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Who gets priority, aid or free?
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Partner cracklover


Aug 2, 2004, 9:01 PM
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Who gets priority, aid or free?
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Recent discussion I had with some folk who are interested in learning aid climbing. These are not fast and efficient aid leaders. Some of them are of the opinion that if they want to aid (even aid-solo) a classic climb that goes free at a moderate rating (say 5.8), at a popular crag, on a weekend, it's nobody's business. A sort of first-come, first-served principle. The other school of thought is that common courtesy would direct them to keep to those lines (just ten feet away) that either haven't been freed yet or are difficult enough that few free-climbers would be likely to want to lead it on a given Sunday afternoon.

My feeling is that someone who will be tying up a classic free line for several hours in prime climbing time is not being very nice, because they are hogging a resource when there are other resources they could be using to the same ends.

What's your take?

Thanks!

GO


pk


Aug 2, 2004, 9:07 PM
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Learn your aid off the beaten path away from people. You will not only look stupid trying to hone your systems but it'll take you a long time to get up your first few routes. Definately do not learn on high traffic routes.

P.K.


sbclimber


Aug 2, 2004, 9:08 PM
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I think they should just be free climbing it.

5.8, right? Yup, that sounds like free climbing territory.

Anyways, it is a first come first serve kinda thing, but I still agree with you. perhaps they should aid a less popular route to the left or right.

If it is a common aid AND free line, then they have every right to hop on it in the middle of the day. First come...


vegastradguy


Aug 2, 2004, 9:10 PM
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while i usually subscribe to the first come, first served school, when it comes to aid climbing...it seems that taking up a moderate route (5.10 and under) is uncalled for, seeing as even a 5.11-5.12 can go C1 (if it's the right climb)...

when i learned to aid, i went out to a crag and climbed a 5.9 splitter on aid, and then a dual crack climb on aid (another 5.9), luckily no one was out when i did this. if there had been, i wouldnt have dreamed of getting on those climbs.

seems rude....i'm not saying aid isnt important, it is, but it also is really slow and can be learned just as easily on a 5.11-5.12 splitter as it can a 5.8.


timpanogos


Aug 2, 2004, 9:12 PM
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In Utah - those high volume routes are perfect for aid practice - say from mid November till the first of April.

If you live in a place where the seasons change (i.e. there is an off season for free climbing - too darn cold) learn your aid in the off season and enjoy/free those popular trad/sport routes yourself in season.

Chad


robmcc


Aug 2, 2004, 9:15 PM
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I'd say first come first serve...but you'd still be an ass to tie up a popular route for hours when an unpopular one would serve equally well.

Sounds like an issue not of right, but of consideration.

Rob


dgkula


Aug 2, 2004, 9:16 PM
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Those guys should wait until it rains to learn how to clean aid on a 5.8. Anything else seems like a community disservice on a classic climb during peak climbing hours.


mbg


Aug 2, 2004, 9:17 PM
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If a route is even a remotely popular free climb then parties should do their best to make quick work of it on weekends. Your friends should wait for bad weather or a weekday or just find an obscure line to practice aiding.

For example, Country Club Crack in Boulder Canyon is a classic free climb AND one of the best places to dial in your aid skills. It's common to see folks sitting on portaledges at the first belay which is about 50 feet up! People just have sense enough not to show up at 9:30am on a Saturday in July with the intent to snail up it in aiders.

This reminds me, though, of the old debate over whether topropers or leaders have priority. I've seen some high tension at the crags over that one!


Partner euroford


Aug 2, 2004, 9:17 PM
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a 5.8 probobly wouldn't be intresting on aid. to low angle on average. it might have some intresting aiding at an overhanging crux, but you would probobly have more fun, and have less free climbers biteing at your heals getting your practice on something way steep that would go free at a higher grade.

i've done most if not all of my aid practice on stuff 5.10+, a steep nasty thin seam that would go way above my free level is allot more fun and makes much better practice.


iamthewallress


Aug 2, 2004, 9:19 PM
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First come first served to a point...If you can aid it in the same time that the next guy will free it, aid away. If you will clog it up and be on the route during a time in which 10 others would have enjoyed it as a free climb, you could probably find a better place to practice. 5.12 thin cracks are probably better for aid practice anyway in terms of what you run into on aid climbs. They rarely have lines forming to climb them too.


mandrake


Aug 2, 2004, 9:25 PM
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Ditto. Formally, the first party on the route has the route, but I agree it's poor form to clog up a popular moderate on a weekend working out the thrash and dangle.

