A Gaggle of Climbers? What's In a Name?

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Messages 1 - 123 of total 123 in this topic
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 2, 2007 - 01:15am PT
Groups of different species of birds have unique names, mostly derived from middle English. Why shouldn't the different sub-species of climbers have their own names? Ones that are imaginative and clever, that in one word whimsically or seriously sum up the characteristics of those people. Poetry.

Alpine climbers, ice climbers, classic climbers, climbers in Camp 4, wannabe climbers, novice climbers, sport climbers, and so on - each should have its own group name, or possibly names.

Some possible examples:
A frost of ice climbers
An inspiration of classic climbers
A solitude of solo climbers (but they don't come in groups)
A hang of Valley climbers
A multitude of sport climbers
A persistence of novices
A bounce of boulderers

What other ideas do people have? Bearing in mind that this is for fun, not to be nasty - anyone who says "A plague of sport climbers" or similar isn't playing fair.

For more ideas, some bird group names:
A bevy of quail
A brood of hens
A cast of hawks [or falcons]
A charm of finches
A colony of penguins
A company of parrots (I wonder if Crimpie knows?)
A congregation of plovers
A cover of coots
A covey of partridges [or grouse or ptarmigans]
A deceit of lapwings
A descent of woodpeckers
A dissimulation of birds
A dole of doves
An exaltation of larks
A fall of woodcocks
A flight of swallows [or doves, goshawks, or cormorants]
A gaggle of geese
A host of sparrows
A kettle of hawks [riding a thermal]
A murmuration of starlings
A murder of crows
A muster of storks
A nye of pheasants [on the ground]
An ostentation of peacocks
A paddling of ducks [on the water]
A parliament of owls
A party of jays
A peep of chickens
A pitying of turtledoves
A raft of ducks
A rafter of turkeys
A siege of herons
A skein of geese [in flight]
A sord of mallards
A spring of teal
A tidings of magpies
An unkindness of ravens
A watch of nightingales
A wedge of swans [or geese, flying in a "V"]

We often see these birds while climbing, and so it's helpful and erudite to know what we should call them in our TRs. For more, see http://baltimorebirdclub.org/gnlist.html
paganmonkeyboy

Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:16am PT
a herd of dirtbags ?
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:17am PT
Hey Anders,
Isn't there a name for these names of groups, like sesquepatalia or sumthin?
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:20am PT
A glower of nailers.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:23am PT
a bowl of JTree climbers?

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:23am PT
probably better: a clod of dirtbags
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 01:28am PT
The English name is simply collective noun. There are a lot more - just google it, or see http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/collnoun.htm

I didn't have much luck with the Latin word - I don't have a very good dictionary, and the on line ones didn't do it.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:33am PT
A brace of jammers.
paganmonkeyboy

Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:37am PT
a smattering of rap bolters...
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:39am PT
Sesquipedalian: given to or characterized by the use of long words or many syllables.

Hmmm. I still say I recall a book of these groupings with a curious title something like this word.

It had all manner of names for groups of things; like a name for a group of vampires, such as a coven of witches and so on...
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:43am PT
A spirit of alpinists.
Jaybro

Social climber
The West
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:54am PT
A hang of sportclimbers.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 01:55am PT
An ascent of alpinists.
An aspiration of alpinists.

And other attractive alliterations.
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:59am PT
A squeeze of offwidthers
A tweek of finger crackers
A tendon of crimpers
A twist of backsteppers
A slide of slab-masters
A twinge of toe-jammers
A Gaston of crack-pullers
A push of mantellers
A confusion of mixed (rock and ice) climbers
Jay Wood

Trad climber
Fairfax, CA
Mar 2, 2007 - 02:04am PT
A rush of speed climbers

A spite of supertopians

A splash of deep water soloists

A sketch of C4 aiders

A scab of OW specialists

A blow of posers
Loomis

climber
Blava nie, ty kokot!
Mar 2, 2007 - 03:12am PT
A cowardly group of climbers emulating cackling around the camp fire.

This does not apply if you are from central Europe. The run outs are way more severe than Tuolumne meadows
Crimpergirl

Social climber
St. Looney
Mar 2, 2007 - 07:46am PT
A beanie of boulderers
sean_barb

Trad climber
Suburb of Moore's Wall
Mar 2, 2007 - 08:33am PT
A spray of boulderers.
JEM

Social climber
so cal
Mar 2, 2007 - 08:42am PT
Too much ...

You guys gotta lay off the weed. It didn't taste like av-gas did it?

