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mz1
Jan 17, 2010, 5:50 PM
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Hi,
I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being "Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson.
I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with.
My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful!
Many Thanks,
Miles
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milesenoell
Jan 17, 2010, 7:01 PM
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Cliche questions like this will get you all kinds of flak on here, and it is somewhat deserved. The question has been addressed many times before and you can find those threads with a quick search that should give you plenty to write your paper on. The search function is in the upper right corner of your screen. After using it, if you still have any questions you should be prepared to ask a much more targeted question.
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johnwesely
Jan 17, 2010, 7:16 PM
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Great first post bro!
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mz1
Jan 17, 2010, 7:18 PM
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The time it took to write that message is much longer than the few words I was asking for...
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jeepnphreak
Jan 17, 2010, 7:22 PM
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Iam in a benevolent mood toda, so Ill humor you. When I com across a possible climbing partner I chat them up over a beer or what have you.
Find out what their climbing level is, lead vs 2nd. Anchor buliding knowlege is. what gear they can contribute to a possible trip. what they perfer sport vs trad. Communtcation skills (ie do they know/use thet same ones I do). belay methods ect. And how much of a disire they have to learn new tricks and tips.
If they seam to be of "quality" than I ll invite them on a easy route Iam familiar with and see how they do. If everything goes well than we can progress to a trustworthy climbing partnership.
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edge
Jan 17, 2010, 7:29 PM
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mz1 wrote: Hi, I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being " Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson. I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with. My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful! Many Thanks, Miles
Are you a climber yourself, or someone using a climbing book as a baseline for your coursework? This will dictate how much detail responses should delve into.
If I asked a similar question on a ballet forum, I would probably have no idea what they are talking about above the basics that you look for in any partner anywhere, like reliability, availability, size of their rack (applies to both climbing, ballet, and other disciplines,) ethics, etc.
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curt
Jan 17, 2010, 7:34 PM
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mz1 wrote: The time it took to write that message is much longer than the few words I was asking for...
Well, dumbass questions can often get replies like that.
Curt
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johnwesely
Jan 17, 2010, 7:34 PM
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jeepnphreak wrote: Iam in a benevolent mood toda, so Ill humor you. When I com across a possible climbing partner I chat them up over a beer or what have you. Find out what their climbing level is, lead vs 2nd. Anchor buliding knowlege is. what gear they can contribute to a possible trip. what they perfer sport vs trad. Communtcation skills (ie do they know/use thet same ones I do). belay methods ect. And how much of a disire they have to learn new tricks and tips. If they seam to be of "quality" than I ll invite them on a easy route Iam familiar with and see how they do. If everything goes well than we can progress to a trustworthy climbing partnership.
Hey! I am the one that is supposed to be in a benevolent mood!
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mz1
Jan 17, 2010, 7:34 PM
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Thanks for the help, I should of made that clearer.
I have no idea about climbing really, and will be writing it for people who don't.
I'm thinking more of a personality, ambition side of things...
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theguy
Jan 17, 2010, 8:50 PM
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mz1 wrote: A2 coursework for English
Fail
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jcrew
Jan 17, 2010, 8:58 PM
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curt wrote: mz1 wrote: The time it took to write that message is much longer than the few words I was asking for... Well, dumbass questions can often get replies like that. Curt
mzi....meet Curt
@ the crag, i look for super-babes who don't complain, noobs with a big, shiny rack, and rope guns that hang ropes on routes i can't.
for real climbs, equal skill and motiation.
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Kevthecoffeeguy
Jan 17, 2010, 9:15 PM
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mz1 wrote: Thanks for the help, I should of made that clearer. I have no idea about climbing really, and will be writing it for people who don't. I'm thinking more of a personality, ambition side of things...
(This post was edited by Kevthecoffeeguy on Jan 17, 2010, 9:17 PM)
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lena_chita
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Jan 17, 2010, 9:41 PM
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mz1 wrote: Thanks for the help, I should of made that clearer. I have no idea about climbing really, and will be writing it for people who don't. I'm thinking more of a personality, ambition side of things...