I don't know the routes in consideration, but it may be worth pointing out that practicing aid on more overhanging routes (pref in the 5.hard range) helps build overhanging aid skills and is safer if a piece pops and you go for a ride.


lambone


Aug 2, 2004, 9:49 PM
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Free climbers should allways get first dibs in my opinon. Unless the aid climber is allready halfway up the route...then just let him/her finish.


popol


Aug 2, 2004, 10:06 PM
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First come, first serve. But a reasonable person picks out a less popular climb for aiding. However, as long he's in that route, he's not occupating other routes, right? So you shouldn't make a drama of it, certainly not if there are other free routes of the same difficulty on that crag.


Partner coylec


Aug 2, 2004, 10:48 PM
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To answer the question, it's first-come, first-served. You show up first, you get priority. I've spent time waiting for a climber to crawl up a 5.7 trad route putting gear in every 4 feet and hanging on it, but they got there first. They're still an ass, but they got there first. I'd be cool with it if, the entire pitch, they were singing "I'm an asshole."

I'm what you'd call an aspiring aid climber. I'd rather be in my aiders than my Sportivas. I've done moderate stuff on aid, but I ain't no pro, yet. So, I go to free-climbing areas and climb the free lines clean.

Blocking up a "classic" (overused word, for certain) line is just bad karma. And, like others have mentioned, if its a 5.8, its going to be a boring aid climb. You'll get better practice on a .12 or .13 job ... there's a different feel from sitting on a well placed cam in a hand crack and a micronut in a tiny little crack.

It's really a question of asking yourself, "Am I a selfish prick?" If you are, get in line and jump on in. If you aren't, find a better line, with better options, have more fun and don't piss anyone off.

coylec

ps - besides, who wants crowds competing when some nice free-climbing women ask you what all that gear is for ... trust me, you want their full attention and you won't get it with those free climbers dancing around in lycra. :wink:


davidji


Aug 2, 2004, 11:46 PM
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I'd expect it to be acceptable for aid if they're dialing in a fast technique like crack-jumaring. The speed is similar to free climbing. If they're making every move from aiders, they'd probably inconvenience others--although even then, if they move efficiently, they'll take less time than many top-ropers. The problem with the last part is most of us don't move efficiently when we're learning aid: that's why we practice.


davidji


Aug 2, 2004, 11:53 PM
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In reply to:
I'm what you'd call an aspiring aid climber. I'd rather be in my aiders than my Sportivas.
Why not both? There's a lot to be said for aid climbing in your rock shoes. Makes you much more likely to free what you can, and move faster. Keeps you from getting lazy in your aiders. Of course there's also something to be said for not aid climbing in your rock shoes...


dredsovrn


Aug 2, 2004, 11:56 PM
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Last time I checked no one owns most of the rock I see, so I suppose they can climb it however and whenever they like. I don't aid climb, but if they get there first, I should either see if I can pass them on the route, or find somewhere else.


tradmanclimbs


Aug 3, 2004, 12:09 AM
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The first come first serve rule simply can not apply for somthing as totaly freaking ridiculous as learning to aid on the most populer 5.8 free climb at a crag. totaly lame move that deserves a serious dressing down. If a climb is commonly aided then it is a diferent story. for instance the prow on cathedral NH goes free at 11d but is described in several guide books as an aid climb. the aid climber that gets there first has the right to be slow. If the same person decided to learn aid on fun house or bombardment (5.7 and 8 with constant lines) they should be politely removed from the rock and educated on what is and is not good form. this is comon sense and anyone who can't see the reason for this basic concept has their head up their butt.


elron


Aug 3, 2004, 1:48 AM
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I usually subscribe to the "use common sense and common courtesy" way of doing things... ie, don't hog a climb for hours, whether you're aiding, TR'ing, trad, or sport.

