route descriptions

I guess it's just me but I really don't like to give move by move route descriptions when putting routes on MP. I guess some people want this ?

Example- A straight up crack, starting thin hands and tapering to a very thin crux at the top. Enough ?? I think so.

john

The whole mission of MP is to go "beyond the guidebook."

So, no, John, I don't think that your example is enough. How about route history? Location? Photos? Interesting anecdotes?

There is much more to add than beta.

I agree with Jay. Move by move beta to me is inappropriate, but if the approach is tricky or hard to find that info is good, history or anecdotal stuff about the FA party or info like that is fun to know and adds color to the climb.

There's a lot more to describing a route than move-by-move beta: When does the route get shade?
Is the route short & powerful, or long & pumpy?
Is the climbing technical or thuggish?
Is the wall a slab, vertical, or overhanging?
Any distinctive features (roof, dihedral, pod, etc)?
Is the rock good (not chossy)?
Is the route beautiful to behold, or does it look like a pile of crap?
Who did the FA?
What sort of jingus "tactics" were used on the FFA?

Some people don't like more info, which is ok, since they have every right not to look at MP.com.

My take...

Guidebooks document climbs.
MP documents experiences on climbs.

That's the difference.

maybe John is talking about the over-hyped short-sport/trad & bouldering?

"Grab that pinch and pinch it, oh, soo cool, and dyno to the middle right/left jug and pulll... I'm 4 feet off the ground, this is so wild, now switch hands"

yeah, maybe if I were climbing a lady friend

(not that there's anything wrong with it, but don't spray yourself about it)

My take:
We are discussing the good and the bad of how we discuss climbs.
I need to get out more...

I got no problem with the history and experiences of route- It makes the route for me. But I will NOT give move by move descriptions. Being in the shade, approach etc is no problem but if you want exact beta then I have no use for that.

I still stand by my entries- Like BUDAPEST on Cathedral, it's a brilliant route that was done 28 YEARS AGO ! Do you really need step by step instructions ??? Eb's, Hexes etc. PLEAS go for it !

Yes...!

john strand wrote:I got no problem with the history and experiences of route- It makes the route for me. But I will NOT give move by move descriptions. Being in the shade, approach etc is no problem but if you want exact beta then I have no use for that. I still stand by my entries- Like BUDAPEST on Cathedral, it's a brilliant route that was done 28 YEARS AGO ! Do you really need step by step instructions ??? Eb's, Hexes etc. PLEAS go for it !

john: i don't blame you for not wanting to give move by move descriptions. often they aren't appropriate, but respectfully speaking, if you don't want to add more to your route descriptions, then just let someone who doesn't mind doing it write them.

Maybe Bob D was right- MP can be a pain in the ass

David Aguasca wrote: john: i don't blame you for not wanting to give move by move descriptions. often they aren't appropriate, but respectfully speaking, if you don't want to add more to your route descriptions, then just let someone who doesn't mind doing it write them.

Sounds good ,..I gonna delete them all so some one else can put in "appropriate" descriptions.

Goodbye

Wow, REALLY? Mountains out of mole hills. No one said you had to do anything. if you don't like move by move then just leave them out as you apparently have and others can come in and fill in more details that they might have found useful. I see no reason to just have a tantrum and up and leave like your idol, atleast he was being picked on(which alteast justify's the selfish, take what's mine and leave act).

I'm not sure how you came to conclude that MP is a PITA, just because you don't like something and don't have to do anything about it. you know no one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to contribute to this site (or change what you've already contributed for that matter) or forcing you to read move by move route descriptions. "No need to cry over spilt milk".

There's one in every crowd...

wow man, chill... The mountain project is for people to share fun climbing with other people, regardless of 'full beta' descriptions. I'm not a big fan of this either, but it is sometimes necessary, like at Morrison. Just post the climbs you think others should know about however you feel appropriate, and if someone doesn't like it, they can add to it...

john strand wrote:Maybe Bob D was right- MP can be a pain in the ass

No matter where you go, some people have differences of opinion, and others over-react to those differences of opinion.
Not sure what it has to do with this site other than that when 2 parties with a "it must be my way or no way" attitude disagree here., like anywhere else, it is always the other guy's fault.
Seems like humans are a pain in the ass, pretty much all of us.

Bob Packwood wrote: PS- David A. reread your comment...it's pretty lame. So if somebody is putting up routes and doesn't want to give suburban-level beta he should find somebody who does to write his descriptions? Whatever.

Yeah, I was predicting that sentence would be misread. What I meant to say is, "If you are thinking of writing a route description, but it is not consistent with the rest of the descriptions in that given area, then don't add that route. Give somebody else, somebody who may have more information, a chance to write it."

I guess that's what I don't really like: inconsistency. And since the standard here at MP (at least in the locations that I predominantly look at, namely NH crags) is pretty high, thanks to guys like Jay Knower and Lee Hansche and many others, when I see descriptions like this , I think that is lame.

I love MountainProject.com!

John as someone who is moving to Boston in a couple months, I appreciate your contribution.

I also think your "crack in the woods" description was more than enough. I didn't notice the route on my first scroll through Webster but after reading your description it sounds like something I would like to go do.

If people think original route descriptions aren't enough there is no reason they can't add a comment or a photo.