So why pick climbing, of all things, if you have no idea? Why not pick something that you can reate to and understnad, something you personaly actually know something about?
Finding a partner is very much like finding a friend.
You go to places where people with similar interests hang out, you talk to them, you do things togehter, you get to know them...
Some become close friends (climbing partners). Some are good for casual not-high-stakes situations. Some, while being perfectly good people in and of themselves, turn out to be not a good match for you for 100s of different reasons, and some turn out to be douchebags.
That's it on a general level.
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mz1
Jan 17, 2010, 10:02 PM
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As I mentioned before, the text I am working from is "Touching the Void", which is a climbing book....
I am not focusing on details of climbing within, yet the ideas and themes of friendship and companions.
Has anyone here ever been to a group where you can meet people to climb with?
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I_do
Jan 17, 2010, 10:27 PM
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mz1 wrote: As I mentioned before, the text I am working from is "Touching the Void", which is a climbing book.... I am not focusing on details of climbing within, yet the ideas and themes of friendship and companions. Has anyone here ever been to a group where you can meet people to climb with?
They're called climbing clubs/outdoor camps you'll find they're quite ubiquitous.
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jeepnphreak
Jan 17, 2010, 11:20 PM
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Another thing you may wish to consider is, instead of siveing through all the internet BS. Try looking up a climbing gym and go interview some climbers and see what they have to say.
find a few that climb outside that would require partner finding skills that you are inquiring about, and not just boulders.
All though boulders display increadable climbing skills, they are not roped up hundreads of feet in the air. I would be more apt to trust a random spotter when Iam only a few feet off the ground.
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milesenoell
Jan 17, 2010, 11:39 PM
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mz1 wrote: As I mentioned before, the text I am working from is "Touching the Void", which is a climbing book.... I am not focusing on details of climbing within, yet the ideas and themes of friendship and companions.
The thing about Touching the Void is that is isn't really so much about climbing, but rather about one man's incredible drive to survive.
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slavetogravity
Jan 18, 2010, 1:09 AM
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After 17 years of climbing, I've roped up with more people then I'd care to think about. Some of the more memorable partners fall in one of three categories.
Awesome, adequate, and idiot.
An adequate parter is someone who knows how to climb, but is someone that I have little in common with, in terms of our personal interests (other then climbing) So the conversation and relationship is just about climbing.
An idiot is someone who knows how to climb, but is someone who I have nothing in common with, and who insists on talking about shit all day. This is never a problem if I'm climbing with this type of person for a day, but idiot climbing partners have proven to be problematic over longer month long climbing trips.
The awesome partners are who I would call my friends, there the people who I invite over to the house for dinner after a day of climbing. Most importantly they're the people who rarely talk about climbing, while we're hanging out or when we're actually climbing. Last summer my friend Andrew and I spent a day climbing a muti pitch 5.10d in an alpine area of the Valhalla range. A serious undertaking, but during the climb we laughed and talked about things like home renovations, and the finner points of married life. It's those qualities that I look for in a climbing partner.
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angry
Jan 18, 2010, 1:15 AM
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Boobs
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shockabuku
Jan 18, 2010, 1:28 AM
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Moxy.
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AntinJ
Jan 18, 2010, 3:25 AM
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slavetogravity wrote: After 17 years of climbing, I've roped up with more people then I'd care to think about. Some of the more memorable partners fall in one of three categories. Awesome, adequate, and idiot. An adequate parter is someone who knows how to climb, but is someone that I have little in common with, in terms of our personal interests (other then climbing) So the conversation and relationship is just about climbing. An idiot is someone who knows how to climb, but is someone who I have nothing in common with, and who insists on talking about shit all day. This is never a problem if I'm climbing with this type of person for a day, but idiot climbing partners have proven to be problematic over longer month long climbing trips. The awesome partners are who I would call my friends, there the people who I invite over to the house for dinner after a day of climbing. Most importantly they're the people who rarely talk about climbing, while we're hanging out or when we're actually climbing. Last summer my friend Andrew and I spent a day climbing a muti pitch 5.10d in an alpine area of the Valhalla range. A serious undertaking, but during the climb we laughed and talked about things like home renovations, and the finner points of married life. It's those qualities that I look for in a climbing partner.