In the case of this thread though, the climb that started the whole thing was originally done as an aid climb. Several years later it was freed at 5.10. It is a popular climb, one that many people enjoy on the weekends. I think to spend a long time (1 hour+) aiding it on a nice saturday afternoon would be a bit rude. However... does first ascent style come into play? If it was originally done as an aid climb, does that give an aid climber trying it more right to be there than if it is a route put up free?

Either way, you won't see me aiding it on a popular weekend... just wondering what people's take is

Kevin


Partner oldsalt


Aug 3, 2004, 2:14 AM
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In reply to:
This reminds me, though, of the old debate over whether topropers or leaders have priority. I've seen some high tension at the crags over that one!
If I yell "Rope" and hang it on a route, I don't plan to pull it back up for a sportster that comes along after. I won't toss a rope if there is someone setting up below. This sounds like common sense.

I have cleared out after only a single ascent when I wanted to do some laps, but I was on the only 5.6 at the crag. The next group couldn't handle the next grade route (5.8) any better than I could. This, too, sounds like common sense.

I don't plan to try to run someone off who is TRing so I can lead a route, either. I do both, but does that make me special?

My vote is first come, first serve, regardless of your technique. But, be considerate. "Love your neighbor" works in most situations.


Partner cracklover


Aug 3, 2004, 3:21 AM
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In reply to:
My vote is first come, first serve, regardless of your technique. But, be considerate. "Love your neighbor" works in most situations.

Well which one is it? You can't play both sides of the fence - it just doesn't work that way.

First come first served = you race ahead of the guy on the trail with you because you hear him mentioning the 5.8 climb you want to aid solo. Love your neighbor = at the very least, you do the 5.11+ three climbs over that's an overhung finger crack and unlikely to have anyone on it.

And yes, Elron, of the two climbs mentioned, one was a 5.10, and the other was a 5.8. Also, around here, most everything was aided fifty years ago - at least everything rated 5.9 and up. Just because the FA party used aid doesn't give the modern aid climber any more, or any less right to be there.

GO


the_pirate


Aug 3, 2004, 4:39 AM
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In reply to:
In the case of this thread though, the climb that started the whole thing was originally done as an aid climb. Several years later it was freed at 5.10. It is a popular climb, one that many people enjoy on the weekends.

I bet you could get up Cro-Mag by aiding in less time than a lot of people spend throwing themselves at it on top rope.


flamer


Aug 3, 2004, 4:56 AM
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I usually subscribe to the "use common sense and common courtesy" way of doing things... ie, don't hog a climb for hours, whether you're aiding, TR'ing, trad, or sport.

This is the real problem. I don't know How many times I've walked by the base of the Bastille crack and seen some Boy scout group TRing the first pitch...then walked back by a couple of hours later and they're still there!!!

However, I'm still of the first come first served mentality. If I'm in the way I'll try and let you pass, provided your not a rude prick. If you are then There is no way you're going anywhere, and I expect the same from others.

josh


mbg


Aug 3, 2004, 5:32 AM
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Josh has hit it on the head. If someone has started up a route, leeading, aiding, comando, whatever, they obviously should finish. This issue is all about having the foresight and ethics to not cause a traffic jam when it can easily be avoided.


tradmanclimbs


Aug 3, 2004, 5:42 AM
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According to the origional post, the climb in question was a 5.8. there is absolutely NO excuse for practiceing aid on a 5.8. End of story. as for schools or camps tr ing the first pitch of a multi pitch climb, there is no excuse for that either. pull their licence and send em back to the gym.


Partner cracklover


Aug 3, 2004, 5:47 AM
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In reply to:
In reply to:
In the case of this thread though, the climb that started the whole thing was originally done as an aid climb. Several years later it was freed at 5.10. It is a popular climb, one that many people enjoy on the weekends.

I bet you could get up Cro-Mag by aiding in less time than a lot of people spend throwing themselves at it on top rope.

I couldn't. My first aid lead, I took nearly an hour to go about 50 feet. I kid you not!

Fact is, these are all TR climbs. I'd rather set a TR on something and give five people a shot at the climb (potentially including people not in my party) in an hour, than have one person monopolize the climb as they aid-solo it for an hour, when they could have moved over 20 feet onto Jane which, chance are, wouldn't see a soul in that hour.

