El Potrero Chico for dummies (versus JT Nat. Park)

Christiney wrote: Yes. When someone says "sport" this indicates to take quick draws only. When someone says "run-out" this indicates to me I should be scared and careful and make sure my belayer knows to take in the rope quickly should I fall. If someone says "trad" this tells me I need to place things and not just clip bolts. Maybe you are showing your age- although I'm pretty old too, I didn't start climbing until 2 years ago. I don't blame you, I'm imagining you genuinely shaking your head and thinking how ridiculous it would be to label this a sport route, when it doesn't seem ridiculous to me at all.

Well, you definitely have, shall we say, a strange interpretation of a 'sport' route. On a 50-75 foot run-out your belayer ain't takin' in enough rope to make it matter!!

Tradster wrote: Well, you definitely have, shall we say, a strange interpretation of a 'sport' route. On a 50-75 foot run-out your belayer ain't takin' in enough rope to make it matter!!

If the route is a slab and the person isn't falling at full speed, and they didn't fall while clipping the next bolt, it might, or at least the belayer knew he/she could sleep a little easier knowing they gave it a good try.

I'm sure everyone is tired of beating this dead horse, well if I ever run into any of you or someone with rigid stemmed Friends, I will use your definition.

The definition is shifting some, so it depends on the context I think. In this age of cell phones, MP and apps, where a simple objective definition is needed so a box can be clicked, all bolted is becoming "sport" even though the original meaning included 'safely' (pretty subjective) Here on MP, being run out or not can be shown by the g, pg, r ratings (more boxes!) and comments in the description. Outside of this context I probably wouldn't refer to old school ground up run out slab as 'sport'.

My rigid stem cams are in a box in the attic ;)

There was no "sport" back in the 60s and 70s by the way, Christiney, at least in the USA. That concept came later, in the early 80's.

M Sprague wrote:The definition is shifting some, so it depends on the context I think. In this age of cell phones, MP and apps, where a simple objective definition is needed so a box can be clicked, all bolted is becoming "sport" even though the original meaning included 'safely' (pretty subjective) Here on MP, being run out or not can be shown by the g, pg, r ratings (more boxes!) and comments in the description. Outside of this context I probably wouldn't refer to old school ground up run out slab as 'sport'. My rigid stem cams are in a box in the attic ;) There was no "sport" back in the 60s and 70s by the way, Christiney. That concept came later.

LOL the Administrator stepped in to break up the fighting kids :D

I think common usage of "sport" has definitely shifted towards sport being anything bolted and not requiring trad gear.

I propose a poll on mountain project and supertopo. It'd be really interesting to see what people on the interwebs think, and also see the difference between the two web communities. But we'd be missing a big portion of the real crusty old timers that wouldn't dare go near a computer.