Maddhatter wrote:

I served in the U.S. Marines as an infantryman, and was first exposed to rock climbing in a mountain warfare course in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The equipment used was not as nice as most recreational climbers use, as we climbed in our desert boots, used the munter for belaying, and wore Swiss seats fastened from webbing. We carried our rifles and packs on our backs, making most of the climbing, which was likely 5.2, harder. We also climbed at night, with no lights, which remains one of my fondest climbing memories.