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What kind of progression do you think you should be able to make from year to year as a climber?

Just not backsliding, a letter, a full number??


All comments welcome (including the obligatory "It's not about the numbers" comments).

Its not about the numbers.

it's not about being not about the numbers either. but then again, it's not about that either.

wait, I am confused..... is it not about the numbers, or is it acting like it isn't about the numbers, wanting everyone to think you don't think it is all about the numbers, but really, deep inside, Paul, it is truly actually only the numbers that interest you in the slightest?

If it were JUST about the numbers, then they could easily be changed to suit my desires. I think its about the difficulty.

Oh boy . . . I am SO glad I started this thread.

I also think it has a lot to do with how long you have been climbing. The first few years might see gains of a number or two each year. But once you hit a platau, then you might end up working on routes of the same grade for a few years, measuring progress in how much closer you get to route, rather then actually sending.

Then there is the style of climbing you do. Might get stuck at 12- steep routes for a year, but you increase two letter on slab/trad/etc. So, they only real thing you can control is how much effort you put into it, and if you keep trying hard, it is all good.

Seems to me knowing what it is all about individually is the first question, followed by what you're doing in the off season to improve performance, stamina and strength coupled with some gym climbing to work on weak points in technique. I typically had a set back of about one number grade going into a new season without any specific training, and that typically comes back to standard in short order.
Being old, and having nothing to prove I'm not chasing numbers so I focus more on routes and personal challenges. This will probably catch a lot of crap from the usuals on this board. Frankly I don't give a shit, I was climbing when they were in diapers.

My goal was to lead without going into convulsions. I should've been using a seismograph to measure improvement.

"and if you keep trying hard, it is all good."

who says we even have to "try hard" anymore to consider it "all good"?

last month, the mantra around here was it had to be "V.fun"..now it is "V.try hard"?

man, keeping up with the Jones' is so exhausting...when I started (1991), we all wanted to sport climb like Jim Karn or Scotty Franklin. If you wore the lycra, had a Tuber instead of a Figure 8 to belay, and used one of those ultra skinny ropes (a 10.5MM), then the world of spray was yours....

now, wes, you tell me I have to actually climb and put forth effort? forget about it.


Ob Juan, do I qualify for your diaper comment?