Lately, I have been throwing around the idea of permanently scarring my body with some fancy artwork. Climbing has impacted my life in so many ways and I have been wanting to get a climbing tattoo. I searched around for some ideas but came up short. Next stop... MP.

If you have a climbing tattoo or a climbing inspired tattoo please share a picture. Or maybe you just want to picth a good idea for a tattoo. Thanks.

In the Huayhuash last year my parter and I set off to climb a peak whose name in English means Hummingbird. He promised to get a tat of a Hummingbird if we made it. We didn't. Instead we wound up climbing something named the Toad. He didn't get a Toad tat, though. But I still like the idea of inking a memorable ascent.

get a piton on yourself that looks like it's in you in like a crack or something

How about a topo drawing of your favorite crag?

I have "Live To Climb" down my left rib cage, and my best friend/ climbing partner has "Climb To Live" down his right. It is one of my favorite quotes. "Climb To Live, Live To Climb."

I've got S-H-I-T on the knuckles of my left hand and T-A-K-E on my right. This makes sure I always know what to say to my belayer. Bonus: I can tell people it really just means I like mushrooms.

Often thought about this topic.... Since I plan on covering my back and upper arms in tatts anyway..... maybe a large back piece, have my back done in detail to look like an overhanging rock face with a climber barely hanging on, struggling to make that next clip. Or just a nice tatt of El Cap on my back seeing as Im an aspiring trad climber stuck in a boulderer/sport climbers body.....

I was a river guide in the grand canyon for a long time and wanted to do something memorable and lasting. So I have a map of the grand canyon on my backside.


wanna see it?

just watch out for Lava Falls...

Seriously, you're a complete dumbass if you get a climbing tatoo. I once saw a guy with a big prana logo on his back. Lame. He couldn't climb worth a shit either.

Wow, tenesmus. I think you just insulted every tattoo owner out there. "Guideline #1: don't be a jerk." Please post you ideas; not your negative sarcasm.

I like the topo ideas. I also thought about a mountain landscape of some sort or maybe a recognizable face like El Cap, The Diamond, or Devils Tower. And then there's always that favorite piece of climbing gear.

Saw a graphic once of a yin-yang symbol, and there was a climber on the overhang -- always thought that would be a cool tattoo.

Also, you could design a custom tat with a climber working the overhang on a big mushroom!

I have thought of this as well. My thought was to get an arm-band that looked like a climbing rope, with a figure 8 knot somewhere in there. Possibly a carabiner. I haven't sat down to draw it, yet. Whatever you get, make sure it means something to you. I have one on my leg that was a picture drawn by my nephew when he was alive.

I love it when people slam other people for tattoos. They have absolutely no clue what it may mean to that person. Smooth, tenesmus, smooth.

I've toyed with the idea of a tick list tat. Anything under 3 *s doesn't make it.

It's not exactly climbing related, but I got this when I was 18...



It's the skyline of Garden of the Gods, which was my backyard growing up and where I learned to climb.

Here's one.. this area is the closest thing to a spiritual place that I have found. Had many great trips with many great people here.

Tetons tattoo Submitted By: Jeff Kolehmainen on Oct 25, 2008

Ok so I have to give my advice on this. I have my whole back, my right arm and my right leg is covered, it took me almost my whole life to come up with what I wanted, but when I was sure of what I wanted it was not what everyone had. Remember the tribal s in the ninties, well I didnt get one. Then I had to think what it would do in the work field, well that was an easy one for me, as an aircraft mech, who cares. So what I am getting to my friend, think about what you really want, design what you want yourself, Get some ideas from people, but in the end design it yourself. Think about all the climbing you have done, places you bin, and people you have met, think why you climb. By then you should have some sort of idea of what you want. So good luck my friend, I hope this works for you and I hope that your hart guides you to what you feel is the best tattoo.
chris

Climbing Tatoos....are gay!


TDA

Make sure it is something that involves Calvin peeing on something, the virgin de Guadalupe, the Chevy and Ford monikers, an incorporated piercing, some sort of tribal band and a unicorn. If you have to ask other people for a recommendation for what YOU want....pretty lame. If this is for YOU than who really cares? However if it is for when you peel off your shirt and flex at the base of some sport route so all the honeys can ooh and aah, maybe something that says "Tough Hombre" or "Yeah, I climb hard" would be par for the course.

I've never understood tattoos as a form of self expression. But...to each their own.

Haven't we already been through this?
www.mountainproject.com/v/general_climbing/tattoos_and_climb>>>

By the way does anyone have a recommendation as to what job I should work, what thoughts I should have and what clothes to wear? I just wanna make sure that I am doing in my life what other people suggest.
Grow a pair and make your own decisions.

Absolutely! And we all know what high opinions we have of them!