What is your good/bad mountain project meetup story with a rando?

Baped Caldy wrote:

So many names you have.  So mysterious and edgy!

Anime avatar, deep thoughts only

I’ve actually only had good experiences with rando MP meetups.

 I used MP to connect with partners frequently while on travel for work. All good experiences.  But I vet potential partners by communicating with them beforehand about what they've climbed, how many years climbing, etc.  You can usually tell someone's proficiancy and experience level.  I don't understand why someone would just go out and climb with a MP member who has a blank profile.  You can't tell if they are a man or women, how old, experience level, a serial killer, etc.  

Brian wrote: You can't tell if they are a man or women, how old, experience level, a serial killer, etc.  

Serial killers don’t usually advertise their status as serial killers. 

Mostly good experiences. Usually if the person is less experienced I pick routes accordingly & we climb at their level. I usually don't like pushing myself on routes with random people.

However, every El Cap route I've done has been with a rando here on MP. These partners have surprisingly worked out pretty well.

Marc H wrote:

Serial killers don’t usually advertise their status as serial killers. 

Oh, I thought they would give you a warning.  

Steven Sheets wrote:...every El Cap route I've done has been with a rando here on MP. These partners have surprisingly worked out pretty well.

that's pretty cool 

Met a dude road tripping at his CO stop. Spent a day in eldo following and learning a few things. Chill guy, ended up having a late lunch together. Offered a shower and my street to park his van. 10/10 would do again. 

Met a woman from the Midwest with little outdoor experience. Went to The Monastery and did a bunch of moderates. She was not able to clean and didn't know how to rap (some routes were better to rap vs. lower) but we discussed this and I cleaned the routes or pre-rigged them so she could just remove gear to be lowered. I had an idea regarding her experience, so no problem (even though I'd like my partner to be able to do these things in case of emergency). I felt she was a good belayer and had good leading skils for the routes we did. Had a super fun day and I'd do it again.

Met up with a guy from a random MP post in Eldo few years back.  Gentleman is older, has a big knee brace, and had put on a couple of pounds since his youth.  Shake his hand and know immediately that this guy has logged a lot of time on the rock.  He wants to do Rewritten.  Think it was a Saturday or Sunday and not particularly early; 8 am I think?

We start hiking up slow and steady chatting the whole time.  A group of three youngsters fly past us on the trail.  Where you guys headed?  Rewritten.  Of course.  Pretty soon another group of two youngsters pass us on the trail.  Where you headed?  Rewritten.  Now I'm thinking, let's just see what's open when we get up there.

Turns out the first group didn't know how to properly make a backpack coil and it came apart and the rope was all over the trail and stuck in the bushes.  We pass them.  Second group was from out of town and not used to the altitude, so they were catching their breath and taking a break.  We pass them too.

Get to the base and there is already one party on the first pitch and one in line.  Green Spur next door is open.  Let's do that.  We link the first two pitches up to the big eye bolt and get ahead of everyone in line.  Decide to do the rest of Rewritten from there in two pitches swapping leads.  Goes well and we hike down.

Get back to the base and one of the groups we passed on the approach hasn't even started climbing yet.  They look at us with wide eyes.  Couldn't believe we were done already.  One of my favorite days out.  Everyone was so confident as they passed us on the approach initially.  Looking at both of us like were were gonna hold up the whole show.  Looking at my partners knee brace and thinking we'd never make it.  The look on their faces when were were done with the route and they hadn't even started climbing yet was priceless.

Love climbing with the older crushers.  Those dudes are inspiring!