JEM
BlazeOn

Trad climber
Asheville, NC
Mar 2, 2007 - 08:47am PT
definately gonna use a "spray of bouldererererers"

A crust of trad climbers
Hootervillian

climber
the Hooterville World-Guardian
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:49am PT
a carnival of capitalists upon a mank of minions.

what's for sale?

three fingers of larf.



justthemaid

climber
Los Angeles
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:52am PT
A slouch of stoners.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 10:06am PT
A persistence of seigers.
A tremble of smearers.
A cabal of boulderers.
A waste of cafeterians.
A convoy of talus monkeys.
roy

Social climber
New Zealand -> Santa Barbara
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:04pm PT
A genuflect of telemark skiers (credit to my wife for this one).

Roy
pud

climber
Sportbikeville
Mar 2, 2007 - 01:47pm PT
A hand of bananas, a string of ponies!

One of my all time favorite books "An Exaltation of Larks"
by James Lipton



http://www.jandysbooks.com/nonfic/larks.html
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
Otto, NC
Mar 2, 2007 - 02:24pm PT
A clutch of climbers. Duh.


A dangle of doggers.

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 02:37pm PT
A rabble of rappellers.
A flask of camfire hounds.
A jury of traditionalists.
Nate D

climber
San Francisco
Mar 2, 2007 - 02:42pm PT
these are great.

especially "A beanie of boulderers"
and "a clod of dirtbags"!


A spawn of slope-pulling sprites

(thinkin' of Castle Rock specifically)

A maw of OW masochists
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Mar 2, 2007 - 03:40pm PT
A spike of ice climbers
A bed of laybackers
A twinkle of foot-switchers
A bully of ethical pundits
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 03:50pm PT
A cadre of first ascensionists.
A risk of free soloists.
A dirth of ethical practitioners.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 05:20pm PT
Well, there's some awfully good ideas here. Setting aside my peerless examples, the ones I like best, with a few comments:

Tarbuster
 A brace of jammers.
 A persistence of siegers.
 A tremble of smearers.
 A rabble of boulderers. (Are they a rabble?)
 A rabble of rappellers. (Ahh, alliteration. Don't forget that Chouinard started as a rappeller.)
 A jury of traditionalists. (Aren't all climbers judgmental, not to mention righteous?)
 A risk of free soloists.
I wasn't sure what he meant by a convoy of talus monkeys.

Ed H
 A clod of dirtbags. (Are they clods?)

Jaybro
 A hang of sport climbers. (Is that what they do, or what you want to do with them?)

Jay Wood
 A rush of speed climbers.
 A splash of deep water soloists.
 A sketch of C4 aiders. (Many types of climber are sketchy.)
 A scab of offwidthers. (Again, somewhat generic.)
 A blow of posers. (None on ST.)

justthemaid
 A slouch of stoners. (Could apply to all types.)

Jello (He kind of went nuts)
 A squeeze of offwidthers.
 A tweak of finger crackers. (As opposed to the other kinds of crackers, I hope.)
 A tendon of crimpers. (How about "A tendency of crimpers"?)
 A slide of slab-masters.
 A push of mantellers.
 A confusion of mixed climbers. (He should know.)
 A spike of ice climbers. (Such sharp wit!)
 A bully of ethical pundits. (Ain't none round here.)
 A bed of laybackers. (liebackers?)
 A twinkle of toe-switchers.

Roy (or at least, Roy's wife)
 A genuflect of telemark skiers. (Very graceful. Up here we call them telemarkers - not to be confused with telemarketers.)

Rhodo-router
 A dangle of doggers.

Crimpergirl
 A beanie of boulderers. (Very witty!)
Indianclimber

climber
Las Vegas
Mar 2, 2007 - 05:48pm PT
A bivy of big wallers

A pad of boulderers
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 06:32pm PT
...changed my rabble of boulderers to "A cabal of boulderers".

OK, back to it:

A pocket of purists
A gash of offwidthers
A gamble of 3rd classers
A panic of poseurs


Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 06:34pm PT
Nice Riley,
A rack of trad climbers was just right there at our fingertips.
paganmonkeyboy

Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
Mar 2, 2007 - 06:51pm PT
a whipper of sport climbers ?
rmuir

Social climber
the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
Mar 2, 2007 - 07:55pm PT
A brace of bvbs.
Rick A

climber
Boulder, Colorado
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:17pm PT
A sack of free-soloists.
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:24pm PT
Rick nailed it with "A sack of free-soloists" hahaha!
Mimi

climber
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:29pm PT
haha, good one Ricky.

This thread has serious potential.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 09:37pm PT
An oxymoron of armchair mountaineers.

An absurdity of armchair mountaineers.

A gallimaufry of guidebook writers. (Not really apropos, but a cool word.)

A trickery of topo writers.
Timmc

climber
East Kootenays B.C.
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:39pm PT
a chill of biviers?

a worry of rappellers?
Mimi

climber
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:43pm PT
A puzzle of mixed climbers.
A spawn of gym climbers.
A bastion of wide crack climbers.
A foundry of nailing aid climbers.

Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 09:45pm PT
A bother of bolters.
Owlman

Big Wall climber
Torrey, Utah
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:49pm PT
A cunning array of shunts.
Mimi

climber
Mar 2, 2007 - 09:59pm PT
A dynamic of sport climbers.
A recondite of free soloists.
A stern of OW climbers.
A stalwart of free climbers.
A fervent of boulderers.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
one pass away from the big ditch
Mar 2, 2007 - 10:36pm PT
Rhodo got it.



or a "non" of sport climbers


A tension of aid climbers


A tard of super-posters.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 2, 2007 - 10:53pm PT
A sweet lil' Bevy of Crag Betties.
(right here on the Taco no less)
unnamable

climber
Mar 2, 2007 - 11:31pm PT
A Frog of Euro's
A Fashion of Sport Climbers
A Conglomerate of Traditionalists
A Twight of Alpinists
A Legend of BVB's
A Decimal of Grade Seekers
A Grope of Off-Widthers
A Slip of Slab Climbers
A Launch of Lie-Backers

Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 11:36pm PT
Slightly regrouping, how about the various nations? It's always risky to stereotype and generalize, and easy to do so negatively, but some countries and peoples are known for their climbing character, or the character of their climbers. (Add "climber" to each below, as needed.)

A stoutness of Sherpas.
A merriness of 'Merrycans.
A kaleidoscope of Californians.
A dialect of Scots.
An engagement of English.
An orchestration of orcas. (If they could climb. "Pod" is dull.)
A freedom of French.
A confustication of Canadians. (Tolkien's word.)

Anyone else? Slovenia, Basques, Norway, Italy, Germany, Japan, Chile, etc etc...

ps This is hilarious! Thank you!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 2, 2007 - 11:46pm PT
A thrutch of OW climbers
A shuffle of liebackers
A quiver of hookers
A tinker of wall climbers
A rime of ice climbers
A clasp of face climbers
A madness of free soloists
A struggle of wall soloists
A picket of snow climbers
A bushwhack of mountaineers
A gawk of visitors
A sandbag of locals
A chisel of tricksters
A pride of traditionalists
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 2, 2007 - 11:52pm PT
A pound of nailers.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 3, 2007 - 12:09am PT
In honour of tarbuster's marvellous recent "Rockies Ramble" thread:

A rambunctiousness of ridge ramblers.

The Norwegian word for this is "fjell rangling" or "tinde rangling". Fjell meaning mountain, tinde meaning peak, and rangling meaning (roughly) wandering.

Roy: Fjell rangler extraordinaire.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 3, 2007 - 12:32am PT
Cheers to you Anders,

A can of canooks. (sp)
A vulgarity of Gunkies!
Indianclimber

climber
Las Vegas
Mar 3, 2007 - 10:18am PT
Blinny How about a.
Fret of luthier's
Indianclimber

climber
Las Vegas
Mar 3, 2007 - 10:26am PT
A gape of tourons
Zander

Trad climber
Berkeley
Mar 3, 2007 - 10:30am PT
A chatter of Rock Monkeys
A sweat of Grippers
A tangle of White Powdered Rope Yankers
cintune

climber
Penn's Woods
Mar 3, 2007 - 11:23am PT
An escalade of roped teams.
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
Otto, NC
Mar 3, 2007 - 11:44am PT
A yodel of alpinists.
Slimper

Trad climber
Saltwater, Ut
Mar 3, 2007 - 05:54pm PT
A trust of trad-climbers
A Brush of Boulderers
A Rush of Speed climbers
A Clank of Creekers


Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 3, 2007 - 06:52pm PT
A Confederacy of Dunces.

(borrowed, yes, from John Kennedy Toole, but applicable, no?)
Indianclimber

climber
Las Vegas
Mar 3, 2007 - 08:32pm PT
A reverence of stonemasters
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 3, 2007 - 10:06pm PT
Here are (almost) all the entries so far. I divided things into categories that made sense to me anyway. I've omitted a few entries that weren't quite within the spirit of the project, or which I simply didn't get, and most of my own entries. I've also added a few subjective comments in [square] brackets.

Thanks to everyone for your creativity - this is fun! I liked almost everything that people have posted. English certainly is a neat language for this kind of stuff.

Classic
 A crust of trad climbers (Blaze On)
 A stalwart of free climbers (Mimi)
 A conglomerate of traditionalists (unnamable) [Are they crumbling?]
 An escalade of roped teams (cintune) [French freeing, no doubt.]
 A trust of trad-climbers (Slimper)
 A rack of trad climbers (radical) [Nice!]

