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mungeclimber
Feb 6, 2004, 1:31 AM
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In reply to: In reply to: part of that is my fault for getting my friends involved The first rule about climbing is "You do not talk about climbing" :P Exactly!
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climbhigh2005
Feb 4, 2004, 11:06 PM
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okay, is anyone else watching the news? Because last night and this morning there was 2 segments on how climbing is getting popular?!?! NO! Am I the only one that is selfish and wants climbing to not be the "popular sport". On the segment on TV, they just showed indoor... most of the people that are getting into it are climbin indoor but still... plus climbing isnt like any other sport... I know at my indoor climbing wall there use to only be like 5 of us, and now there are like 50 people... part of that is my fault for getting my friends involved, now I regret it! we cant have alot of people at crags and stuff... its just not right... Sorry if I'm complaining and sounding really selfish, but seriously, is anyone else feel this way?
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robmcc
Feb 4, 2004, 11:10 PM
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Yep, I've felt that way for a long time. I don't want to try to keep people out, but I do think it's counterproductive to try to bring everyone in. There's only so much real rock out there. Rob
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robmcc
Feb 4, 2004, 11:15 PM
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Yep, I've felt that way for a long time. I don't want to try to keep people out, but I do think it's counterproductive to try to bring everyone in. There's only so much real rock out there. Rob
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lunatixx
Feb 4, 2004, 11:16 PM
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people get into a sport if they really like it :) if they don'T they will find something else soon...don't worry
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aznrockclimber82
Feb 4, 2004, 11:20 PM
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You guys have some interesting standings since both of you are in places where there is PLENTY of rock.....seriously though, I know the gyms are getting more crowded, but you know that the gym businesses that have been struggling are liking the popularity cause they are no longer POOR. But so far as real rock....in the US alone there is enough rock for us to make or do regular routes and never see another climber for miles around....there really are places like that. Yes, there crowded, but it takes time to build a bigger facility. Besides, once the big "popularity" boom happens it always decreases after people realize that it's a risky sport and are not willing to get on a cliff or even get on a board 5 feet above the ground. Another thing is that this sport isn't exactly the cheapest sport out there. Safety does come with the money....all it takes is a few dumb amatuers who buy shoes and chalk bags and go monkey crazy highballing stuff they shouldn't befor the general public, mainly parent's, to start abolishing the sport as something stupid. Or for only people with the "will to die". At that point, we will stand alone again, and enjoy the less then half empty cliffs and indoor gyms....it tends to flare up and die in intervals.... $$$ is a big thing since we have a Crud-load of more climbing companies...so of course there gonna make it popular......patience is the only thing we have.....nough wit da mah ramblin, peace Gecko's Rule
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muncher
Feb 4, 2004, 11:26 PM
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Sure you are being selfish, but almost every other climber will agree with you. It's all good to say hey it's allright for me to start but no one else can but we have to realise that we were all in that position once. I guess there is a difference between for example starting to climb because someone you know climbs and is prepared to teach you than being recruited by the mass media into the wonderful world of indoor climbing. There probably are enough climbers around right now but it is very easy,at least in the Blue Mountains, to avoid the most popular crags on weekends and never have to deal with crowds. I guess it keeps the industry going i.e grear etc but in the end many of the people who get into climbing from watching something on the news will probably start at the gym and stay/stop at the gym.
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keazah
Feb 4, 2004, 11:27 PM
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In reply to: people get into a sport if they really like it :) if they don'T they will find something else soon...don't worry That's true... they wouldn't last as long if they're not really into it... I mean... it's too much time investment and money too!! So if it were only to be a few months hobbyit wouldn't be worthed.
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plund
Feb 4, 2004, 11:28 PM
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Yes, climbhigh, it's all your fault! What a HORRIBLE person you are for getting your friends involved in something about which you care deeply! Now you have to share space with your buds - how awful! Seriously, there's lots of rock around, and if the gym's too crowded find another time. The commercialization / "popification" of climbing is lame, but I agree with those who say it's cyclical. The people who love it will stick with it, those who don't will move on to the next hot thing. Don't feel bad - enjoy the times with your friends - BE SAFE! peace...
