Why do you climb walls?

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Messages 1 - 73 of total 73 in this topic

martygarrison

Trad climber

atlanta

Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 17, 2008 - 03:38pm PT

This thread could stir things up. I recently read the TR on the winter Zodiac. The description of getting dumped on by the falls, the freezing night out. There were similar descriptions on the Trip TR. In the early to mid seventies I did the obligatory El Cap walls however frankly always hated them. I remember on NA wall just being scared to death while standing on pins, and then if I wasn't leading, jugging just seemed like hard work. My partner and I had a conversation somewhere high up at the end of the day as to why we do these things. Mind you I was young and he was trying to make a worldwide name for himself (Denz). We came up with ego, nothing more or less. I read these trip reports of folks who are on their 20th El Cap route and know it has to be something else. For me I always was so charged up about a long free climb, grade V free, or frankly just cragging at the cookie or arch rock or wherever. I love the movement. The aid climbing always seemed just like work. So, explain to me, a guy who hates standing on a pin that might pop at any moment.....What drives you big wall folks to keep coming back?

Lambone

Ice climber

Ashland, Or

Mar 17, 2008 - 04:09pm PT

Something about the fact that the pin might pop at any moment exites and intrigues me. It is engaing.

Other then that I really like the atmosphere and exposure up there. I'm content to sit on my ledge or belay seat just staring into the void for hours.

Something about the hard work it takes to achieve the summit and make it back to the car intact is great. The suffering makes me feel alive.

Also the connection you make with your partner/s after achieving a bigwall goal is unmatched by any other experience.

I also like to rally fast and light free climbs too...just a different mindset.

aaronj

Big Wall climber

injured reserve

Mar 17, 2008 - 04:42pm PT

i like big rocks

bringmedeath

climber

la la land

Mar 17, 2008 - 05:25pm PT

because the talking tree told me to.

atchafalaya

climber

Babylon

Mar 17, 2008 - 05:31pm PT

Because there are spaces of time in between the wall routes I have done where I forget about the suffering, the BS, the complete boredom involved, and the fact that others are running around on beaches drinking cocktails. Its takes being back up on another wall to remember those details.

bringmedeath

climber

la la land

Mar 17, 2008 - 05:39pm PT

The pin will probably not pop if u are standing on it already... that is why i test to death and climb slower than a sloth smokin the crystal.

Anastasia

climber

Not here

Mar 17, 2008 - 05:47pm PT

To be in a place where nothing else matter but now. It makes me aware of how my life is not an abstract concept. Instead I am highly aware of how my life is the blood pumping inside of me, beating wild, connected, dependent, and a part of every move I make.

Euroford

Trad climber

chicago

Mar 17, 2008 - 05:49pm PT

because its the best way to pack the most climbing into your vacation time.

tomtom

Social climber

Seattle, Wa

Mar 17, 2008 - 06:09pm PT

Vertical backpacking is much more entertaining than horizontal backpacking.

k-man

Gym climber

SCruz

Mar 17, 2008 - 06:09pm PT

I hate wall climbing.

I can't wait to get back up there...

I always likened aid climbing to an exercise in fear. In lesser part, it's a test of your ability to engineer your way up the stone.

spyork

Social climber

A prison of my own creation

Mar 17, 2008 - 06:13pm PT

becuz I'm crazy.

Wait, that doesn't differentiate very well here.

The views are incredible. You get to savor the views when wall climbing. Free climbing something big you must rush to get done.

I like sleeping on a wall far above the maddening crowd. It is more peaceful for me than a 5 star hotel. Not that I can afford a 5 star hotel.

Would I solo a wall? maybe, but I dont like climbing everything 2 or 3 times, takes alot longer.

Brutus of Wyde

climber

Old Climbers' Home, Oakland CA

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:10pm PT

I am enchanted with the improbable.

