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Please tell us what language you speak

Original Post
Rob Dillon · · Tamarisk Clearing · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 760

I think I have reached my limit reading someone's route description which describes cracks as if we all have the same rack. The straw that broke the camalot's back was this

"The chimney quickly shrinks to #5's, then #4's, then #3's... "

but it could have been anyone.

For god's sake, if you have the time to write this stuff up, tell us what #3 or .75 or whatever means to you! There must be a solid dozen brands of camming unit in common use...

End rant. Thanks.

Alex Swan · · West · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 25

Pretty standard way to describe cracks besides the generic "fist, thin hands, etc".

Camalots bro

Steve Bond · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 45

Or is is still Friends sizing? (though I've not placed a Friend in at least a decade)

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

It says it all right here:

The "gold standard"...

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

A little bit of German. Alex: Die risse sind 25 cm. Thomas: Shiesse!! ich hab keine Big Bros.

Matt N · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 415
Rob Dillon wrote:"The chimney quickly shrinks to #5's, then #4's, then #3's... "
Definitely mastercams on that one.
Greg D · · Here · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 883

Look. We live in a world of lazy ass no gooders. Thought is painful for all too many. A good route description would tell you the size of the crack (in inches perhaps). Then, it is up to you to decide the appropriate gear.

With the advent of the interweb, any yahoo can write a route description with little thought and with the beta spewing, ego minded, I really know my shit dork that thinks he knows what gear you need.

Stewart Green is a great example of the contrary. He writes his guides with basic info, he mentions if some special gear is necessary, but he leaves plenty for you to figure out. Thanks Stewart.

Today's interweb author practically tries to climb the effen route for you. Settle down Mr Ego. We know you climbed it. Leave some shit for us to figure out.

IMO, I good guide author will get me to the route.
Give a sense of difficulty.
Give a sense if unusual gear is needed.

The rest is up to me.

Eric Krantz · · Black Hills · Joined Feb 2004 · Points: 420

^^^^ exactly

Greg Barnes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 2,065

Those are big bro sizes - duh.

Now if it says "The tips crack quickly shrinks to #5s, then #4s, then #3s..." then you can wonder if they are talking about RPs, BD micros, or HB offset micros...

Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

Unless someone says Friend, they are talking about Camalots.

cjdrover · · Watertown, MA · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 355

Rob - I have fixed the route description you are referring to. But since, you got to rant about it, I get to rant as well:

- A PM pointing out the oversight would have been nice - I did write it yesterday. Writing a 12 pitch description from memory and a few photos isn't the easiest thing in the world, but I'm glad you chose this way to address my error. Thanks pal!

- The page clearly says "this is a brief rundown, consult the refugio topo for more detailed info".

- Lastly, if you are planning to visit that part of the world, it gets even worse. Locals use the word "friends" as a generic noun meaning "cam", so a "#2 friend" could actually mean the new gold camalots, or a #2 wild country friend, or basically anything for that matter.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620

I thought it was West Coast: Friends
East Coast: Camalots....
Awesome looking route though, good on fixing it.

MTN MIA · · Vail · Joined May 2006 · Points: 405
Glenn Schuler wrote:A little bit of German. Alex: Die risse sind 25 cm. Thomas: Shiesse!! ich hab keine Big Bros.
+++1

PS: isn't it 'ich habe'......
MTN MIA · · Vail · Joined May 2006 · Points: 405

......and to add a small rant...... The size change that BD did on their cams drive me crazy. I know exactly what a 3.5, 4 or 4.5 crack is...... But now I have to mentally change..... Plus if for example i am told I 'need' a #5 for the anchor, is that a new or old #5......
Sigh.......such a dilemma......

:-)

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
Rob Dillon wrote:I think I have reached my limit reading someone's route description which describes cracks as if we all have the same rack. The straw that broke the camalot's back was this "The chimney quickly shrinks to #5's, then #4's, then #3's... " but it could have been anyone. For god's sake, if you have the time to write this stuff up, tell us what #3 or .75 or whatever means to you! There must be a solid dozen brands of camming unit in common use... End rant. Thanks.
I prefer to use the colors of the pro to be used in route discriptions. Something like this: The route starts out as a green size then goes to red, then continues as orange, and finished up with blue. Personally I think that will help to take all ambiguity out of route descriptions.
Rob Dillon · · Tamarisk Clearing · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 760

cjdrover, don't take it personally! You just happened to be there and you are clearly conscientious, as you actually took the time to adjust a route description to meet some random stranger's criteria. And that route looks amazing.

My real gripe about locals in that part of the world has more to do with the incredibly chintzy tat inhabiting descent anchors...at least that was the case the last time I was down there, which has been long enough that I won't embarrass myself by naming the date.

But seriously--how much time does it take to type 'C4' or 'F' or whatever after that #4? A website that aspires to be the Beta Site of Record oughta have standards. I shouldn't have to be PMing folks, it should be an expectation.

Now back to turbotax.

Rob Dillon · · Tamarisk Clearing · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 760

"Sizes in camalots: 2 each #3,4 and 5. A # 3.5 and #4.0 friend might be good alternatives."

See? Now how hard was that?

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330
Mia Tucholke wrote: +++1 PS: isn't it 'ich habe'......
well yes, that would be proper. But they're Bavarian. (I am a hack when it comes to german spelling/grammar)
Matt Roberts · · Columbus, OH · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 85
Glenn Schuler wrote: well yes, that would be proper. But they're Bavarian. (I am a hack when it comes to german spelling/grammar)
Sehr gluecklich.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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