Groups
 A bowl of JTree climbers (Ed Hartouni) [JT, if you're you know who.]
 A stoutness of Sherpas (Mighty Hiker)
 A reverence of Stonemasters (Indianclimber)
 A sandbag of locals (Steve Grossman) [Really?]
 A clank of Creekers (Slimper)
 A vulgarity of Gunkies (tarbuster) [Hee hee!]

Ice & Mixed
 A spike of ice climbers (Jello)
 A rime of ice climbers (Steve Grossman)
 A confusion of mixed climbers (Jello) [You're the expert.]
 A puzzle of mixed climbers (Mimi)

Alpinists
 A spirit of alpinists (tarbuster)
 A yodel of alpinists (Rhodo-Router) [In Switzerland, anyway.]
 A hope of alpinists (radical)
 A chill of biviers (Timmc)
 A Twight of alpinists (unnamable)
 A picket of snow climbers (Steve Grossman)
 A bushwhack of mountaineers (Steve Grossman) [From the northwest, perhaps?]

Cracks & Liebacks
 A brace of jammers (tarbuster)
 A tweak of finger crackers (Jello)
 A twinge of toe-jammers (Jello)
 A Gaston of crack-pullers (Jello)
 A four finger bag of thin crack climbers (Warbler) [?]
 An unction of underclingers (EKat) [Do they talk to god?]
 A launch of lie-backers (unnamable) [Hopefully not.]
 A shuffle of liebackers (Steve Grossman)
 A bed of laybackers (Jello)

Boulderers [Most of these seemed spot-on.]
 A cabal of boulderers (tarbuster)
 A beanie of boulderers (Crimpergirl) [Cute!]
 A spray of boulderers (sean_barb) [Hard to imagine.]
 A pad of boulderers (Indianclimber)
 A spot of boulderers (radical)
 A fervent of boulderers (Mimi)
 A chatter of rock monkeys (Zander)
 A brush of boulderers (Slimper)
 A kicker of hackysackers (Warbler)

Offwidths [Most of these were TOO true to life.]
 A gash of offwidthers (tarbuster)
 A squeeze of offwidthers (Jello)
 A scab of offwidthers (Jay Wood)
 A maw of offwidth masochists (Nate D)
 A bastion of wide crack climbers (Mimi)
 A stern of offwidth climbers (Mimi)
 A stack of offwidthers (Warbler)
 A closet of chimney climbers (Warbler) [Why are they in a closet?]
 A grope of off-widthers (unnamable)
 A thrutch of offwidth climbers (Steve Grossman)

Sport
 A smattering of rap bolters (paganmonkeyboy)
 A whipper of sport climbers (paganmonkeyboy)
 A hang of sport climbers (Jaybro)
 A dangle of doggers (Rhodo-Router)
 A dynamic of sport climbers (Mimi)
 A fashion of sport climbers (unnamable)

Free Solo
 A risk of free soloists (tarbuster)
 A splash of deep water soloists (Jay Wood, Warbler) [Yep!]
 A sack of free-soloists (Rick A)
 A recondite of free soloists (Mimi)
 A madness of free soloists (Steve Grossman)

Slabs & Faces
 A tendon of crimpers (Jello) [Tendency?]
 A twist of backsteppers (Jello)
 A twinkle of foot-switchers (Jello)
 A smidgeon of dime edgers (Warbler)
 A bucket of jug haulers (Warbler)
 A tremble of smearers (tarbuster)
 A slide of slab-masters (Jello)
 A smear of slab climbers (Warbler) [Metaphorical, I hope.]
 A slip of slab climbers (unnamable)
 A clasp of face climbers (Steve Grossman)
 A sweat of grippers (Zander)

Aid & Walls
 A glower of nailers (tarbuster)
 A persistence of siegers (tarbuster)
 A sketch of C4 aiders (Jay Wood)
 A bivy of big wallers (Indianclimber)
 A hook of aid climbers (radical)
 A foundry of aid climbers (Mimi)
 A stack of pin drivers (Warbler)
 A stash of psycho-biviers (Warbler)
 A tension of aid climbers (mungeclimber)
 A quiver of hookers (Steve Grossman) [Poetic!]
 A tinker of wall climbers (Steve Grossman)
 A struggle of wall soloists (Steve Grossman)

Descending & Falling
 A rabble of rappellers (tarbuster)
 A worry of rappellers (Timmc)
 A pale of screamer takers (Warbler)
 A bail of rappellers (Warbler)

Morals & Ethics Committee
 A jury of traditionalists (tarbuster)
 A dearth of ethical practitioners (tarbuster)
 A pocket of purists (tarbuster)
 A panic of poseurs (tarbuster)
 A bully of ethical pundits (Jello) [See Cerro Torre thread.]
 A spite of SuperTopians (Jay Wood)
 A blow of poseurs (Jay Wood)
 A tard of super-posters (mungeclimber)
 A posse of poseurs (EKat)
 A decimal of grade seekers (unnamable)

Honourable Mention
 A fret of luthiers (Indianclimber) [Or a fiddle of luthiers?]
 An orchestration of orcas (Mighty Hiker) [OT - for EKat.]
 A genuflect of telemark skiers (roy)
 A litter of rescuers (Warbler) [Slightly changed.]