GO


overlord


Aug 3, 2004, 9:06 AM
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IMHO its first come first served.

but out of courtesy and because youre a nice person, you should pick a line thats not crowded.


hangerlessbolt


Aug 3, 2004, 12:28 PM
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Yep, FCFS

Saw some yo yo teaching his friends how to aid on Sail Away in J-Tree...classic trad route...always a line...goes at 5.8-

Bad form in deed...which they were constantly reminded of by the folks waiting not-so-patiently

One guy came around the corner...looked up and yelled, "You've got to be f-ing kidding me!!!"

At any rate, the 'teacher' and his 'students' grabbed their gear and bailed.

Doesn't change the FCFS rule...just use your head

Same holds true for TR vs classic trad routes. Get on, enjoy it, then get off so the next team can enjoy it as well.

The one thing I would add to this is to not let other folks "rush" your climb. No mistakes, take your time and climb it smart.


the_pirate


Aug 3, 2004, 3:12 PM
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The first come first serve rule simply can not apply for somthing as totaly freaking ridiculous as learning to aid on the most populer 5.8 free climb at a crag. totaly lame move that deserves a serious dressing down. [snip] If the same person decided to learn aid on fun house or bombardment (5.7 and 8 with constant lines) they should be politely removed from the rock and educated on what is and is not good form. this is comon sense and anyone who can't see the reason for this basic concept has their head up their butt.

By that logic we shouldn't allow guides or climbing schools at any of the popular crags or lines. As a Cathedral climber, I'm sure you are familiar with the need to be on the classics before the guides get there. Crow Hill is the same way. If you want to gurantee that you'll get a certain climb, you get your ass up early. Seeing someone aiding Cro-Magnon, 5.10 (aiding Diagonal, 5.8 is just silly) would aggravate me a hell of a lot less than showing up to find the AMC or the YMCA or the Boy Scouts monopolizing the entire main wall. Yes Janes is a much better line to aid and much more of a conscientious choice to practice on, but that doesn't mean that if he gets there first, he shoudn't hop on Cro-Mag. Now, if there is already people doing laps on it and when his turn comes up, he decides to aid the route instead of taking a lap...... well, that's just ultra poor form.


far_east_climber


Aug 3, 2004, 3:29 PM
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Well, freeing can be just as irritating as aid if they set up a top rope after the climb and leave it. People around here seem to send 3 or 4 routes, leave the draws in and all the ropes up for a whole day and only climb it a couple times - inconsiderate.


tradmanclimbs


Aug 3, 2004, 3:33 PM
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Actualy I prefer to hit the classics later in the day when eveyone is done with them. Sleep in, get up casualy and meander up to the cliff. I have done recombeast a few times in late afternoon and gotten right on it. yes it is a given that the guides will be all over thin air, funhouse,bombardment etc but at least they are teaching people to free climb. There is NO excuse to practice aid climbing on these lines. This is kind of a silly argument though as I have never seen anything that silly going on. I don't know the area involved in the origional post but again he stated that the climb in question was a populer 5.8. Sorry It's just dosen't add up. You really do need to take the poor misguided sole aside and steer them to a crack that is better suited for their exercise. Heck If I had the time I might even offer them a lesson on a more obscure crack. If you don't take the time to politely teach new climbers what its all about they will just continue to be a pain in the arse.


piton


Aug 3, 2004, 5:12 PM
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yeah like the classic 5.8 is going somewhere. 1st come 1st serve, go somewhere else :roll:


elron


Aug 3, 2004, 5:25 PM
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So is there a lower limit to what people should be allowed to aid climb? I've seen a lot of posts that label aid climbing on a 5.8 crack as "silly". I spent an hour aiding a 5.4 crack a few weeks ago. Not because I can't climb it free, but because it eats nuts and cams the whole way and was a good exercise. Now, I led it at 7:30 at night when I was the only one at the crag. I wouldn't be there on a busy day when other people were waiting to climb.

Just to clarify, do people see a difference between aiding a climb for an hour and hangdogging it on TR for an hour when others are waiting? In my book they're both the same... uncool! But I feel the vibe on this thread is that aiding is somehow lower on the totem pole. Or am I misreading people?