+1 Good Summary!
For me - a good partner is a competent climber, but also capable of maintaining a good sense of humor especially when things are not going well.
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rtwilli4
Jan 18, 2010, 3:37 AM
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If it's a girl she has to be hot.
If it's a guy he has to like whiskey.
I usually won't get on a multi-pitch with someone who doesn't know how to build a 3:1.
I won't trad climb with someone who doesn't lead.
I won't sport climb with anyone who repeatedly takes, top ropes anything, or raps a single pitch with a prussik knot.
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dan2see
Jan 18, 2010, 3:37 AM
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Eyes. Definitely the eyes.
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swoopee
Jan 18, 2010, 4:48 PM
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I look for scars and cuts on their ankles.
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markc
Jan 18, 2010, 5:15 PM
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rtwilli4 wrote: I won't trad climb with someone who doesn't lead.
How else can you manage to hog all the leads?
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LostinMaine
Jan 18, 2010, 5:18 PM
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mz1 wrote: Hi, I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being " Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson. I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with. My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful! Many Thanks, Miles
Someone who will cut my rope instead of passing a knot.
Someone who will burn my spare clothes when the things I am wearing are soaked in blood, sweat, and piss.
Someone to play "Simon Says" with on a regular basis.
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jcrew
Jan 18, 2010, 5:28 PM
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markc wrote: rtwilli4 wrote: I won't trad climb with someone who doesn't lead. How else can you manage to hog all the leads?
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boymeetsrock
Jan 18, 2010, 9:30 PM
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In my opinion there are a few specific areas that are important when choosing a climbing partner.
1) Climbing ability and experience. This is my first criteria and the major deciding factor in the level of difficulty/ commitment I will accept with this person. Further, I will not just jump into serious climbing objectives with people I have not climbed with before. The rare exception being a person who comes with a strong resume and a strong recommendation from a regular climbing partner.
2) Personality goes a long way to making an experience or a relationship. If your personality sucks, we probably wont climb much if at all. If you have a great personality then I may be willing to undertake some more serious climbs with you. Personality becomes especially important on longer or more challenging trips where your partners disposition can really effect your experience.
3) Similar to personality, attitude and drive are very important and will dictate the types of adventures we will undertake together. I'm not dragging you anywhere. You need to want to go where we are planning to go, and stick to that goal despite what could be great adversity/ challenge.
I've met climbing partners in many different ways. Some were people I met through climbing and was able to assess their abilities before we tied into a rope together. Some people I met on this particular forum. I climbed with them with no prior knowledge of their ability and the days objectives were chosen with that in mind. I've met total strangers at the crag and roped up with them because neither of us had partners. There are many ways to meet people to climb with, and each has its own issues to be concerned with. Most of the people I've met have been good to climb with, but there is the occasional person who was scary, boring, aggravating, stupid, slow....
One neat thing about climbing relationships is they can be wildly varying. Some partners form STRONG friendships, and will get together at any opportunity, becoming almost family.
There are other partnerships that are built and maintained out of necessity for someone who will undertake your objective, keep up, keep you safe. It is possible that these partners could hate each other but share a common goal...
Then there are the partnerships that aren't really partnerships. Those people who you met up with for various reasons, and vow to yourself you will never rope up with them again for whatever reason.
I guess what sets climbing relationships apart from so many others is that we make the choice to trust our partner with our life. This is no small statement, and really creates the unique dynamic found in climbing partnerships. If there was one factor which identified the climbing relationship, I think it would stem from this point.
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fxgranite
Jan 18, 2010, 10:23 PM
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A nice car and a lead foot
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majid_sabet
Jan 18, 2010, 11:03 PM
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mz1 wrote: Hi, I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being " Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson. I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with. My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful! Many Thanks, Miles
I found Angry (my lost soul) and I am a happy man
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angry
Jan 18, 2010, 11:41 PM
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majid_sabet wrote: mz1 wrote: Hi, I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being " Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson. I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with. My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful! Many Thanks, Miles I found Angry (my lost soul) and I am a happy man
Wait, I'm confused. You have tits?