Various
 A herd of dirtbags (paganmonkeyboy)
 A clod of dirtbags (tarbuster)
 A waste of cafeterians (tarbuster)
 A convoy of talus monkeys (tarbuster) [What is a talus monkey?]
 A flask of campfire hounds (tarbuster)
 A cadre of first ascensionists (tarbuster)
 A push of mantellers (Jello)
 A rush of speed climbers (Jay Wood, Slimper)
 A slouch of stoners (justthemaid)
 A clutch of climbers (Rhodo-Router)
 A spawn of slope-pulling sprites (Nate D)
 A gape of tourons (Indianclimber)
 A brace of bvbs (rmuir) [Popular guy. Repeated by unnamable.]
 A spawn of gym climbers (Mimi) [Hints of Tolkien here?]
 A pile of choss cleaners (Warbler)
 A blast of Blinnies (Warbler) [Not really her style, though it's not hard to know when she's in the ST room.]
 A case of deli hangers (Warbler)
 A gawk of visitors (Steve Grossman)
 A bevy of crag betties (tarbuster)
 A gamble of 3rd classers (tarbuster)
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 3, 2007 - 10:09pm PT
That's real nice you did that Anders; I was hopin'.
And I know that's only half time entertainment, so let's kick it into gear and keep this ball game rollin'

A grandstand of spotters.
A 12 pack of valley boys.
A dime bag of woodsonites.
Rocky5000

Trad climber
Falls Church, VA
Mar 3, 2007 - 10:52pm PT
I've never seen such a wad of wankers.
George R

climber
The Gray Area
Mar 3, 2007 - 11:03pm PT
A "Drop" of gym climbers.


Edit:
Inspired by the thread on getting dropped, to which I, thankfully, have nothing to contribute.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 4, 2007 - 07:01pm PT
Quality is of course as important as quantity, if not more so. One thoughtful or witty entry goes a long way. The most prolific entrants up until my thread maintenance post a few back, more or less:
tarbuster - 22
Warbler - 16
Jello - 13
Steve Grossman - 12
Mimi - 9
unnamable - 9
Jay Wood - 6
Indianclimber - 5
radical - 5
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 26, 2007 - 06:41pm PT
Time for a bump, I think. I would, of course.
Jaybro

Social climber
The West
Nov 26, 2007 - 07:14pm PT
a chase of El cap in a day-ers
Clint Cummins

Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
Nov 26, 2007 - 11:32pm PT
a retreat of WallFools

(thanks to Russ for coining that last term!)

I remember getting a good laugh from the original Traprock guide, with Ken's alternative definition of Rabble as "a crowd of noisy, poorly dressed climbers."

[Edit to add:]

noobload of gearfreaks
sketchfest of noobs
flailure of bumblies
invasion of padpeople
dawn of deadheads
seamfull of deadheads
dazzle of rockgodesses
stupor of cragoglers
siege of hangdoggers
allure of cragvixen
swoon of midlifecrisisers
delight of EKats
verbiage of idlers
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 9, 2008 - 01:38am PT
Reviving an old thread, which needs more fun.
Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Jul 9, 2008 - 01:41am PT
a recuse of flamers?
Russ Walling

Social climber
Out on the sand.... man.....
Jul 9, 2008 - 02:02am PT
a Butt_Load of Ass_Pirates™™




(was this already taken?)
Wayno

Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
Jul 9, 2008 - 02:12am PT
Don't get me started with the Dick-Smokers, Russ. I was thinking more like a Fek off, eh of Hatten lovers. Or a stfu of Supertopians.
Leavittator

climber
san diego, ca.
Dec 12, 2008 - 08:41pm PT
a Grid of Rap Bolters.
nutjob

Stoked OW climber
San Jose, CA
Dec 12, 2008 - 08:57pm PT
a stink of pant-fillers
a buttload of pin-bangers
a corner of hookers
a bevy of bivy'ers
a scarf of Elvis-impersonators
a wanker of topians
Leavittator

climber
san diego, ca.
Dec 12, 2008 - 08:59pm PT
So far Russ wins.
LuckyPink

climber
the last bivy
Dec 13, 2008 - 12:57am PT
bump because this should not be let go on a Friday night
luggi