Kevin


iamthewallress


Aug 3, 2004, 5:25 PM
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I don't think it's about 'lower limit'. You could probably make A4 out of 4th class if you wanted. To me the key, whether you are aiding, TRing, or leading a 50 ft. pitch with 5 sets of cams, is how many people's plans are you dashing with your plans. A lot of people spend the whole day aiding a pitch when they are just learning. If 10 people would have freed that pitch on a normal day but there is an equally good pitch for aiding that no one usually comes to climb, then to me, the less selfish choice is obvious. The aid climber is considerate, but their experience is not compromised if they get on the less popular route.

One weekend last year I was entertaining delusions of soloing up to heart on the lower Muir. My plan was to start very, very early so that I would be up Moby Dick, a 10a crack (A1 for me) and one of the most popular climbs (if not THE most popular climb) at the base of El Cap, before the free climbers came. Of course, it took me twice as long to get there and get racked and then twice as long to climb, so I felt like a big jerk when the first party arrived and I was only half way up and would still need to rap and jug it. To make matters worse, I was experimenting with adjustable aiders for the first time, and one of the buckles slipped every time I stood on that aider.

Luckily for me the first party happened to be friends of mine, so they cheered me on and went to another nearby climb while I finished. Unfortunately, one of them broke his feat decking on that climb, so I got to the achors, fixed my rope with most of my pro still in place, and bailed to help get him back to the car.

When I came back it was afternoon. There were more people waiting to climb the route, and the full mid day sun had expanded my nuts so that they were impossible to remove. I had to get in the way of those free climbers again to get my stuff and then come back and inconvenience a few more the next morning to recover the nuts.

Of course, most aid practice wouldn't involve so many shenanigans. My point is that I felt like such a jerk creating a circus on this popular climb and obviously screwing up so many people's plans. Yes, I was there first and people were respectful of the strange situation, but I wouldn't want to choose that situation again if other suitable alternatives existed because it just wasn't any fun explaining myself over and over again to each party that came up wanting to climb Moby Dick.


mbg


Aug 3, 2004, 5:36 PM
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The bottom line here is courtesy. If 5 minutes after you've started up a trade route in aiders, 20 people show up at the base wanting to do the same line, you're still going to finish; you'll just feel and look like a total tool. As far as the free rating goes, there is no minimum grade beneath which you should not aid. If a crack is steep, it'll probably be fun to aid.


the_pirate


Aug 3, 2004, 5:47 PM
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In reply to:
So is there a lower limit to what people should be allowed to aid climb? I've seen a lot of posts that label aid climbing on a 5.8 crack as "silly".

Or am I misreading people?

You misread me at least. I said that aiding Diagonal was silly (added ratings because tradmanclimbs seemed to be getting confused as to which climb I was referring) because I've done it and it was pretty silly. The diagonal crack, combined with the horizontal ledges and my gargantuan reach meant that I could pretty much keep one foot in a sling and one foot on a ledge and french free the whole thing.


Partner cracklover


Aug 3, 2004, 6:53 PM
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In reply to:
But I feel the vibe on this thread is that aiding is somehow lower on the totem pole. Or am I misreading people?

Kevin

Um, a lot of these people are aid climbers. I don't think they're saying they're lower on the totem pole. I guess wallress said it best: the key is "how many people's plans are you dashing with your plans." I think you, and almost everyone else here seems to get that.

But from the original thread
In reply to:
I subscribe to the "first come/first serve" idea. Honestly - (and no offense Gabe), how could someone tell me that I can't aid a particular climb just b/c every other jack, jim and bob wanna get on it trad style? That's like me saying you can't drive on 93N on Saturdays from 11-2 b/c I drive faster and I'll be on it. Every classic climb has a line to waited in. Take a number.

We all have our own goals, and no one should be able to dictate how we achieve them.

And I understand the point of common courtesy, but where do you draw the line when it interferes with your objectives?

I would say you draw the line when you inconvenience a whole lot of people just so you can spend hours thrashing and dangling up a line you shouldn't be on because you could learn just as much (or more) on a line 10 feet over without inconveniencing a soul. It's not that frickin complicated!

