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skitch
climber
East of Heaven
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 28, 2014 - 04:43pm PT
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I hear it at least weekly from the local bishoptards that they hate climbers because they are all a bunch of bums and they don't spend any money in the area. Someone this morning, a sweet heart normally, told me that she is sick of climbers only drinking water at restaurants (I guess paying for shitty food isn't enough???).
Some of my friends think a study needs to be performed in the area to show the businesses, and politicians that catering to climbers will boost the economy, instead of focusing 90% of their attention to fishermen.
Any ideas?
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Byran
climber
San Jose, CA
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Aug 28, 2014 - 05:02pm PT
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BigK knows what's up. That's why they opened a Little Caesars in their store.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Aug 28, 2014 - 05:31pm PT
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The answer is
Negligible
You owe me a
$100,000 consulting fee.
I've been dirt bagging longer than almost anyone, just ate a $3.81slice o pizza and left a dollar tip.
Let's talk about the real sponges. The ones that get paid to run their rancid cows on Our land, start with vedauwoo!
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goatboy smellz
climber
लघिमा
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Aug 28, 2014 - 05:38pm PT
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I've been dirt bagging longer than almost anyone.
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Chugach
Trad climber
Vermont
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Aug 28, 2014 - 05:40pm PT
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You can add it all up and it's real damn negligible. Probably far less than any sport; tennis, soccer, golf, etc. Climbing gear lasts forever, real climbers are not fashion influenced and there is not much economic benefit in ramen or eating leftovers off the tray at curry village. It's best just to keep quiet about it and not draw attention to our cheap ass selves.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 28, 2014 - 06:34pm PT
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You first have to realize that there is a cultural divide. Bishop natives tend to be rural rednecks and climbers are often urban raised college educated liberals.
The same was true in Ouray. A lot of locals weren't willing to acknowledge the tremendous effect ice climbing had on the winter economy. Eventually the boom in the economy became too great to ignore.
The effect of climbers on Bishop's economy might but be as dramatic but I'm sure it's substantial. Climbers may drink water instead of soft drinks but I bet they tip better than the average tourist and I'm sure they don't skimp on adukt beverages.
People see what they want to see.
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Rankin
Social climber
Greensboro, North Carolina
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Aug 28, 2014 - 07:08pm PT
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I lived in Bishop for 9 years and what donini says is absolutely correct. There is a huge cultural divide between Bishop locals and most visiting climbers.
Plus, Bishopites are wary of all outsiders because the city of LA lied, cheated, and stole the water rights to the Owens River right out from under them a hundred years ago. LA wheelers and dealers also pushed for the creation of the Inyo National Forest, despite the fact that there is ZERO logging to be done there. This took away more private land, and eliminated potential development that could compete for LA's water.
Then the mines dried up and the Bishop economy really tanked. The economy is about as bad as it gets and locals raise children who are forced to move away after high school because of the lack of jobs and high cost of living.
With all that said, climbers absolutely contribute to the economy. Now, the Jack's family restaurant may not see much, but that's a wonder bread establishment and climber's don't frequent those places. But the Black Sheep benefits, as does Wilson's, Las Palmas, the Manor Market, and all of the gas stations.
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Aug 28, 2014 - 08:27pm PT
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Just exaggerate it a ton just like they do to justify building huge stadiums and new developments in big cities at tax payer expense. Around here the sturgis rally attracts more people than the whole state has, but taxes in the town have gone up and up and up. Seems to only benefit a few at the top.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 28, 2014 - 08:31pm PT
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I love the water up there, of course I have been drinking S. Cal water for 35 years. Yep, I am gonna die!
Cheap azz climbers do not contribute like the ski crowd or the LA weekenders. I spent very little on my three trips this summer, ate the 6 dollar combo special at Subway and bought no gas, I fill up at the 395/15 junction and that gets me up and back. I suspect that I spend like the average climber.
Curious though, just what would you like the locals to do for you? I am happy enough driving through town without getting tooled
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ruppell
climber
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Aug 28, 2014 - 08:58pm PT
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Any ideas?
Maybe start by not calling the locals bishoptards? Trust me there's plenty of retards in this town and not all of them where raised here.
