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New Yorker post-Dawn Wall article: here's hoping all doesn't go as planned

Original Post
Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
newyorker.com/news/sporting…

Yikes: "It was a coming-of-age moment for the sport of climbing as well, and many in the outdoor industry are hoping that the pair’s feat proves to be the moment the sport breaks out of its crunchy bubble and into the broader consciousness."
keithconn · · LI, NY · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 35

I think most of us like our 'crunchy bubble '. Actually my bubble is more like a goose down bubble.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion · · Colorado · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 35

Lets all share a good cry over how mainstream the sport it and how once it was only a few of us.

It's definitely more crowded almost everywhere than it used to be. It'll get more crowded I'm sure. It's made camping a chore. It's never gotten in the way of climbing.

Plenty of solitude still exists if you look for it. There are places that have been tame for years. There are other places that can't be tamed.

Happiegrrrl · · Gunks · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 60

Bu just think of all the gear that will get bought and then sold cheap when the people realize that climbing is scary and stop doing it!

Guy Keesee · · Moorpark, CA · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 349

I remember when I started out... way way back in the golden olden days. 1973!!!

A bunch of the climbers I befriended were all sad because one of the locals, from Ventura, had recently hung himself because: (im sure there were other underlying issues) "Rock Climbing was becoming to popular" !!!! ????

so i guess its all relative, if anybody wishes to know where they can go climb with out others around, ask me for so cal beta.... almost all the spots are empty. You might need to walk about 45 minutes, but what the heck.

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

"Crunchy bubble?" I expect better writing from the New Yorker.

Alec O · · Norwich, VT · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 31

The quote from the BKB owner is just the stupidest thing I've ever heard about climbing. BKB is creating hundreds of new climbers every month, and they have a responsibility to lessen their impact on the rest of the community. I don't see them doing that, and that pisses me off a lot.

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

My vote for most telling quote:

"A recent industry study noted that the young professional demographic identifies more with mainstream athletic brands than traditional outdoor ones. ('They were raised on team sports,' according to the report, 'and don’t see themselves as outdoorsy.')"

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
rgold wrote:My vote for most telling quote: "A recent industry study noted that the young professional demographic identifies more with mainstream athletic brands than traditional outdoor ones. ('They were raised on team sports,' according to the report, 'and don’t see themselves as outdoorsy.')"
Sweet! Most of the "climbers" I meet out and about that are from the big cities are usually upper middle class and above. Maybe the above quote means those types will stick Rec ball and not start climbing or hiking.

I'm not worried.. Most of the gym peeps at the gym I go to don't have much interest in climbing outside. If they do its single pitch sport.

This reminds of when mountain biking blew up. Same deal with people whining but no real change to my weekends.
Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
Happiegrrrl wrote:Bu just think of all the gear that will get bought and then sold cheap when the people realize that climbing is scary and stop doing it!
This!!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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