The Ethics you wish everyone knew...

With climbing growing at such a rapid rate and the drastic increase in traffic at outdoor climbing areas, what are the ethics that you wish everyone coming into the sport knew?

Don’t be a jerk

No audible music. Ever.

carry out your orange peels.  carry out your apple cores.  

Quit trying to get everyone you know into climbing.

Quit popping out babies without considering the impact on the planet. Even coyotes can self regulate their population.

Parking is an issue in some places here. If the parking is overflowing.... get up earlier next time, and go somewhere else in the meantime. Along the same line: I know there are no parking lines in dirt parking lots but... it's still possible to park sensibly.

My personal ones.

More etiquette as well, but don't hop on super popular routes only to be a complete junk show, slow other parties down, and ruin their experience.  Pick out reasonable objectives in your ability range and have the humility to bail if they're too much, rather than holding up parties behind you.

Dogs should be leashed in most settings. 

Plan to pack out your sh*t, wherever you're going. Leave the dogs at home, really. God I love them, but they dig everywhere, adding to the trampling we're already doing to crag bases, only in ways we humans don't. Plus barking, dog fights, lunches getting eaten, and ensuing arguments. Respect that you are enjoying a privilege to climb where you are climbing and not a right per se. Be friendly and accommodating to those around you, and those wanting to do the same route you came to do especially. You make new friends this way  

1. Leave No Trace. Pack your stuff out. All Trash, everything.

2. Be kind to one another.

3. Please leave dogs at home.

4. Keep the volume down. Having a hyped squad is great but I can't hear my climber or belayer sometimes cause people are talking so loud.

Normal Customerwrote:

4. Keep the volume down. Having a hyped squad is great but I can't hear my climber or belayer sometimes cause people are talking so loud.

This is a good one I don’t see respected enough. If I’m at the base of a crag and having a conversation with someone and climbers/belayers near me start communicating, I stop talking. They usually sort it out in less than 10 seconds, and then I can go back to my conversation.

Please do not yell beta at me unless I cry for some.

Don’t feed my dog.

If people show up - offer to let them “run your draws” or your TR

Don’t litter and always try to pack out trash.

Help in anyway you can in any rescue or emergency.

Communicate with other parties at the end o day before heading down. eg “you guys OK??” It’s getting dark.

Smile 

If you can’t get a cam out and you are getting desperate, leave it! Stop ruining good cams! Someone with more skill and time can probably remove it in good working condition.

Cory Nwrote:

If you can’t get a cam out and you are getting desperate, leave it! Stop ruining good cams! Someone with more skill and time can probably remove it in good working condition.

lol your desire for free booty is not ethics. It's their cam, they get to do what they want trying to get it out.

Quit ticking everything in sight and learn to pay attention 

Make sure you post all of your new FA's, particularly toprope variations and roadside boulder problems. They are of great value and you are definitely the first.

If you don’t think a route is safe enough, you should take it upon yourself to add a bolt (or multiple) so subsequent parties don’t have to take any risk. This goes for every style of roped climbing. 

It's OK to cut the rope sometimes. Knowing this keeps everyone on their toes and best behavior 

Stay on the clearest trail, avoid the"social trails." Keep your gear organized, close to the rock, and off the vegetation. Our landing areas are eroding away.

Tough love is best. Don't coddle the noobs. Ever.

Mind your own business.

Be arrogant enough to have some big goals.

Be foolish enough to try.

Be humble enough to run away when you must.

Laugh at every chance you get.