Fishing generates WAY more revenue then climbers ever will. I'm not saying that climbers don't contribute, just that the town should focus on what has worked for years. Plus the crags are crowded enough already without the City councils help.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 28, 2014 - 09:04pm PT
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climbers are often urban raised college educated liberals - Donini
who can't spell or write a proper sentence. No wonder they're despised in Bishop.
No doubt the good people of Bishop have also caught the odd glimpse of climbers' hygiene protocols, too.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Aug 29, 2014 - 12:04am PT
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Well, when travelling, I almost always get some coffee or drink in the area. Let's say that's 3-12 dollars.
Then the gear I buy at the local mtn shop that's 2 to 300 dollars, depending on season and sale and trip.
If it's cold out I'm more likely to buy hot food indoors than freeze my ass off. 10-35
And if it's really cold and with mrs munge I'll fork over for a hotel. 65-200.
So in my mind, I'm fricking keeping the East Side alive! Love that place.
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Fig's Lady
Social climber
Bishop, CA and Tucson Arizona
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Aug 29, 2014 - 05:37am PT
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If you want to know how the water tastes, ask Los Angeles. The have most of it.
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skitch
climber
East of Heaven
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 29, 2014 - 07:37am PT
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The towns on the eastside drink well water, and it is VERY good in bishop! Mammoth brewing has been talking about putting a bottling plant in bishop partly due to the better water!
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Aug 29, 2014 - 09:07am PT
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Whenever I'm in town I use one or more of the grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacy, radio shack, and always stop at Great Basin Bakery if it is open. I've even supported the local medical offices.
I don't eat out much when I'm at home or when traveling in Bishop.
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franky
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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Aug 29, 2014 - 09:35am PT
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The Bishop locals are often really cool people. The town has a vibe that I haven't seen in other mountain towns with a tourist driven economy. Most of the locals are friendly and will provide good customer service. Manor market in particular comes to mind as a place where locals have gone out of their way to be climber friendly, and to cultivate climber business. Skitch, I probably don't know you, but saying bishoptard and having that point of view says some pretty bad things about your character.
Anecdotally, I suspect that per capita climbers contribute the least to the local economy of all tourist groups (vs fisherman, hunters, mule days folks, etc). Climbers certainly make a significant contribution however.
Maybe once the mountain rambler brewery opens its doors, climbers will go to the to of the list.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Aug 29, 2014 - 11:02am PT
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I'll bet I've dropped more $ at the rubber room, Wilson's, fish products -when it was in paradise-, and on mick Ryan bouldering guides, Lewis/moynier books, etc, than most locals. Then there are Von's, manor market, the health food store, kava (bitd), giggle springs, Schatts, various eateries.
Then up the road in mammoth, not to mention countless lobster taquitos, none of those towns lose money on me...
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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Aug 29, 2014 - 11:39am PT
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On the other hand, instead of complaining about not getting a $100 Hollywood type tip,
The state of Oregon gave an award to Alan Watts for developing Smith Rock into a destination, and providing a big boost to the Redmond area.
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AKDOG
Mountain climber
Anchorage, AK
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Aug 29, 2014 - 01:35pm PT
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Climbing gear lasts forever, real climbers are not fashion influenced and there is not much economic benefit in ramen or eating leftovers off the tray at curry village.
Those days are over, seems every climber I meet looks like they just left a Patagonia show room. More likely to see a climber gassing up their $30K Toyota Forerunner while talking on their Iphone or adjusting their go-pro, than digging in the trash for some recyclable cans now days.
Climbers spend plenty, working as a waitress in Bishop could make anyone bitter, climbers are just an easy target.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Aug 29, 2014 - 02:34pm PT
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the health food store I hope Paul Roehl and Bill Heiman forgive me for this anecdote, but my first climbing trip with them in 1973 or early 1974, had a quick diverson when Paul said "We need to stop at a health food store." I have never been a particular afficionado of health foods, and I wondered about the identity of the rations to which I would be subjected. I was quite relieved when the "health food store" turned out to be the easiest place to grab some beer.
Back to the topic at hand, as a professional economist, I doubt that any study will affect the attitude of the businesses with which we interact as much as simple politeness and revenue. If businesses that cater to climbers thrive, economic necessity will do the rest. Now that Bishop has become a bouldering destination, I rather suspect climbers as a whole contribute more to the local economy than most realize. The median climber contribution may not be as much as some other visitors' but we have a lot of volume.
John
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