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Working routes vs. just climbing

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:05 pm
by tsparks
How do you normally split your time between onsighting and working routes vs. just climbing for fun?

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:28 pm
by SikMonkey
What does "climbing for fun" mean? :) The fun for me is pullling that bitchass hard crux move like it was nothing, then sitting at the anchor chains admiring your latest work of art.

Mj

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:44 pm
by no grain
Climbing is fun all the time. If 'working a route' is not fun; why are you doing it?

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:46 pm
by SikMonkey
Good call no grain. Fun is such a subjective word too though. What is viewed as fun for one could be too much work for someone else.

Mj

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:48 pm
by tsparks
Let me clarify. First I would like to agree that any time I am climbing I am having fun.

Now, "Climbing for fun" to me is when I'm just out getting on as many climbs as I can and not worrying at all about whether or not I onsight/flash/redpoint the climb, and "working a route" is exactly that. Picking a route that you want to send and focusing on nothing but finishing it until you have sent it.

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:07 pm
by SikMonkey
Exactly. It's all a matter of opinion. Personally, I have to be biting the bullet before I am having fun.

Mj

Working

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:35 pm
by Poster known as Wallnut
I give two or three tries to working a route before moving on. My belayer has a short attention span. I go for more (quantity) in my climbing trips than number chasing, So I climb below my grade.

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 2:38 pm
by no grain
I am assuming that this all refers to sport climbing, whcih is what I mostly climb. It is hard to say, but I think I enjoy climbing the most when I really have to struggle and put a lot of effort into a route.

I started trad climbing this summer and that was the most enjoyable climbing I have ever done.

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 3:15 pm
by captain static
I do a periodized training as follows: rest (1-4 wks), endurance (6-8 wks), power (3-4 wks), power endurance (2-3 wks), rest (1 wk), peak performance (4-8 wks). In this context I do a lot of for fun climbing during the endurance phase. The power phase is bouldering. Power endurance includes some working of routes. Peak performance is a mixture of on sight & redpoint w/ maybee a little fun stuff as a warm down.

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2002 3:55 pm
by Horatio Felacio
you're weird. i want to send every route i get on.