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scubasnyder
Feb 4, 2004, 11:43 PM
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people will quit before getting outside i hope
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sticky_fingers
Feb 4, 2004, 11:48 PM
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In reply to: part of that is my fault for getting my friends involved The first rule about climbing is "You do not talk about climbing" :P
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sandbag
Feb 4, 2004, 11:50 PM
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the good thing about climbing is that it has a fairly accurate and rapid attenuation for the poor judgement/stupid climbers that dont use safety and foresight. this will never change. Climb on!
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moabbeth
Feb 4, 2004, 11:51 PM
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Hey, as long as they stay in the gyms fine with me. The ones who truly love the sport will find their way outside while for the majority, it's just plastic hold gymnastics exercise and they'll stay indoors. And the ones who do find their way outside, as long as their safe and they have passion for climbing the rock, good for them!
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mtnjohn
Feb 5, 2004, 1:09 AM
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climbhigh2002, We all were / are the new group of climbers over crowding the areas. We all at some point were looked as the new breed with lower ethics, compromising the purity. I've been climbing close to 15 years now and I remember being johnny come lately. We've all been those people. Don't dis people because they found a sport / lifestyle after you did. Climbing for a week or a decade, big deal Have fun, respect nature and respect each other. We all share one planet
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styndall
Feb 5, 2004, 1:09 AM
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In reply to: okay, is anyone else watching the news? Because last night and this morning there was 2 segments on how climbing is getting popular?!?! NO! I think that maybe, what with the date you started climbing, you might not complain so much about climbing being a recent popular phenomenon. I didn't start too much earlier than you, and I still count as an idiot newjack much of the time. I'm glad climbing is popular enough to have gotten a college gym near enough to me that I could try it out and learn to love the sport enough to get outdoors fairly often. Be grateful for the visibility and accompanying opportunity, and do what you can to minimize impact. And, more importantly, don't begrudge anyone the chance to climb. What if no one had been allowed to start climbing after 2001?
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sharpender
Feb 5, 2004, 1:39 AM
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In reply to: Sorry if I'm complaining and sounding really selfish, but seriously, is anyone else feel this way? Hey Meliss, I feel this way too. All you damn noobs comin along and gettin in the way. Why, I'm pretty sure you weren't even born when I started climbin. damn nerve of you folks jumpin on the popularity bandwagon. Don't get in the way at MY crag. OK girl, enough silly raggin'. Actually, I think everybody on the planet is selfish. Not to worry though, Of the 5 billion plus of us only a tiny fraction are actually into climbing. Hey, do you like bowling? I read it is the most popular "sport" in America. When you think of the difference between bowling and bouldering it doesn't seem to likely that they'll all give that up to get dirty and sweaty, plus no hot food and cold beer delivered to them at the first belay. My advice, get into trad, move out west and do winter ascents. Presto. No more crowding. Have fun.
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powderhound
Feb 5, 2004, 1:44 AM
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Well I have found that at people come into the gyms think it is the Cool thing to do so they buy shoes and a harness and give it a try. Now when there hands start to hurt and they get permenent calusess they stop. Most do it for a month or two then are done. Off to the next new thing. I don't worry bout them much, cause they don't climb my routes, and I don't see them durning the summer or fall, cause i am outside. Bryan "The only time I feel alive is when I stare death in the face."
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caughtinside
Feb 5, 2004, 2:12 AM
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In reply to: okay, is anyone else watching the news? Because last night and this morning there was 2 segments on how climbing is getting popular?!?! NO! Am I the only one that is selfish and wants climbing to not be the "popular sport". On the segment on TV, they just showed indoor... most of the people that are getting into it are climbin indoor but still... plus climbing isnt like any other sport... I know at my indoor climbing wall there use to only be like 5 of us, and now there are like 50 people... part of that is my fault for getting my friends involved, now I regret it! we cant have alot of people at crags and stuff... its just not right... Sorry if I'm complaining and sounding really selfish, but seriously, is anyone else feel this way? What's amusing is that you are complaining about yourself. You just started climbing, and take all your friends climbing. Welcome to the fad.