One line is an aid line and one isn't, not for some arbitrary reason, but because of fair resource allocation arived at by a sort of consensus.

I guess that what it boils down to is that cliff space is a finite resource, and spending all day monopolizing (whether through aiding or by gang TRing a route and not letting anyone climb through) a very popular free route that doesn't fit your needs as well as a different line would - well it just feels like being purposefully wasteful. And why? The above quote seems to suggest the answer "because I can."

GO


Partner cracklover


Aug 3, 2004, 6:59 PM
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And that analogy about driving isn't right at all. No matter how slowly I drive on 93, you can pass me.

It's more like if you were walking along on the sidewalk and I were to walk in front of you and slow down - then when you tried to go around me I moved over to stay in front of you so you couldn't get around me. You'd probably say "excuse me, please get the hell out of my way!" To which I'd respond "this sidewalk is as much mine as yours, and I can go as slow on it and walk right in front of you if I want."

What's the point, except to be obstinant and rude? Walk as slowly as you want, but let me pass. Take as long as you want on an aid route, but do it where you won't be holding up 15 people.

GO


markc


Aug 3, 2004, 7:07 PM
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In reply to:
And that analogy about driving isn't right at all. No matter how slowly I drive on 93, you can pass me.

GO

I agree. The car comparison doesn't wash unless you have people intentionally driving slow in the passing lane.

If you monopolize a popular route at a busy crag for any reason, you're not being very considerate. It doesn't matter if you're gangroping, hangdogging, or aid climbing. However, most people doing aid at a local crag are probably just working on technique, and will most likely not set any speed records. If you plan on really working one route, you're better served by picking an off-time to do it. I'm sure you'll feel more relaxed without a lengthening and verbal line behind you.

The sort of people who aid climb popular routes on busy days probably have no qualms about paying with nickels in the the "12 items or less" line on a busy Saturday. While they're technically there first, and first-come are first-served, it is telling of the person's character.

2¢,

mark


elron


Aug 3, 2004, 7:08 PM
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Gabe, I agree 100%. Whether its aid or trad or sport or TR, the sport is too popular to be able to take up a popular route for a long period of time.

As I stated in the other thread to start this whole thing off, if I were to aid one of the popular climbs there, I'd show up very early on a saturday and plan on being off the route well before the crowds arrive. now, if some other group shows up at 7am and I'm halfway up the wall, I have to admit.. thats just bad luck and I won't feel too bad about it. if its 10am and the place is packed, then yeah, i'd feel like an idiot

Kevin


piton


Aug 3, 2004, 8:10 PM
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so do all you little sissies cry when you go to video store to rent a movie only to find out when you get there the movie you wanted is all rented out. or do you move on and find another movie.


markc


Aug 3, 2004, 8:24 PM
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In reply to:
so do all you little sissies cry when you go to video store to rent a movie only to find out when you get there the movie you wanted is all rented out. or do you move on and find another movie.

You have to admit your comparison is a bit flawed. If 20 people rented the popular movie du jour, I'd tell myself I was too late and rent something else. My fault entirely. That's the same thing I'd do if I got to a popular route at a crag and saw a long line. I should be prepared to deal with that if I know I'm going after something popular, be it a movie rental, Tickle Me Elmo, or a route.

If I find out that two guys rented every copy of a new release, I'd ask them what they thought they were doing. If they said, "Hey, we're here first. We can rent every copy if we feel like it!" they'd largely be in the right. They would also be far from considerate. While I'd ultimately find another title, I'd still tell my friends about the two jerks at the video store.


tradmanclimbs


Aug 3, 2004, 8:59 PM
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Piton is way off base here. there is a time and place for everything. just because you are first does not mean you have the right to be a jerk. the car analogy actualy works. If you drive too slowly on the freeway you will be arrested. If you drive your lawn tractor on the freeway you will be arrested. there is in our scenario, a perfectly fine aid practice area 30 meters away from the classic 5.7 handcrack. You would have to be a complete anti social iddiot or just simply un aware of what you were doing to set up for aid practice on the 5.7. If the perps are jerks they should be treated as such. If they truely don't know what is going on they should be politely educated. If you really want to aid that classic 5.7 do it in the rain or snow.


