|
vikasshah
Oct 23, 2002, 3:46 AM
Post #1 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 4, 2002
Posts: 40
|
Question: I've been having trouble finding people to climb with outside. I was wondering how people felt about climbers who just show up at the crag by themselves (with their gear, of course). Is it a faux pas to ask people to climb with them? I suppose you could get lucky and find a group of three that came... As with anything, I'm sure there will be a variety of philosophies on this. I'm just looking for a general feeling about it.
|
|
|
|
|
mcsosar3456
Oct 23, 2002, 4:00 AM
Post #2 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 6, 2002
Posts: 103
|
i do it with bouldering all the time, but thats a bit different than ropes. i might let somebody belay me who i just met, but i would decide at the time based on my perception of the person.
|
|
|
|
|
jt512
Oct 23, 2002, 4:02 AM
Post #3 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 12, 2001
Posts: 21904
|
Tactics for finding pick-up partners at the crags:
- Check the partners bulletin board, if there is one.
- Offer a belay to someone who is sitting around. Everyone knows that this is code for actually wanting a belay.
- Do the converse of the above: hang out with your harness on and wait for someone to offer you a belay.
- Ask to join an odd-numbered party.
- Offer to ropegun for a weaker climber or climbing party.
-Jay
|
|
|
|
|
cragchica
Oct 23, 2002, 4:18 AM
Post #4 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 29, 2002
Posts: 183
|
Great advice, Jay!
I agree completely. I see absolutely nothing wrong with joining other parties at the crag. This is MUCH easier if you are planning to do single-pitch sport, though I have heard people do the same at Tahquitz when lacking in partners.
Most of the sport crags I frequent are filled with friendly people who eagerly offer their rope to me should I wonder down ahead of my partners. I have accepted offers, and met new friends in the process. This is especially true in the gym, where half the people there show up without partners knowing somebody else will surely do the same.
|
|
|
|
|
climbingfoo
Oct 23, 2002, 11:33 PM
Post #5 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 25, 2002
Posts: 135
|
I've never encountered any difficulties when I just show up at a wall. Just be nice, strick up a conversation, and offer to belay. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself cranking and a couple new friends to boot.
|
|
|
|
|
texasclimber
Oct 24, 2002, 12:06 AM
Post #6 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jun 19, 2002
Posts: 821
|
Just show up and you'll be fine. I have never heard of anyone saying, "No, you can't join us." That just wouldn't happen. Has anyone here been turned down before (or a belay that is )
|
|
|
|
|
stevematthys
Oct 25, 2002, 12:26 AM
Post #7 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 13, 2000
Posts: 1248
|
probably try to find a group of three climbers to join so that you do not become a third wheel.
|
|
|
|
|
josher
Oct 25, 2002, 12:52 AM
Post #8 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 21, 2002
Posts: 295
|
Just a bit awkword i would imagine. You could always post a "partner wanted" at your local gym of gear shop. Or here for that matter. Im hpooking up w/ some folks I meet here this weekend!
|
|
|
|
|
tanner
Oct 25, 2002, 1:26 AM
Post #9 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 28, 2002
Posts: 491
|
Its great meeting new people and climbing with them. My friend and I met this realy cool guy who was suposed to be meeting friends there. his friend didn't show so we hooked up with him he rope gunned a few hard routes for us and showed us some new climbs it was great.
|
|
|
|
|
climbinganne
Oct 27, 2002, 12:08 PM
Post #10 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Apr 15, 2002
Posts: 11679
|
i have been fortunatle to have very positive experiences meeting ppl at the crags...this one sunday...hahahaha...every sunday, mitch is late, this sunday it was pushing 70 minutes...so i had been chatting with these three guys and they finally asked if i wanted to jump on their rope...weeeeeeheeeee...heck yeah!!!
while i was climbing this route, mitch walks up and says...no, hahahaha..i better not say exactly what he said...but i laughed!!!
|
|
|
|
|
mike
Oct 27, 2002, 12:39 PM
Post #11 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 1461
|
Yeah, just watch them for a while, if they know what they are doing just stand around and look pathetic until they ask you to climb.
|
|
|
|
|
boulderingmadman
Oct 27, 2002, 3:37 PM
Post #12 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Sep 14, 2002
Posts: 448
|
you can also put the exclamation point on the equation by traversing low to the ground, in their general vicinity. as long as youre not in the way, theyll notice and almost always ask if you wanna "give it run", especially if the route is rather hard and they wanna try to impress you with what theyre climbing...
|
|
|
|
|
jbone
Oct 27, 2002, 4:22 PM
Post #13 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Jul 30, 2002
Posts: 463
|
Solo.
JBone
|
|
|
|
|
astone
Oct 27, 2002, 5:35 PM
Post #14 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Feb 17, 2002
Posts: 183
|
Become a hired ropegun. It beats the heck out of standing around. Handing out free power bars and gatorade helps too.
|
|
|
|
|
ajkclay
Oct 28, 2002, 12:00 PM
Post #15 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: May 9, 2002
Posts: 1567
|
Would it work if I wanted to climb Everest? Just turn up at base camp, offer to make tea etc..
|
|
|
|
|
wyoclimber
Oct 28, 2002, 2:42 PM
Post #16 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Mar 13, 2002
Posts: 210
|
Works great, and you meet great people, just be carefull, not everyone at the crags know what they are doing! i watch them belay a time or two before i trust my life to them. its usually very apparent if they have their systems down or not.
wyo
|
|
|
|
|
high_times
Oct 30, 2002, 9:00 PM
Post #17 of 17
(2567 views)
Shortcut
Registered: Oct 30, 2002
Posts: 76
|
Dude...just spark the convo about what a wonderful place you're at and what a cool climb whoever is doing what...if they're cool climbers they'll offer you a catch...if not...then it wasn't meant to be. From my experience...I've had no problem hooking up partners at the crags.
I'm sure as long as your cool...they'll be cool.
|
|
|
|
|
|