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scotto
Feb 5, 2004, 2:14 AM
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Just keep checking Ebay because they will buy gear and then not like climbing and sell all their brand new gear.
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climbhigh2005
Feb 5, 2004, 2:34 AM
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I have been climbing a little over a year.. I know thats not long, but I dont know how much more dedicated I could be to the sport... sorry if I'm being a hyprocrit!
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climbhigh2005
Feb 5, 2004, 2:36 AM
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Oh ya btw I didnt go climbing tonight for the first Wednesday all year, and 4 people called me and begged me to come... made me feel important! LOL sorry just thought I'd share! :lol:
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iamthewallress
Feb 5, 2004, 2:49 AM
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In reply to: I have been climbing a little over a year.. I know thats not long, but I dont know how much more dedicated I could be to the sport... I don't know you except from your posts, but I am sure that there is room for you to become much, much, much more dedicated. Perhaps you'll become a full-timer after high school, but then again we don't all need to live under boulders to justify our existance as climbers. I don't think that we need to take a stance as to why we deserve to climb more than those "other" trendy bandwagoners either. If we really felt that strongly about keeping climbing low-profile, we wouldn't go to such lengths to use it to assert how much cooler being a climber makes us. Seriously, when I first started climbing in the gym, I heard all of these people talk about how lame the gym climbers were and how the REAL climbing was done at [Yosemite, Lover's Leap, Pinnacles, etc, etc.] Their strategy totally backfired, because it ensured that I would be coming to a trad crag near them as soon as I could assemble a rack. If you want to keep climbing lower-profile, don't teach new people, don't buy magazines or post about how wonderful it is to climb on websites like this one.
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bandycoot
Feb 5, 2004, 3:05 AM
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My secret to keeping the crowds down is to climb trad, and climb hard. Not that I'm great or anything, but there are a lot fewer people on the 5.10 trad leads I'm usually doing then the lower grades. Most new climbers seem to go into bouldering due to the ease of the transition from indoor to outdoor so I don't really notice an increase in crowds. If it's really a problem for you, go alpine.
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cragmasterp
Feb 5, 2004, 3:18 AM
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Coming from someone who has been climbing almost as long as you have been alive; aren't you the newbie? :wink: I also am guilty of teaching many of my friends about climbing; and some have gone on to become full - on hardmen/women. I wouldn't worry too much about it, only the ones who are really bitten by the bug will be out at the crags and chances are they are cool people too. Most of the posers will remain indoors. Plus you are from near chattanooga, right? One of the most rock-rich areas in the US.
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darelparker
Feb 5, 2004, 3:45 AM
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Has climbing become the newest fad sport? Well, judging from the recent crop of climbing-related TV commercials, one would have to reply...umm...maybe? But why worry? The same thing sort of happened to cycling when Lance Armstrong started winning the Tour. Heck, even skating, snowboarding, and surfing have become mainstream if you believe everything you see on MTV. Truth is, I'm the only guy in my neighborhood with a surfboard (three actually), though I don't own a snowboard or skateboard. See! It's all hype. The reality is that very few people who are introduced to climbing will ever truly immerse themselves in the sport. Most will try it once or twice, and then walk away with the same excuses: Shoes hurt too much, fingers get too sore, gear is too expensive, parent/spouse/significant other says it's too dangerous. I think once the novelty wears off (and it always does) the crowds will thin, the walls and gyms will clear, and all the trendy, sport-of-the-moment types will take up whatever TV tells them is new and cool (EXTREME KNITTING anyone?). For better or for worse, we are the fringe, and personally, I like it that way.
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