Karma is real. No matter what anyone says.
Learn all you can about the history and ethics of your area. You should be on a first name basis with some of the old guys who developed the crags. They will be around the campfire. Respect them and their wishes as your own. They were in your shoes at one time, and they can probably still outclimb you.
Don't buy a Drill or a Bolt for at least 5 years, and even then you had better be on a first name basis with all of the old guys around the campfire. Don't be that asshole that we all see occasionally. If you want a first ascent before 5 years, make a trad ascent, it will mean more to you later. Trust me.
Never belittle someone for climbing in the fashion they love.
Find your own personal ethics early, and stand behind them. Always strive for a higher ethical standard, never let yourself be pulled down. Don't hesitate to argue your ethics around that campfire.
Do everything you can to help other climbers. They are your family while you pursue this sport, and this family can seem suprisingly small at times. Karma is real.
Don't trespass. If the area is worth climbing, rest assured that a climber somewhere is working his ass off trying to get it reopened. By jumping that fence you are damning our cause. Always be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Enjoy every second of being outdoors doing something you love. You may very well be having the best time of your life. Share the experience with as many people as you can. Give as much as you receive.
And don't be that asshole...
Haha
Travis
Some cool advice: Karma is real..
Some cool advice: Karma is real..
Just genuinely disengenuous.
As I was reading the quote, I was getting ready to be critical of certain things (gripe, gripe, gripe). I remembered a converstation I had about "climbing ethics" and I'd like to reply to some of the quote that it think is a near miss.
I guess I take the word "ethics" fairly seriously, and I really think that 99% of the way it's used in climbing is really an issue of "personal style". Let's face it, (insert term for your diety here) doesn't care wether you use tape on your hands or bolt on lead. There are political implications to what we do as climbers, but that's only tangentially "ethics". We're playing a game here. You get to pick the rules that make the game the most fun and rewarding for you. As long as the way you play the game doesn't harm others (e.g. falling while soloing and hitting a belayer) then it's really your "personal style". Be true to your personal style and cheer people on as they play the game by their rules. You may want to explain how you play the game and why you like it, and maybe others will catch on, but don't try to impose your style on others by calling it "ethics".
I guess I take the word "ethics" fairly seriously, and I really think that 99% of the way it's used in climbing is really an issue of "personal style". Let's face it, (insert term for your diety here) doesn't care wether you use tape on your hands or bolt on lead. There are political implications to what we do as climbers, but that's only tangentially "ethics". We're playing a game here. You get to pick the rules that make the game the most fun and rewarding for you. As long as the way you play the game doesn't harm others (e.g. falling while soloing and hitting a belayer) then it's really your "personal style". Be true to your personal style and cheer people on as they play the game by their rules. You may want to explain how you play the game and why you like it, and maybe others will catch on, but don't try to impose your style on others by calling it "ethics".
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littlefeller
- Posts: 115
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Horatio Felacio
- Posts: 3338
- Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2002 7:26 pm
travis is obviously a dumbass:
"Camp at the campsite the most crowded with climbers, sit around the campfire, and listen."
who wants to camp in a crowded area and just listen? that's gay. if i'm gonna camp with all the "miggers" then the last thing i want to do is just listen to all their crap.
"Find the old guys in your area, and listen to everything they have to say. Ignore the young guys with too much to say."
travis likes old guys. what a gaywad.
"Do everything you can to help other climbers. They are your family while you pursue this sport, and this family can seem suprisingly small at times. "
i hate my family members. travis is gay.
"Camp at the campsite the most crowded with climbers, sit around the campfire, and listen."
who wants to camp in a crowded area and just listen? that's gay. if i'm gonna camp with all the "miggers" then the last thing i want to do is just listen to all their crap.
"Find the old guys in your area, and listen to everything they have to say. Ignore the young guys with too much to say."
travis likes old guys. what a gaywad.
"Do everything you can to help other climbers. They are your family while you pursue this sport, and this family can seem suprisingly small at times. "
i hate my family members. travis is gay.
Yo HO!! Just got me a code red and some funyons big dawg!!! SHIT YEAH! - Ray, excited about his breakfast