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blueeyedclimber
Jan 19, 2010, 12:37 AM
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rtwilli4 wrote: If it's a girl she has to be hot.
I'm already married. This doesn't matter. Unless of course, we're talking about my wife, then yes she does.
In reply to: If it's a guy he has to like whiskey.
I don't like whiskey.
In reply to: I usually won't get on a multi-pitch with someone who doesn't know how to build a 3:1.
Why? Do you often need to be hauled up?
In reply to: I won't trad climb with someone who doesn't lead.
I would be psyched. That means I get to lead every pitch.
In reply to: I won't sport climb with anyone who repeatedly takes, top ropes anything, or raps a single pitch with a prussik knot.
I take if I am working something. Sometimes I toprope in the gym. Although I don't usually use a backup on a single pitch, I have.
Seems to me, if you were serious about all these, you might have trouble finding partners. If you were tongue in cheek, then I won't climb with anyone who wears knickers or says Y'all. 
Josh
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mr.tastycakes
Jan 19, 2010, 1:52 AM
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a good weed connection.
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rtwilli4
Jan 23, 2010, 2:37 PM
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blueeyedclimber wrote: Seems to me, if you were serious about all these, you might have trouble finding partners. If you were tongue in cheek, then I won't climb with anyone who wears knickers or says Y'all. Josh
That means you don't get to climb in NC ;)
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j_ung
Jan 23, 2010, 3:09 PM
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RC ISO CP for T, S, B or other. Must have SCA/TK and HGLP. No compulsive complainers, please.
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hndanatomy
Jan 28, 2010, 7:32 AM
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Aside from the basics: safety, knowledge, similar climbing level, experience, tolerable personality, etc, I try to partner with climbers who who solves the crux differently than I do. Someone whose strengths are different than mine so our base is more solid.
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airscape
Jan 28, 2010, 7:46 AM
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mz1 wrote: Hi, I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being " Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson. I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with. My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful! Many Thanks, Miles
a grigri.
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ladyscarlett
Jan 28, 2010, 9:25 AM
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Damn! based on this and supporting posts, I'm totally screwed...
I guess I'll have to go about it the old fashioned way and actually find people who can have fun with me...preferably as high as we can get! heh heh heh
good luck
cheers
ls
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blueeyedclimber
Jan 28, 2010, 1:10 PM
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I've got boobs. Would you climb with me?
Josh
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karmiclimber
Jan 28, 2010, 2:59 PM
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This is like asking me what type of man I like to date. Its complex to explain! I agree with the other poster who said their partners were either adequate or awesome. I've also climbed with assholes...the ones who make climbing unfun by being angry or self-absorbed or know it all. Or not sober, which in my opinion, is the worst. I don't climb or belay intoxicated and my partner should not either. Most of my climbing partners have been more experienced that I am. I am kind of wussy. But I taught my current partner how to climb and we have a blast and its cool to be the leader and experienced one now. I think for most climbers, the need for what kind of partner evolves over time. And the best partners are the ones who always have your back, you see eye to eye with and are good friends with and the rest will fall into place.
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euroford
Jan 28, 2010, 4:18 PM
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willingness to carry heavy packs up nasty approaches and lead the pitches that i don't want.
duh.
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dingus
Jan 28, 2010, 4:37 PM
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I only climb with my friends really. Ability takes a huge back seat to friendship. I don't have a lot of steady partners, 3-5 depending, mostly 1 or 2 though.
I have no real concrete goals in climbing, never really did either. Just some nebulous 'would like to do somedays.'
I will go where my friends want to go, a lot of the time. Willing to help them with their goals and dreams as I was once helped myself.
Don't get me wrong, I go to climb, not to hang out. But I mostly do it with friends and mostly with close friends. Saves time on explanations!