diesel___smoke


Aug 3, 2004, 9:24 PM
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In reply to:
Piton is way off base here. there is a time and place for everything. just because you are first does not mean you have the right to be a jerk. the car analogy actualy works. If you drive too slowly on the freeway you will be arrested. If you drive your lawn tractor on the freeway you will be arrested. there is in our scenario, a perfectly fine aid practice area 30 meters away from the classic 5.7 handcrack. You would have to be a complete anti social iddiot or just simply un aware of what you were doing to set up for aid practice on the 5.7. If the perps are jerks they should be treated as such. If they truely don't know what is going on they should be politely educated. If you really want to aid that classic 5.7 do it in the rain or snow.

There is a legitimate reason one would be ticketed for traveling slowly on the highway - it creates a hazard for other users, and one's self. If you intend to use the analogy of a car driving on the highway with merit, please state one hazard that two people aiding on your 5.7 creates...


tradmanclimbs


Aug 3, 2004, 11:52 PM
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Deisel. it is socialy unnaceptable behavior. Just because you get to the base of a climb first does not give you the right to be an a$$ If there was no other good place to practice aid climbing then they would have a right to be there. If there is a perfectly good aid crack that the hypothetical crowd waiting for the 5.7 has no interest in you would have to be extreemly stupid, anti social or all of the above to park youself on the 5.7 :roll: What are you people? Stupid or somthing? gee, lets go over here and see how many folks we can piss off because we got here first. Give me a freaking break. NONE of the people posting in favor of aiding the 5.7 would ever actualy do it, they are just argueing for the sake of argueing. Ah Fu$k you all. you deserve each other :twisted:


luke


Aug 4, 2004, 1:53 AM
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Just for an example, A friend and I bailed off the 1st 10 pitches of the salathe on el cap one time (in peak season) at pitch 4 or 5 because the leader of the team ahead was learning to aid as he went. For those who dont know, that part of the route goes free at 10c (except for a couple of A0 moves if I recall). Certainly the pitches they were aiding were around 5.7 and 5.8. We were pissed, but the valley is big and we did something else. My guess is that the teams we passed at every intermediate belay on the way down did the same.


Consideration it wasnt. We gave them the FCFS priority, but thought them rude. I figure this comes down to awareness - if you feel like you are cutting into others fun maybe you should offer to let them pass.


tradmanclimbs


Aug 4, 2004, 1:59 AM
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Luke. we are not talking aboput a big wall. If you get on a wall and you are slow and epicing well you will have that now and then. What we are talking about is single pitch practice climb.


Partner cracklover


Aug 4, 2004, 3:05 AM
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In reply to:
Deisel. it is socialy unnaceptable behavior. Just because you get to the base of a climb first does not give you the right to be an a$$

The right to be an ass is bestowed to each of us at birth. Getting to the base of the climb first just gives us the opportunity to be an ass. :lol:

But I think most folks are in agreement. Outliers are mostly just unaware of the mores (like the original poster), or perhaps slightly cross-communicating (like elron, who I think really agrees with me), or else they just like being an ass for the fun of it. Like the_pirate. :P

GO


Partner coylec


Aug 6, 2004, 12:49 AM
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If you really want to aid that classic 5.7 do it in the rain or snow.

Why should I have to be in the rain or snow to enjoy a climb in the fashion I wish to enjoy it? I don't see anyone suggesting that you do all your TRs of classic lines in the rain or snow because someone might want to lead that line.

There's a time and place for everything - regulating aid climbing to when its "bad weather" is just discriminatory and mean.

coylec


tradmanclimbs


Aug 6, 2004, 3:31 AM
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Post edited in an attempt to remove head from a$$


lv2climb7


Aug 6, 2004, 3:48 AM
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555


lv2climb7


Aug 6, 2004, 4:00 AM
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lv2climb7


Aug 6, 2004, 4:03 AM
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flamer


Aug 7, 2004, 11:52 PM
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In reply to:
Coylec you are hoplessly lost. quite possibly a moron and an a$$.

