Climbers vs. Junkies... A lifestyle comparison.

The trick is to find a job that lets you climb, or a job that involves climbing. And if you live in a town of climbers, nobody will judge you for not having a 'career.' Solves all your problems. ;)

Ryan Derrick wrote:I really should just do my homework and find a nice internship for the summer.

This really struck a chord with me. As a junior engineering double major, I know I should have an internship for the summer, but no, I'm going back to the Tetons to work there for my third summer. No regrets though. None whatsoever.

As a dirtbag who has been living out of my backpack climbing off and on for the last 5 years (try hitching w a double rack of cams, harness, shoes, 60m of rope, and camping gear) I have a bit to add.

I took it that your post is satirical. But climbing has become my life. I have no girlfriend, no phone, no car, no house, nothing that isn't totally oriented to my climbing lifestyle.

It is the dream (minus the Sprinter van) that alot of people wish for, but it isn't an addiction. It is a skill set. Climbing makes me a more complete person. In this totally controlled and planned out society climbing helps me to feel fear, hopefully process it rationally, and separate it from objective or merely subjective risk. It has taken me to the ends of the world to extreme situations. It has helped me to develop a tolerance for discomfort, and most importantly it has taught me that through pushing myself to my limits I can go farther than I ever thought.

I was in your position when I was about to graduate. I took the climbing route. It has take. Me to 24 countries on 4 Continents. I learned a foreign language, spent years sleeping under the stars, am in excellent shape, and am on pace to climb 1000 pitches outdoor this year.

In addition I have developed it into a trade. I have worked rope access, worked as a wilderness instructor and taught rock climbing classes for high schoolers.

Doing what you love isn't necessarily an addiction, it's being truly human, embracing the infinite possibilities of the future, and letting the process develop you instead of trying to develop the process.

I remember feeling like that at 22. The urge to climb everything, everywhere, all the time along with a dread of getting old. At just a few months shy of 50, it's nice to have a different relationship with the sport while still enjoying it in its various forms on a regular basis.

The trick is to convince yourself that you are not an addict, that way you can continue using.

I remember my 30th b-day I told my dad the trick was to get addicted to something that was good for you.

I thought it was climbing.

It might be.

It also might not.

How many people have at least three tendon injuries right now?

See?

I love this addiction, but my knee is Fuc***, so I am drinking beer.

I wish I was climbing.

Funny you never hear someone console the family of OD'd heroin addict by saying "they died doing what they loved."

What is interesting for me about this post is having climbed with a few addicts (former addicts) is how they have absolutely seemed, to my evaluation anyway, to have replaced a drug addiction with climbing. They are the most adamant and committed climbers I know. The adrenaline appears to be a solid drug replacement.

Minimizing addiction! Yeah!

The only thing I got out of this is JQ is over 30? Mind blower!

I always thought he was a 19-year old precocious turd, not an old dude.

So, you wanna, like, hang out and catch up on some old Friends episodes, bro? Play some gheymecube?

Charles Bukowski wrote:Find what you love and let it kill you. Let it drain you of your all. Let it cling onto your back and weigh you down into eventual nothingness. Let it kill you and let it devour your remains. For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it’s much better to be killed by a lover.

Ryan Derrick wrote:Surprised? Thought I was talking about hard drugs?

At least climbers don't get so obsesseed that they can't make it through a shower without climbing, or try to get their cats to do a pitch with them. And that wasn't even hard drugs - ask doug pederson spectateswamp Remember this guy?

Ryan Derrick wrote: Some of the old-timers quit cold-turkey when their kids were born, but only because their wives begged. My only question for them is: how did you have the time and money to find a wife while you were rock climbing?

Seriously now. The key there if you want to stay full-time is to find a mate who has the same desire (yes, a unicorn, but it happens to a few) and if not that, and part-time will do, then first off, WAIT. Then when you are READY go for the woman who is supportive of it at least part time. This is different than tolerant. Tolerance runs out, support, if genuine, does not.
And if you want kids, then wait a while. They are needy.

I'm over 40, I have a baby, and I compromise, but I'll be after it again this weekend in the Splatte with my wife's blessing on that (not tolerance) because she knows it makes me happy and I keep the kid when she does her thing and we work it out.

Climbing hard just hurts my fingers now - for a few days. So I guess I was ready for the change.

Tony,

Climbing doesn't make you happy. Not feeling that need to climb for a while lets your naturally occuring happiness reveal itself. Wouldn't you like to be free from your addiction?

I think the difference between climbing & being a junkie is whether or nor you'll put a dick in your mouth to do it. Id say a good deal of the aimless folks Ive met full-time climbing wouldnt have been a productive member of society regardless of their dedicated hobbies.

MC Poopypants wrote:Tony, Climbing doesn't make you happy. Not feeling that need to climb for a while lets your naturally occuring happiness reveal itself. Wouldn't you like to be free from your addiction?

Interesting thought though, and certainly one I've entertained.
I've given that some thought over the years, but I concluded otherwise.
Perhaps we have different semantics or philosophies, or perhaps we just have different relationships with the sport. But climbing indeed makes me happy. It is not a behavioral tick or fidget to relieve an acquired need or my indulgence patters would probably be different.
Then again, I'm one of those people that had experience and unfettered access to the comparative stuff here, and I could always take or leave that too - I don't have a very compulsive or addictive personality.

OP, you sound like a dirty long haired hippie from boulder that wrote that piece after some "fatty bong rips". Hippies disgust me, they are the leeches of society. They never provide anything productive for the community, just slipping between the cracks and getting high. It sounds like you don't have very good life/time management skills.

Food for thoughts;

Successful people think about what they want and how to get it.
Unsuccessful people think about what they don't want and who to blame.

Take a few years and climb your heart out full time. At least live out of your van for a summer. Get married and have kids if you want, get a career if that inspires you; climbing can easily be a part of your 'normal' lifestyle for many decades as long as you live near the crags.

Marriage, careers, kids, etc..... the rewards from these aren't necessarily any better than those that come from good climbing.

grog m wrote:OP, you sound like a dirty long haired hippie from boulder that wrote that piece after some "fatty bong rips".

Odd. To me he just sounded 22. Which would be appropriate, all things considered.

grog m wrote: Successful people think about what they want and how to get it. Unsuccessful people think about what they don't want and who to blame.

What else did you hear last night on the O'Reilly report?

I just thought of another difference: you never hear "he is an avid and talented alcoholic." Also something no one said : "he wasted his life climbing mountains".
Deviating from the subject a little bit. No kid ever said: " my dream is to be normal!".

grog m wrote:OP, you sound like a dirty long haired hippie from boulder that wrote that piece after some "fatty bong rips". Hippies disgust me, they are the leeches of society. They never provide anything productive for the community, just slipping between the cracks and getting high. It sounds like you don't have very good life/time management skills. Food for thoughts; Successful people think about what they want and how to get it. Unsuccessful people think about what they don't want and who to blame.

Sounds a lot like Hitler to me!

Brilliant! Yes, agreed! Very well written. I have had the passion for 20+ years. Managed to stay employed during the entire run. Ladies, yeah, a couple have come and gone, partially because of the passion.

I am more than twice your age Ryan - my fire still burns just as bright as it did 20 years ago. I don't sense it will be going away anytime soon. Maybe never.

Game on. Climb Ohn. Wally