Trad climber
atwater california
Dec 13, 2008 - 01:50am PT
a splattering of crack attempters

a Freudian slip of big wall huggers

A rollie pollie of boulderers

MisterE

Trad climber
My Inner Nut
Dec 13, 2008 - 10:40am PT
A murder of Hold-Chippers
MH2

climber
Dec 13, 2008 - 05:35pm PT
a shovel of grovelers
MH2

climber
Dec 13, 2008 - 05:39pm PT
a gravel of has-beens
Indianclimber

Trad climber
Lost Wages
Dec 13, 2008 - 05:41pm PT
A forum of Supertopians
MH2

climber
Dec 13, 2008 - 05:45pm PT
a hat-trick of never-weres
MisterE

Trad climber
My Inner Nut
Dec 13, 2008 - 05:49pm PT
A quorum of Quibblers
JohnRoe

Trad climber
State College, PA
Dec 13, 2008 - 06:16pm PT
An equation of geeks
MisterE

Trad climber
My Inner Nut
Dec 13, 2008 - 06:57pm PT
That WAS nice...

a box of toothpicks?
Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Dec 13, 2008 - 07:03pm PT
a slam of soloists

I still like "Grip of Climbers"

Leavittator

climber
san diego, ca.
Dec 26, 2008 - 09:22pm PT
a fistfull of 4" cracks
Captain...or Skully

Trad climber
North of the Owyhees
Dec 26, 2008 - 09:31pm PT
An argument of Tacoists.....
Captain...or Skully

Trad climber
North of the Owyhees
Dec 26, 2008 - 11:08pm PT
We're on a roll.......Good ones.

"A Cuppa Cappies"? Kath, there can be only one.
Sorry, I've always wanted to have a chance to say that.....

Haha. :-)
Captain...or Skully

Trad climber
North of the Owyhees
Dec 27, 2008 - 12:32am PT
Arrrggh....
JOEY.F

Social climber
sebastopol
Dec 27, 2008 - 01:02am PT
a jam of ligaments
a thrash of tendons
a cooker of crankers
....
"A party of jays ?"

yikes!!!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Dec 27, 2008 - 12:51pm PT
How about a Quarrel of Climbers???
Captain...or Skully

Trad climber
North of the Owyhees
Dec 27, 2008 - 12:58pm PT
Quite......
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Dec 27, 2008 - 11:59pm PT
hey there, say... i like a "clump of climbers":
being that:

it can be said:

say, look over there, there is a clump here, and a clump there... and wow! look at the huge clump way over there... (for those paid-guide deals where all kinds of climber "go for it")...

then, too, if a climber is soloing.. welllllllll there is one solo climber here, and one way over there, and another perhaps just upwind from him---thus, to the eye, from far away, there is a "spread out clump" on that area of rock....

yep---i just love the sound of a "clump of climbers" off for a good day on the rocks...
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Dec 28, 2008 - 02:01pm PT
A Legline of Prancers.....HoHoHo!
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2008 - 02:39pm PT
Naah, we're much too refined to do anything so ungainly as "clumping". Instead, climbers:
Daintily dance on the diorite.
Prettily prance on the peridotite.
Ballet on the basalt.
Wittily waltz on the wall.
Artfully arabesque on the aplite.
Captain...or Skully

Trad climber
North of the Owyhees
Dec 28, 2008 - 02:42pm PT
We used to 'clump' up on the 5.2-5.12 boulder........
I guess that's another story.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Dec 28, 2008 - 02:54pm PT
hey there mighty hiker, oh my... and ME a dancer... how COULD i have missed all THAT... :) :) :)


Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 28, 2008 - 03:25pm PT
the next crop of crater bait
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Dec 28, 2008 - 09:02pm PT
Fancifully Flail on a Flake
Righteously Re-grip a Rugosité
Fearfully Festoon a Fissure
Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Dec 28, 2008 - 09:06pm PT
a google of tacoids?
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 25, 2009 - 03:53pm PT
As it's well over 100 posts, this one has potential. Be nice, now!
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2011 - 08:51pm PT
We never did finish this discussion, and some of the new faces likely have something to add.
Ricardo Cabeza

climber
All Over.
Jan 26, 2011 - 09:07pm PT
Is it a Google of ST'ers?
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jan 26, 2011 - 09:12pm PT
To recapitulate...

Here are (almost) all the entries so far. I divided things into categories that made sense to me anyway. I've omitted a few entries that weren't quite within the spirit of the project, or which I simply didn't get, and most of my own entries. I've also added a few subjective comments in [square] brackets.

Thanks to everyone for your creativity - this is fun! I liked almost everything that people have posted. English certainly is a neat language for this kind of stuff.

Classic
A crust of trad climbers (Blaze On)
A stalwart of free climbers (Mimi)
A conglomerate of traditionalists (unnamable) [Are they crumbling?]
An escalade of roped teams (cintune) [French freeing, no doubt.]
A trust of trad-climbers (Slimper)
A rack of trad climbers (radical) [Nice!]