Brutus

Wade Icey

Trad climber

www.alohashirtrescue.com

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:12pm PT

talking tree, also.

kev

climber

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:18pm PT

The talking tree told me that I would like to hammer heads. Well the tree was right!

climber

The Eye of the Snail

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:29pm PT

Haven't heard from the tree. Did a wall with a sloth on crystal, though, and he yapped the whole damn time.

Fletcher

Trad climber

Varied locales along the time and space continuum

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:31pm PT

So that explains the tree that's talking to me right now! Now I know what to do.

Fletch

WBraun

climber

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:39pm PT

I used to love doing walls with pins, it was a great art stacking and nesting them. The sweet "ping" of a bomber pin rang through the air.

Now!

The world is taken over by the "Serria club climbers" and all their fuked up rules.

Blah .....

Anastasia

climber

Not here

Mar 17, 2008 - 07:40pm PT

I told you to stay away from that Aspen!

k-man

Gym climber

SCruz

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:01pm PT

he he, he said "angle."

Gagner

climber

Boulder

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:02pm PT

Location, location, Location....

Paul

Jaybro

Social climber

The West

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:11pm PT

Because I don't have a gun under my pillow...

tolman_paul

Trad climber

Anchorage, AK

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:21pm PT

Paul,

I don't mean to take this thread o/t, but do you have any contact information for Robert Camp? I know you climbed with him in California, before I met him in the early 90's and after I moved up to AK and he moved to Colorado I lost touch with him. I was wondering if you'd seen or heard from him recently.

Back on topic, aid climbing is just a totally different headspace than free climbing. You carefully find a potential location for your placment, make it to the best of your ability, test it, then ease on to it. You don't totally trust the placement until it's heald you for a little bit of time, then you gingerly move up as high as possible to look for the next placement.

The single state of mind and focus in aid climbing just makes life so very simple. To me aid climbing is the best possible stress relief, because you simply don't have any place in your mind for the cares in life.

Anything worthwhile takes struggle, therefore big walls must be very worthwhile, as they take lots of struggle.

sweatyballs

Trad climber

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:26pm PT

Cuz' chicks dig it.

martygarrison

Trad climber

atlanta

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 17, 2008 - 08:33pm PT

Folks this is great and I really appreciate the replies... from the tree told me to chicks dig it. WB I also stood on nested leepers, scared the sh#t out of me. I think I just must be a fraidie cat. Tolman_Paul, thank you for a very insiteful response. Keep em coming please!

Willoughby

Social climber

Truckee, CA

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:45pm PT

I know this thread is asking a specific question, posed by somebody with some real perspective on the issue, so I apologize if this post causes a little drift. But, I've been wondering about something sorta related. This winter I've found myself reading a bit of mountaineering literature, biographies and whatnot. Anyway, each and every one of these authors at some point, for whatever reason, simply must bring up the whole "why do I/people climb?" cliche. Why do people get so hung up on that? Are those engaged in other sports, hobbies, endeavors, pursuits, whatever, constantly and persistently asked to explain their motivations? Do people demand explanations from hikers? Surfers? Philatelists or model-train enthusiasts? Ice fisherman? Seriously, what's up with ice fishing? How crappy is your home life that you want to stare at hole in the ice all day? Kinda interesting to reflect back; I was a super-hardcore fly fisherman in high school, until a friend of mine's uncle asked me why. He was just curious and wanted to know more, but once I started to actually think about it, I realized I'd been operating with blinders on and I wasn't terribly interested anymore. And that was that. Anyway, it's great to step back and think about our own motivations and what we're doing, but I'm totally perplexed why every author of a mountaineering book feels the need to explain or justify "climbing" as worthwhile. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

Mighty Hiker

Social climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:48pm PT

Because they're there, eh?

I wonder what the talking tree said to PTPP?

tolman_paul

Trad climber

Anchorage, AK

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:51pm PT

As to ice fishing, I do fish, have never tried ice fishing and just can't see why, I asked a buddy.

He had a very simple answer, beer.

