what is the criteria to be considered a "VALLEY LOCAL"

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List

This thread has been locked

Messages 1 - 20 of total 97 in this topic

<< First | < Previous | Show All | Next > | Last >>

east side underground

Trad climber

crowley ca

Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 28, 2008 - 01:34pm PT

How is a person a valley local? Live in the ditch year around?, Many seasons (spring, summer, fall)climbing, number of FA's ???

hollyclimber

Big Wall climber

Yosemite, CA

Aug 28, 2008 - 01:38pm PT

Local = Live Locally?

east side underground

Trad climber

crowley ca

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2008 - 01:41pm PT

Hey BARNEY, I didn't say I was a valley local, proud NOT to be one , but there seem to be a lot on super taco

hollyclimber

Big Wall climber

Yosemite, CA

Aug 28, 2008 - 01:42pm PT

Yeah, people who live near the valley suck. I hate them all. Whatever. I call it "jealousy".

hollyclimber

Big Wall climber

Yosemite, CA

Aug 28, 2008 - 01:44pm PT

So, if you live in Washington, climb every winter in JT and have done 1000 routes there, you are local? Come on climbers, try to help out our reputation as intelligent users of words! Anniversary = 24-25 issues? Local equals someone who visits often? Dumb.

I climbed at Smith every weekend during the appropriate season for years, have done thousands of routes there during that time, was never "local". Unless you call a 6 hour drive each way local.

DUMB. There is no such arbitrary definition for a Valley local. Like climbing has a bylaw book or something. Wait, let me check my SEC regulation book, maybe it will have a definition of number of routes required for the registrant to state to the SEC that they are local!

Flashlight

climber

Aug 28, 2008 - 01:48pm PT

Nothing more irritating than someone who struts around as if they are better than anybody else because they consider themselves a "local" and look at you as if you are trespassing. I don't mean the Ditch specifically. Usually, "localism" is at its worst in ski towns.

hollyclimber

Big Wall climber

Yosemite, CA

Aug 28, 2008 - 01:49pm PT

That's pretty interesting/funny! This stat keeping seems very serious. In the Valley you get mocked for tracking your number of routes. Different scene I guess. Wonder if the people with tons of routes in JT mock those who track their El Cap routes? Wonder how many people have done more than 1000 routes and refuse to report them? Maybe I will have to go live with Kate this winter and see if I can set a record for becoming a JT local in the shortest time possible. Is there a stat for fastest accomplishment of the official title "local"? What is the minimum grade? Can you TR to be a local? After all, there is someone on the El Cap list that counts all jugging ascents as a climb of El Cap, and therefore is high in a category that they would not otherwise be near or at the top of! (ok so I am joking here on these questions).

It is interesting though that this "badge of honor" has a criteria and tracking, etc, which is something that many climbing communities shun and you are "spraying" if you keep track and/or report and you are considered kind of a cool cat if you keep mum about your sends.

east side underground

Trad climber

crowley ca

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2008 - 01:55pm PT

Hey hollyclimber, I know many valley ledgends who live here on the eastside, you hate them all?

k-man

Gym climber

SCruz

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:01pm PT

I've lived in Santa Cruz for over 30 years. That's more than half my life.

I still don't consider myself a local.

Saying that you have to do so many climbs in order to be considered a local is cute, but I think it misses the point.

I don't know how many routes Chicken Skinner has done, but I surely consider him a local, even if he's done less than 1/4 or the routes in Yosemite. Just look at what he has done for the area. How about David Brower? (How's that CS, you and David mentioned in the same Para!)

Being "local" is about being active in the community. Period.
Take two people, one who lives in an area, holed up in their home, or someone who does not live in the same area, but partakes in community activities that enhance the local.

Who is the local??

scuffy b

climber

Elmertown

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:02pm PT

I'm impressed that Mari Gingery, Mike Lechlinski and Woody Stark don't make the cut as Joshua Tree locals.

hollyclimber

Big Wall climber

Yosemite, CA

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:03pm PT

Its called sarcasm. I live in Yosemite. You post implies that its so horrible to be a Valley local. I was agreeing with you, and adding hate. In fact, I don't hate myself or any other Valley locals! Well, maybe one person.

Since Yosemite doesn't have the cute tracking for badge of honor status, I think we won't set up a definition now...not gonna stick. Unless Bridwell sets it up. Then, I will go along.

But, being the accountant "numbers chasing climber" that I have been accused to be, I am very much looking forward to becoming a JT local this winter!! Finally, a place that will accept my route counting tendancies and the desire to reach a certain number. Now, if only I can figure out what to do with my dog. :)

east side underground

Trad climber

crowley ca

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2008 - 02:08pm PT

localism in ski towns, Ha Ha Ha, you've got to be kidding, ever been to the islands HOALE

GDavis

Trad climber

SoCal

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:12pm PT

If you keep mum about your ascents, you probably don't care if you're considered a 'local' or not.

Joshua tree and the valley are 180 degrees in terms of attitudes. Of the locals listed, all the ones I've met or talked to are super cool, unassuming, mortal climbers who enjoy a good lifestyle of fun in the sun (as it were). The valley 'locals' I could tell right off because of the arrogance, spray, and machismo that normally can only be found in Bollywood films. I usually leave conversations with these locals with a vomity taste in my mouth.

From what I hear from those 'in the know,' to be a 'valley local' you have to:

Have some kind of blue collar DNC job like scrubbing dishes or repairing phone line
Solo the Steck Salathe twice a week, and tell at least 5 people daily of said feat
Hate Camp4, all visiting climbers (on par with tourists in your pure eyes), anyone climbing big walls (and el cap in general) and ACTUALLY climbing.

I think the JT list is a lot cooler. Sure, you could come by and blitz 1000 routes in a few years if you were really hell bent to getting that badge, but no one cares enough to actually do it. Maybe 2 people on that list never actually lived there at one time or another.

As far as calling a 25th issue an anniversary issue, well, there are worse things in life :O

I'm a San Diego Local. What does this entail? Paying your dues searching chaparral-covered foothills for measly piles of dirt red DG in search of new potential, including several instances of gun toting ranchers being involved and the odd pitbull attack. Also required is time spent at the school of hard knocks, i.e. the slimey caveat of Mission Gorge. An annual trip to bishop in the winter and New Jack in the spring are also ideal, but not required, to be a San Diego XtReMe Climber.

east side underground

Trad climber

crowley ca

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2008 - 02:17pm PT

hey, I'm just having fun with ya'll, stuck at home with a vasectomy gone bad, it makes you very CROTCHTEY!!!

atchafalaya

climber

Babylon

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:18pm PT

I thought all you had to do was camp in Camp 4, eat at the cafeteria, and complain about rangers?!?!?

bvb

Social climber

flagstaff arizona

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:22pm PT

i think being a local is simply a state of mind that one develops after days, weeks, months, years, and decades spent in a given area. for example, although i no longer live in socal, i consider myself a local given my 35 years of on-an-off residency, thousands upon thousands of climbing days spent there, and regular climbing trips spent there.

if you have to ask yourself if you're a local, you probably aren't. if you are a local, it would never occur to you to ask.

Hardman Knott

Gym climber

Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca

Aug 28, 2008 - 02:27pm PT

Since I hang with a lotta Yosemite folks here on the Taco, does that make me a Valley Local™?

east side underground

Trad climber

crowley ca

Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2008 - 02:37pm PT

I think the cool thing about climbing is that there is no real localism, people are generally very friendly,share info, and are pretty courteous, it's not that way in other sports