Climbing Tattoos

I would never actually get one, but I've thought of a possibly cool tattoo if you were to commit to it: have a belayer around your ankle area, and a rope tracing up your leg and side, with gear plugged on the way up, and somewhere around your shoulder, have a climber leading a route. I feel like it'd have to be done perfect to actually come out cool, but I think it's got a higher chance of being lame/trying too hard, etc.

• if anyone decides to get this tattoo because of me, I want to see it, and you owe me a beer!

My friend Mitch, a tough mother f..ker biker, told his daughter who wanted to get a tat.

"Paste a picture of your tat on the bathroom mirror so you see it every day, if after a year you still like it go ahead."

Best advice I ever heard!

Best advice I was ever given on ink was when you finalize your idea waIt a year to get it. This allows you to be certain that's what you want on your body for the test of your life more important though it gives you a year to find the right artist and save up.

Quality ink isn't cheep but it's worth every penny. I waited almost 5 years to start my sleeve and I'm glad I did because I made some changes that I wouldn't of thought of had it not been something I'd taken the time to think on. Plus 2 grand into it was with another session or two to go the extra time to save was crucial.

The hardest part about getting ink is taking the time to find the right artist for your idea.

What do climbing tattoos and climbers with climbing tattoos have in common?

They both suck.

A tat of a cam coming out of your ass crack would be epic.

Or a picture of you biviying just above your ass. It could be a camp stamp!

Back when I was 17, my friend Josh had this great idea, "let's go get tattoos!", he then proceeded to tell me about a guy who could do it really cheap. Plus he wasn't real concerned with checking IDs. So off we went to get our first ink.
Greg was a sketchy ex-con with a body full of poorly done tattoos, but "MICHELLE" in giant Gothic letters across his neck really stood out amongst the rest. His "parlor" err trailer was even sketchier. Me being young and dumb and having a new subscription to Rock and Ice thought the little heal hook dude would be AWESOME on my shoulder. Anyway he sawed away on both of us and away we went happy as clams with our own sketchy half-assed tatoos.

Josh wanted to go back a few weeks later to get, Animal (from the muppets) playing drums. I said I'd pass on getting one, but would gladly tag along just to hear Greg's amusing hard time anecdotes. Greg answers the door, Josh looks at him and says, "Looks like you and Michelle broke up." I laughed, Greg didn't. Greg had a new black bar across his neck. Ha!