What constructive advice would you give to new climbers going outdoors?

Jens 1wrote:

No: unleashed dogs, daisy chain thongs, hexes, helmets at sport crags (or even worse baseball caps under helmets) personal anchor systems/cordelletes @ 1 pitch areas. 

Really just seems like, other than unleashed dogs, these are some weird personal issues you have about other people.  No pas?  I'd rather a less experienced person go in direct with a pas, and no helmet at sport crags?  That's stupid.  Just completely stupid.

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

Think for yourself, learn for yourself, be responsible for yourself.

Pretty much sums it up.

Take up another sport.

No dogs, music, hammocks, and yard sales. If you have to smoke, smoke downwind of everyone else.

Jplotzwrote:

Please quit asking which climb I'm on and what the grade is as your nose is buried in your Mountain Project app. 

Buy the local guidebook.  It will have positive ripple effects. They're all so we'll done these days. 

I'm glad your local guidebooks are good, but not every illustrator is Alan Watts - I've held topos up to the cliff and been utterly lost, only to finish the route and realize the topo is objectively wrong.

Sometimes asking someone who knows the wall is just better. I've been on the other side of it too, climbing a route that's not on MP, and repeatedly explaining to the party next door that we'll be around the arete from them, and yes it's a real route.

Since this is a business opportunity I will happily create this list for you for a contracted fee. I'm in your hood too

What's the quote about ethics and erections, and both being prone to disappearing at opportune moments? 

J Pwrote:

What's the quote about ethics and erections, and both being prone to disappearing at opportune moments? 

The corollary being that obsession over either often leads to unseemly and counterproductive behaviors, lol

Locker wrote:

"What constructive advice would you give to new climbers going outdoors?"

two small bits of advice

be as safe as possible

and most of all, have a blast!

Love this!

My best advice is to try to instill the idea of climbing rocks being fun over the idea of grade progression (what a gym goer is used to) as early as possible.  I think the biggest mistake people make when taking new folks out climbing is they whip out the guidebook and say 'ohh here is a 4-star V1, lets start on that!' Instead, start with some scrambling. easy stuff that might just look fun to climb without needing to know the name and grade.  get at the root of why climbing is fun first, and get them some mileage in before there is the possibility of defeat.

This is not the gym

Here’s how this is different:

No one is coming out in the woods to hear yelling, loud music, tinny phone music, unsolicited beta spray, shouted instructions on cleaning anchors, ineffective canine commands, apologies for ineffective canine commands, or the loudly dropped names of superior climbs/climbers. The wind in the trees, birds, the creek- that’s  kind of nice. Let it be heard. 

Try and enjoy the environment for what it is. You are a visitor. Those plants live here-don’t drop your stuff on them. Stay on the trail. Confine your sprawl.  Figure out how to take a dump before you get here. If you must mark up holds, erase your marks afterwards. Unlike that chalky warehouse created for the specific amusement of post-industrial consumers, this place is merely trying to be what it is in the face of a metastasized onslaught of invasive beings.  Please respect this distinction. 

Similarly, you are entitled to nothing.  Those anchors are largely, if not entirely, placed at personal expense by private individuals who may be doing you a favor, but likely did not have you exactly in mind. The holds are what they are. The possibility that the placement and spacing of holds and protection may not be exactly to your liking is a feature, not a bug.  Generally, in the outdoors, one endeavors to bring oneself up to the challenges, rather than to reduce the challenges to match one’s current ability.  

Humility beats bluffing, every time. Most people are friendly and will help you learn things, as long as you’ve made a good first impression.

Every piece of loose rock does not warrant a giant chalky X.  As you learn to read the rock for holds, learn to scan for holds that may be too good to be true. If you can’t pull it off, leave it alone.

Pee on dead things, and someplace where it will eventually rain, not under an overhang or on plant life.

Orange peels are trash.

Pistachio shells are trash.

Butts are trash.

Pick up your trash, and others’ if you see it. 

communicate the plan before your partner leaves the ground. (cleaning and lower vs clean and rap ect..)

stay on the established trails.

leave the music in the car.

pick up after yourself/ learn how to dig a cat hole if needed. 

focus on safety before climbing hard outdoors. 

Learn your KNOTS, pay attention!