Groups
A bowl of JTree climbers (Ed Hartouni) [JT, if you're you know who.]
A stoutness of Sherpas (Mighty Hiker)
A reverence of Stonemasters (Indianclimber)
A sandbag of locals (Steve Grossman) [Really?]
A clank of Creekers (Slimper)
A vulgarity of Gunkies (tarbuster) [Hee hee!]

Ice & Mixed
A spike of ice climbers (Jello)
A rime of ice climbers (Steve Grossman)
A confusion of mixed climbers (Jello) [You're the expert.]
A puzzle of mixed climbers (Mimi)

Alpinists
A spirit of alpinists (tarbuster)
A yodel of alpinists (Rhodo-Router) [In Switzerland, anyway.]
A hope of alpinists (radical)
A chill of biviers (Timmc)
A Twight of alpinists (unnamable)
A picket of snow climbers (Steve Grossman)
A bushwhack of mountaineers (Steve Grossman) [From the northwest, perhaps?]

Cracks & Liebacks
A brace of jammers (tarbuster)
A tweak of finger crackers (Jello)
A twinge of toe-jammers (Jello)
A Gaston of crack-pullers (Jello)
A four finger bag of thin crack climbers (Warbler) [?]
An unction of underclingers (EKat) [Do they talk to god?]
A launch of lie-backers (unnamable) [Hopefully not.]
A shuffle of liebackers (Steve Grossman)
A bed of laybackers (Jello)

Boulderers [Most of these seemed spot-on.]
A cabal of boulderers (tarbuster)
A beanie of boulderers (Crimpergirl) [Cute!]
A spray of boulderers (sean_barb) [Hard to imagine.]
A pad of boulderers (Indianclimber)
A spot of boulderers (radical)
A fervent of boulderers (Mimi)
A chatter of rock monkeys (Zander)
A brush of boulderers (Slimper)
A kicker of hackysackers (Warbler)

Offwidths [Most of these were TOO true to life.]
A gash of offwidthers (tarbuster)
A squeeze of offwidthers (Jello)
A scab of offwidthers (Jay Wood)
A maw of offwidth masochists (Nate D)
A bastion of wide crack climbers (Mimi)
A stern of offwidth climbers (Mimi)
A stack of offwidthers (Warbler)
A closet of chimney climbers (Warbler) [Why are they in a closet?]
A grope of off-widthers (unnamable)
A thrutch of offwidth climbers (Steve Grossman)

Sport
A smattering of rap bolters (paganmonkeyboy)
A whipper of sport climbers (paganmonkeyboy)
A hang of sport climbers (Jaybro)
A dangle of doggers (Rhodo-Router)
A dynamic of sport climbers (Mimi)
A fashion of sport climbers (unnamable)

Free Solo
A risk of free soloists (tarbuster)
A splash of deep water soloists (Jay Wood, Warbler) [Yep!]
A sack of free-soloists (Rick A)
A recondite of free soloists (Mimi)
A madness of free soloists (Steve Grossman)

Slabs & Faces
A tendon of crimpers (Jello) [Tendency?]
A twist of backsteppers (Jello)
A twinkle of foot-switchers (Jello)
A smidgeon of dime edgers (Warbler)
A bucket of jug haulers (Warbler)
A tremble of smearers (tarbuster)
A slide of slab-masters (Jello)
A smear of slab climbers (Warbler) [Metaphorical, I hope.]
A slip of slab climbers (unnamable)
A clasp of face climbers (Steve Grossman)
A sweat of grippers (Zander)

Aid & Walls
A glower of nailers (tarbuster)
A persistence of siegers (tarbuster)
A sketch of C4 aiders (Jay Wood)
A bivy of big wallers (Indianclimber)
A hook of aid climbers (radical)
A foundry of aid climbers (Mimi)
A stack of pin drivers (Warbler)
A stash of psycho-biviers (Warbler)
A tension of aid climbers (mungeclimber)
A quiver of hookers (Steve Grossman) [Poetic!]
A tinker of wall climbers (Steve Grossman)
A struggle of wall soloists (Steve Grossman)

Descending & Falling
A rabble of rappellers (tarbuster)
A worry of rappellers (Timmc)
A pale of screamer takers (Warbler)
A bail of rappellers (Warbler)

Morals & Ethics Committee
A jury of traditionalists (tarbuster)
A dearth of ethical practitioners (tarbuster)
A pocket of purists (tarbuster)
A panic of poseurs (tarbuster)
A bully of ethical pundits (Jello) [See Cerro Torre thread.]
A spite of SuperTopians (Jay Wood)
A blow of poseurs (Jay Wood)
A tard of super-posters (mungeclimber)
A posse of poseurs (EKat)
A decimal of grade seekers (unnamable)

Honourable Mention
A fret of luthiers (Indianclimber) [Or a fiddle of luthiers?]
An orchestration of orcas (Mighty Hiker) [OT - for EKat.]
A genuflect of telemark skiers (roy)
A litter of rescuers (Warbler) [Slightly changed.]