As I don't need an excuse to drink a beer, and would rather a drink a beer after climbing, I still haven't tried ice fishing. It was bad enough belaying my partner ice climbing with the windchill numbing my face and my fingers getting cold. At least I knew I'd eventually being doing something worthwhile eventually.

Ricardo Carlos

Trad climber

Off center, CO.

Mar 17, 2008 - 08:58pm PT

Well I really do not remember as it has been twenty five years.
I will let you know after the end of this month. Weather permitting

Love Hate relationship perhaps
What else?

How fast?
How few pins can I use?
Can I make this pin work?
Can I make any nut work?
Dam Leeper pins make that stack work.
The View
The view you can only get from here. Not from the top or the base.
The unknown ok not as big as it was on many routes but it exists.

Shack

Big Wall climber

Reno NV

Mar 17, 2008 - 09:47pm PT

It's the only way to get to the really good camping spots....
and the view ain't bad either.

martygarrison

Trad climber

atlanta

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 17, 2008 - 11:02pm PT

warbler......ditto

Trevor

Gym climber

Escondido, CA

Mar 17, 2008 - 11:25pm PT

Because it makes everything else in life seem easy.

martygarrison

Trad climber

atlanta

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 17, 2008 - 11:31pm PT

Trevor, very good. I remember coming down off el cap and thinking that all else in life is easy. For god sakes we are walking on flat ground. I forgot about that. Excellent point.

Darnell

Big Wall climber

Chicago

Mar 17, 2008 - 11:32pm PT

cause thats where all the silverfish are, and silverfish are good eatin ifin you know how to cook em right!

pimp daddy wayne

climber

The Bat Caves

Mar 17, 2008 - 11:46pm PT

Because it is the #1 place to drink beer!

Double D

climber

Mar 18, 2008 - 12:19am PT

It's all 'bout location, location, location baby!

Jaybro

Social climber

The West

Mar 18, 2008 - 12:44am PT

How else you gonna be in places tha cool?

"Any of this sh#t could rip right now..."
"I could die any time.."
"This is sooo COOOOOll!!!!!!...."

"If you aren't scared you aren't really having fun.."

some of my best times have been on walls.

Bldrjac

Ice climber

Boulder

Mar 18, 2008 - 01:34am PT

Well it might be simple but I climb walls because they offer solice and comfort from the world below.

I've never been very good at coping with the pressures of "modern life' and I've never fit in very well. So, going up into the vertical granite wilderness has always offered me a haven where I can just hang out and get my sh#t together so I don't fall apart lower down.

If I couldn't climb walls I wouldn't function at a very high level at home. If I couldn't find expression and exhileration in the free flow and physical form of moving up high I'd have to become violent or inflict pain on people around me.

Being able to have the freedom to climb walls means there is hope for me to become a better person and relax..........

Ahh........I feel better now.

wayne w

Trad climber

the nw

Mar 18, 2008 - 01:37am PT

Trevor wrote, 'Because it makes everything else in life seem easy.'

That depends on who you are and what your physical reality is.

clustiere

Trad climber

berkeley ca

Mar 18, 2008 - 02:55am PT

To test my mental endurance. This especially applies to solo walling. I am not an expert but solo 5 Vs three cap routes and a bunch of partner Vs and I still want more but the space between grows. It grows like the space between a mother and child during the individuation process. It takes a year for me to remodivate now days at least. If you dont climb .12-13 then it's the most likely way up an impressive intimidating and daunting piece of rock. I am still tring to get to the place where the journey is the destination, but I alwayse have the summit in mind from ground zero. Wall climbing is for me a means to self efficacy, it created a foundation from which I gained enough confidence to be daring in other aspects of my life. I sit in a group of Therapist or therapist to be and I wonder how may of them have been strung out three days dehydrated and burning their arms on a piece of granite thats been baking in the sun. It's then that I figgure ok I got a shot and Im not gonna shatter or combust under pressure. I now handle high intense 5150 situations like a run out pitch intentional efficiently and effectively, I know when I need help, I know what I can't do, and I know when I can handle my own. For me it has been a process of knowing myself. The day I bail because I am just not into it will be the day that I truely graduate being a climber and suddenly it has all been good enough.