Hey blow hard,

The only person I've seen be a real jerk from the start was you.
Statement's like this make YOU look like the moron.
I'm sorry that not everyone agree's with you.
At your age I'd think you'd have figured this out by now....
CHILL!!

josh


tradmanclimbs


Aug 8, 2004, 1:18 AM
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Ok, so i am an ass. It certainly would seem that way since i got so heavily involved in a hypothetical argument. I deserve to get slammed on that one. The thing that gets me is that nobody would do what we are argueing about. We all seem to agree that it wouldn't make sense given the scenario of a good practice aid climb near by. A few people feel adamant that regardless of weather or not it is good form or how many people it afects that the first come first serve rule, over rules everything. I don't buy that. there is A whole passel of unwritten climbing rules that afect all the diferent styles of climbing. Most if not all of those rules get bent or broken on a daily basis. Most often the rules get bent because the situation does not fit the rule. Honestly, I am not this combative in person. I just get sucked into the fight on the screen.


flamer


Aug 8, 2004, 5:27 PM
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In reply to:
Ok, so i am an ass. It certainly would seem that way since i got so heavily involved in a hypothetical argument. I deserve to get slammed on that one. The thing that gets me is that nobody would do what we are argueing about. We all seem to agree that it wouldn't make sense given the scenario of a good practice aid climb near by. A few people feel adamant that regardless of weather or not it is good form or how many people it afects that the first come first serve rule, over rules everything. I don't buy that. there is A whole passel of unwritten climbing rules that afect all the diferent styles of climbing. Most if not all of those rules get bent or broken on a daily basis. Most often the rules get bent because the situation does not fit the rule. Honestly, I am not this combative in person. I just get sucked into the fight on the screen.

Good stuff my friend.

josh


Partner coylec


Aug 8, 2004, 6:59 PM
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Ok, so i am an ass. It certainly would seem that way since i got so heavily involved in a hypothetical argument.
I'm a jerk, too. (you're not supposed to use profanity :nono: ). It's cool -- its just the internet, eh?

In reply to:
The thing that gets me is that nobody would do what we are argueing about.

yep.

In reply to:
We all seem to agree that it wouldn't make sense given the scenario of a good practice aid climb near by. A few people feel adamant that regardless of weather or not it is good form or how many people it afects that the first come first serve rule, over rules everything. I don't buy that.

You're an inconsiderate jerk if tie up a line like that, regardless of the reason (it's like a bad SCUS decision when the Court is divided: concur in the result, but not the reasoning). I think we can agree on that.

In reply to:
there is A whole passel of unwritten climbing rules that afect all the diferent styles of climbing. Most if not all of those rules get bent or broken on a daily basis. Most often the rules get bent because the situation does not fit the rule.

Yep, which is why this discussion is interesting.

In reply to:
Honestly, I am not this combative in person. I just get sucked into the fight on the screen.

It's cool - arguing is fun. You ever make it out west coast, we'll go do some trad. And, if I ever make it out to VT, we'll go find us a classic 5.7 and spend all day aiding it :wink: .

coylec


areyoumydude


Aug 8, 2004, 7:48 PM
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A climbers worst enemy is other climbers. :evil:


tradmanclimbs


Aug 8, 2004, 9:40 PM
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I went back and re read the post that I ended up deleteing last night and it was so bad I actualy lost sleep over it :shock: Sometimes the fingers fly accross the keyboard and you think that you are spitting out somthing creative and rad, you hit send and move on to the next thread without realizeing that what you just sprayed was just freaking horrible :roll: On a lighter note. Any of you guys ever find yourself in the east I am about 2 hours from cannon. 1.25 hrs from Rumny.( i like cannon better) Also great single pitch cragging , trad and mixed 5.4 -5.11 local. Cool place to crash if you are passing through. Ps. In case you haven't heard of it, Cannon is a real cliff, 600 to 1200ft evrything from 5.6 to A4. Nick


twoliter


Aug 10, 2004, 5:39 PM
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First come first serve if your fast, slow aiders on classic aid climbs is bad enough, slow aid climbers on popular routes is even worse. That said I do alot of aid climbing at a local "popular" crag and will aid any line I want to and never have gotten any flack about it. That said I would never aid some popular free climb at smith and would expect to get it between the eyes if I did.


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