DMT
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jcrew
Jan 28, 2010, 4:43 PM
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ladyscarlett wrote: Damn! based on this and supporting posts, I'm totally screwed...
i think you could slide in under the "babe" clause.
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boltdagunks
Feb 1, 2010, 6:51 PM
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I only climb with RC.com posers cause they have read every written word on safety.
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tehbillzor
Feb 1, 2010, 10:33 PM
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1) How well can they Belay/Spot me
2) How well can they climb (close to or above my level preferably)
3) Do our personalities promote synergy or cacophony
4) Are they prompt, and maintain good communication (on and of the rocks)
5) Do I really want to trust my life to this person?
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dr_feelgood
Feb 1, 2010, 10:34 PM
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mz1 wrote: As I mentioned before, the text I am working from is "Touching the Void", which is a climbing book.... I am not focusing on details of climbing within, yet the ideas and themes of friendship and companions. Has anyone here ever been to a group where you can meet people to climb with?
Alcoholics Anonymous?
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dr_feelgood
Feb 1, 2010, 10:40 PM
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rtwilli4 wrote: If it's a girl she has to be hot. If it's a guy he has to like whiskey. I usually won't get on a multi-pitch with someone who doesn't know how to build a 3:1. I won't trad climb with someone who doesn't lead. I won't sport climb with anyone who repeatedly takes, top ropes anything, or raps a single pitch with a prussik knot.
PM happiegirl. I think she fits all of your criteria, and has about as many rules as you do.
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mrtristan
Feb 2, 2010, 7:52 AM
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I look for someone who 1) is experienced/knows what they're doing, and 2) has the same climbing goals as me. In other words, he wants to climb the same things that I want to climb.
I've met my best climbing partners through mutual friends.
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TarHeelEMT
Feb 5, 2010, 4:19 PM
Post #49 of 52
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Registered: Jun 20, 2009
Posts: 724
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mz1 wrote: Hi, I've joined the forum here on order to do some research for something I'm working on. I am in the process of writing a script for a radio drama as part of my A2 coursework for English, with our initial text being " Touching The Void" by Joe Simpson. I am looking at the themes of companionship here and will write about two people finding one another to climb with. My question is "What do you look for in a climbing companion?" If you could answer this, or even tell me how you have found some of your climbing companions, I would be extremely grateful! Many Thanks, Miles
It depends. I climb trad almost exclusively, and there are two basic types of partners that I have:
1) Somebody for a fun, easy day out cragging. I'll take just about anybody who is fun to hang out with and can be trusted to give a good belay. I really enjoy taking folks new to climbing out for a day on easy stuff. All that matters here is fun to hang out with, and preferably female.
2) Somebody to push my limits with. There are very few people that I'll climb with here, and I need full faith in their protection skills and decision making. I still haven't decided which of those is more important to me. Probably the latter. One of my regular climbing partners is a guy that I initially didn't trust because he had a flair for overstating his abilities. I played it very carefully with him until, over time, I came to realize that it was just talk, and that he was as careful and measured as me when it came to actually making decisions. I have to know that they're going to make the right decisions to keep both of us safe.
I made the mistake of doing a challenging alpine trip with a guy whose abilities I had doubts about, and I ended up with my first epic as a result.
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kachoong
Feb 5, 2010, 4:49 PM
Post #50 of 52
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Registered: Jan 23, 2004
Posts: 15304
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A campfire is a great place to find partners. Just don't climb with those that put out the fire with their spray.
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shoo
Feb 5, 2010, 5:10 PM
Post #51 of 52
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Registered: Dec 22, 2006
Posts: 1501
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Post count.
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swoopee
Feb 5, 2010, 8:42 PM
Post #52 of 52
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Registered: Nov 17, 2008
Posts: 560
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rtwilli4 wrote: blueeyedclimber wrote: Seems to me, if you were serious about all these, you might have trouble finding partners. If you were tongue in cheek, then I won't climb with anyone who wears knickers or says Y'all. Josh That means you don't get to climb in NC ;)
Ouch!!!
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