Requests to watch you climb

Does anyone ever get requests from non-climbing friends, parents, family members, coworkers, etc to come "watch" you climb? How do you treat these requests and what should the ethical considerations be, if any, for bringing non-climbers to areas mostly or purely accessed by the climbing community? To be clear, these are people not interested in climbing themselves, with little to no specific knowledge of climbing. 

I just tell them its like watching paint dry.

Ive tried to get people out, just to hike out to get some exercise and some fresh air on numerous occasions with no luck. Take them out, why would you not?

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

What ethical considerations would there be? It’s not like non climbers aren’t allowed to walk up to the rocks. 

“We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy!”

There's that splat thing. I'd be cautious who is out on a climbing trip, if they are non climbers. There are also inherent hazards outside at climbing areas, even without being the one climbing. If it's on your invite, there's at least a little expectation you'll keep an eye on them, no?

Just take them to the gym.

H.

You can take them but they have to wear a blindfold on the drive there and back.

Remember the first rule of climbing 

Old lady Hwrote:

There's that splat thing. I'd be cautious who is out on a climbing trip, if they are non climbers. There are also inherent hazards outside at climbing areas, even without being the one climbing. If it's on your invite, there's at least a little expectation you'll keep an eye on them, no?

Just take them to the gym.

H.

What? I doubt theyre talking about a 4 year old.

I’ve had friends whose non-climbing parents, in-laws, spouses, etc. wanted to come and hang out for the day. Some enjoyed it. Others got bored quickly.

As long as the people who are asking you have the physical ability to go where you are going, and are still wanting to go, after you have clearly explained the logistics of the day— what’s the harm in it?

Obviously you, as a climber, should plan/anticipate things, such as not bringing a watch party of 10 on such an outing, and choosing a crag where people would have a comfortable spot to sit, while being out of the way of other climbers. But that’s about it. 

Mountain Project never ceases to amaze me. 

It's not like they are asking to sit in on your freemasons meeting.

Make sure they are properly socialized, keep them on a leash, pack out their shit

Ask yourself, "could this cause access issues if land managers find out about it?"

Probably best just to leave the civilians at home with an ipad and bag of cheetos.

Pnelsonwrote:

Ask yourself, "could this cause access issues if land managers find out about it?"

Probably best just to leave the civilians at home with an ipad and bag of cheetos.

Whut??

Regardless, some screening is in order.

I follow a 5 pt  vetting process.  I always ask;

1. Can you fly a drone?

2.  Can you rig a Hammock?

3.  Do you like AC/DC?

4.  Can you tag me on Instagram? 

5. You got snacks?

if the answer is yes to at least 4/5,  I bring em. 

Mark Pilatewrote:

Whut??

Regardless, some screening is in order.

I follow a 5 pt  vetting process.  I always ask;

1. Can you fly a drone?

2.  Can you rig a Hammock?

3.  Do you like AC/DC?

4.  Can you tag me on Instagram? 

5. You got snacks?

if the answer is yes to at least 4/5,  I bring em. 

Lol!

Number 3 for me is swapped with DubStep!

When i do, i give them the layton kor treatment. Non stop profanity and biblical phrophesies of everybody getting killed by chossy rockfall. They usually take off after a minute or so....

Keep them leashed at all times and tell them no barking and they're not allowed to pilfer other climbers' packs for food.

Just make sure you are not top roping otherwise they may see a fatal accident. If no one dies, that means they spent an hour with someone totally insufferable and they wont ever wanna come to the crag again.

 But in seriousness, if someone shows interest in anything I care about I am happy to share it with them. 

Princess Puppy Lovrwrote:

Just make sure you are not top roping otherwise they may see a fatal accident.

This is so meta haha

Not Hobo Greg wrote:

What ethical considerations would there be? It’s not like non climbers aren’t allowed to walk up to the rocks. 

“We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy!”

I guess my question comes from the fact that I share your perspective, but live in an area where local outdoorsy types are super secretive and protective of their spots and I hear a lot of "don't introduce tourists (non-climbers) to the prime 'locals' spots (climbing areas)". I think that's stupid, in general, and was just wondering what the broader online climbing community thought. Seems to be it's no big deal which is cool.

T Legowrote:

I guess my question comes from the fact that I share your perspective, but live in an area where local outdoorsy types are super secretive and protective of their spots and I hear a lot of "don't introduce tourists (non-climbers) to the prime 'locals' spots (climbing areas)". I think that's stupid, in general, and was just wondering what the broader online climbing community thought. Seems to be it's no big deal which is cool.

Is the climinbg illegal (private property or something)?  I can understand (not always agree with, but at least understand), people wanting to keep their “secret spot“ secret, so it doesn’t get overrun by more climbers, bikers, skiers etc. But what would the risk be in non-climbers finding out where your climbing area is? After all, they won’t come back there after they watched you that one time, right? Unless it is a great hiking trail, in which case, it’s unlikely to be unknown.

now, if you are climbing somewhere you are not allowed too, yeah then I could see not wanting to bring witnesses    

T Legowrote:

I guess my question comes from the fact that I share your perspective, but live in an area where local outdoorsy types are super secretive and protective of their spots and I hear a lot of "don't introduce tourists (non-climbers) to the prime 'locals' spots (climbing areas)". I think that's stupid, in general, and was just wondering what the broader online climbing community thought. Seems to be it's no big deal which is cool.

This is probably an unpopular opinion but most of the crags near me are super undeveloped so I would actually be quite okay with an increase of people going to them leading to better trails and more climbs being cleaned. Basically all the crags I go to require bushwhacking through very overgrown areas to climb quite dirty routes.