Various
A herd of dirtbags (paganmonkeyboy)
A clod of dirtbags (tarbuster)
A waste of cafeterians (tarbuster)
A convoy of talus monkeys (tarbuster) [What is a talus monkey?]
A flask of campfire hounds (tarbuster)
A cadre of first ascensionists (tarbuster)
A push of mantellers (Jello)
A rush of speed climbers (Jay Wood, Slimper)
A slouch of stoners (justthemaid)
A clutch of climbers (Rhodo-Router)
A spawn of slope-pulling sprites (Nate D)
A gape of tourons (Indianclimber)
A brace of bvbs (rmuir) [Popular guy. Repeated by unnamable.]
A spawn of gym climbers (Mimi) [Hints of Tolkien here?]
A pile of choss cleaners (Warbler)
A blast of Blinnies (Warbler) [Not really her style, though it's not hard to know when she's in the ST room.]
A case of deli hangers (Warbler)
A gawk of visitors (Steve Grossman)
A bevy of crag betties (tarbuster)
A gamble of 3rd classers (tarbuster)
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2011 - 09:14pm PT
The summary that Steve posted was from about 1/2 way through the thread - more ideas, and cleverness, followed it.
Ricardo Cabeza

climber
All Over.
Jan 26, 2011 - 09:20pm PT
A spattering of free soloists.

A smear of slab specialists.

Fritz

Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
Jan 26, 2011 - 09:29pm PT
Somehow, I had never noticed this thread.

I'm overwhelmed with the wit!

This thread is truly:

A Tsunami of Semantics.

And don't think that just because I live in Idaho,

that I'm anti-Semantic!
Ricardo Cabeza

climber
All Over.
Jan 26, 2011 - 09:33pm PT
A schnoz of parties at the king swing.
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 27, 2011 - 01:48am PT
A klusterfrock of kingswingers.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Jan 27, 2011 - 02:37am PT
A Stack of wyde climbers
Peter

Trad climber
San Francisco
Jan 27, 2011 - 04:14am PT
A resin of gym climbers
A gobie of fist crack climbers
A splat of over confident free soloists
Mighty Hiker

climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 4, 2012 - 07:20pm PT
I just discovered that a group of cats is called a clowder. Learn something new every day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat
Norwegian

Trad climber
Placerville, California
Mar 4, 2012 - 07:24pm PT
a bowel movement
of souls
LB4USC

Trad climber
Long Beach
Mar 5, 2012 - 05:50pm PT
A knot of noobs
Gene

climber
Mar 5, 2012 - 06:14pm PT
a maestri of bolters
a chisel of choppers
a Jello of bad-assedness
a donini of experience
a Prana of poseurs
an Anders of puns
a Taco of geezers

a Museman of inspiration
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
Mar 5, 2012 - 06:26pm PT
A cluster of aid climbers.

That's probably been said though.
j-tree

Big Wall climber
Classroom to crag to summer camp
Mar 5, 2012 - 09:20pm PT
Considering a group of monkey's is called a troop or a barrel it should makes sense to add

a troop of aid climbers
a barrel of aid climbers

or maybe...

a push of bigwallers?
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jun 6, 2015 - 12:13pm PT
Bump for more of THAT FUN...
Tricouni

Mountain climber
Vancouver
Jun 6, 2015 - 05:51pm PT
A Culbert of bushwhacking mountaineers (Coast Mountains sub-section)
Bushman

Social climber
Elk Grove, California
Jun 6, 2015 - 10:54pm PT
'The Clamoring Throng'

The Lumbering Clutch did bivy the hutch,
'Til the Clamoring Throng did climb along,
They passed the Freeble of Farts as such,
And commenced to pound a boinging bong,
They ate some haggis for their lunch,
And pounded whilst they sang this song,
"Old Hang Nail was the party butch,
She dragged along our mascot Frong,
Our ringer from the Mustang Ranch,
Our standard pin a foot long dong,
A hundred feet the average pitch,
Our leader's name was Belayzall Wong,
Who's rope gun Mabel was his wench,"
They schmeered their slab with axle grong,
Them downward blanging inch by inch,
The Strung out Feathered Fripple flung,
Their hapless victims off the bench,
And ass-ended passing Climbatown Tong,
No racist sexist puns meant hence,
First prize was stole by the Clamoring Throng,
Who curtsied as they did commence,
To summit first and play ping pong.

-bushman
MisterE

Gym climber
Being In Sierra Happy Of Place
Jun 6, 2015 - 11:15pm PT
A Murder of Chippers.
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