Todd Bauck

Trad climber

Denver, co

Mar 18, 2008 - 10:54am PT

For me it comes down to 3 reasons:

1) Soloing a wall is a big challenge. The sort of challenge you look forward to once a year. Can I get up this route clean? Can I get all my gear to the base and up a pitch by myself without feeding a bear? Can I get all my stuff down by myself? Can I climb it in good style? How do I handle the unexpected?

2) The views are great. On a wall, you have time to really enjoy the sunrise from a great vantage point. Sleeping on a small ledge or portaledge is a great experience.

3) On the rare occasion I have a partner for a wall, it is fun being a part of a team doing a multi-day route (I am slow).

pyro

Big Wall climber

Calabasas

Mar 18, 2008 - 03:37pm PT

it's bad enough to sleep in the ash pit of camp four.

getting a nite's rest up on the open stone is much more comfortable.

haven't done too many walls, but I can state that I have the book concept.

Norwegian

Trad climber

Placerville, California

Mar 18, 2008 - 03:51pm PT

modern domestic life is too padded. i speculate that as a species we need the stimulation afforded by challenge, fear and risk to be mentally and spiritually healthy. our society averts most discomforts at all tangible costs, though at considerable intagible costs. the walls are a sideways step in life where adversity is welcomed.

i threw up a thread a while ago about choosing hardship in order to live healthier; though some questioned my perspective,
it is one of the reasons i pursue the vertical.

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?
topic_id=490922&msg=500547#msg500547

James

climber

a porch in Chinese Camp

Mar 18, 2008 - 04:21pm PT

The aesthetics, the beauty, the fear, the work, the partnership, and the enormity of it all.

Elaborate Klaus

clustiere

Trad climber

berkeley ca

Mar 18, 2008 - 04:41pm PT

With out knowing why we act unconciously. Seems like knowing why provides some freedom of choice in the whole matter of life decisions etc. Being concious beings often we have choice, why not explore that??

Offset

climber

slc

Mar 18, 2008 - 04:43pm PT

q: why do we climb walls?

a: to try and find out why we climb walls

Moof

Big Wall climber

A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon

Mar 18, 2008 - 05:29pm PT

For perspective. Trouble is that once I have that perspective I can no longer relate to those that:

1. Won't eat any piece of meat with bones in it.

2. Won't eat chicken because of the texture.

3. Will only drink bottled water, and are picky about the brand.

4. Won't pee behind/in a bush.

5. Don't understand how to crap without a toilet (seriously.

6. Sport climb (though I often wonder why the opposite doesn't happen?).

7. Won't eat a banana with any sort of blemish on it.

8. Must have the latest wizbang cell phone.

Basically too many folks I run into have never truly tasted hunger, exhuastion, thirst, or true discomfort. Wall climbing is a huge contrivance to attain those, but it does remind you to keep your perspective just the same.

Chris McNamara

SuperTopo staff member

Jan 29, 2018 - 04:58pm PT

Just came across this quote from Mark Twain in "Roughing It." A funny and (maybe) insightful perspective I had not heard on the "Why We Climb" question. For context he is describing why he would take off on a 16-day carriage ride to Nevada in the late 1800's (before the railroad when that was a rare adventure).

"In a way we were the same sort of simpletons as those who climb unnecessarily the perilous peaks of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, and derive no pleasure from it except the reflection that it isn't a common experience."

thebravecowboy

climber

The Good Places

Jan 29, 2018 - 05:59pm PT

Aint no wallrat but agree that the singularity and aloofy-ness linked inextricable with wall stuff allows for a singularity and a refuge pure and clean.
Human excommunication pales, confronted with the exposure and competence of self in the lone new challenge life

Wade Icey

Trad climber

www.alohashirtrescue.com

Jan 29, 2018 - 06:30pm PT

I hate wall climbing less than I hate being on flat ground.