Top 5 Must-Haves in a Climbing Partner

A quality climbing partner is key to enjoying a day out on the rocks.  What are your top five must-haves in a climbing partner?  Here's mine:

1. STOKED!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Keeping it light hearted and hilarious no mater the circumstance
3. A keen sense of direction and route finding (cause mine sucks)
4. Supportive and encouraging
5. In it for the adventure (not to grade chase or run through a tick list)
   
   

Solid technically- know they are going to catch you, won't have trouble with tricky anchor situations, know they could rescue you or themselves in an emergency. 

Competent/safety conscious

Eager/willing to learn new skills

Positive attitude

Easy to get along with

Consistent/available/reliable

Restraint when using exclamation marks [!]

All of the gear

Extra chalk

Same size feet as me

Likes driving in their car

Brings snacks

1) personality. I can lead any modestly fit adult up something fun so long as I don't hate being around you. Have something interesting to say. Have some perspective. Recognize that climbing is game for the privileged and don't whine about failure, get summit fever etc.. Just out for a good time. 

2) competence. At least equally strong (or weak in my case), willing to split leads or take the lead VS organize the bailing effort if I bonk or get hurt - opens up more difficult routes.

3) poise. Some people handle stress better than others. Opens up more adventurous routes. 

4) availability. I love my partners with wives, kids and dogs but let's face it, ya gotta show up to get up anything. Like #3, key for bigger/more adventurous objectives. 

5) well prepared. I can make up for a lot here so I'm putting it at #5, but it's really nice if my partner has looked at a topo, put some thought into the necessary gear and systems

5a) money isn't a big issue to me, but when it was it was really nice to have a partner who was on the same page, contributed equal gear, split costs without arguing when a piece got stuck/lost etc..

Any of my regular partners have also been great friends. Rarely have I had to shop around for a partner, we seem to just find each other. Most partners bring different skill sets, so my thoughts on what to do on any given outing will vary. For example, one of my regulars is the best belayer on the planet bar none. And he's well rounded and competent. Am I going to stick my neck out more when I'm out with him? You bet. Another is a face master. If I don't bring my A Game I'm going to be made a fool of. And so forth.

So yeah, all the nuts and bolts, good friends, and stoke. 

One last thing. When you get the chance to climb with someone better than you take it (assuming they're not a jerk). They might not be one of your most regular partners, but if you make real quality efforts and are fun to hang with, you'll probably get into their circle to a degree.

And I don't interface well with sensible, level headed people. So a certain dose of insanity makes my list for a qualified partner as well. 

1. Alive, or a reasonable proximity of alive
2. Sentient, or some semblance of sentient
3. Hot as hell, or at least lots of chemistry
4. My species, although that could be negotiable (see 3)
5. Willing to do anything whatsoever to please and fully satiate my every desire, without any expectation of me whatsoever. 

Probably other stuff. 

Oh.

My bad.

Thought this was that climbing dating thing those ColoRADuns got going.

Climbing?

Don't be That Person Who Splatted OLH, probably covers it. 

:-)

1. Shows up when they say they're going to.
2. Technically proficient, knows how to place gear and belay.
3. ????
4. Quirk factor.
5. Positive attitude, knows how to focus on what's good rather than whining about the 6 hour slog up sandy goat trails.

Buys breakfast before climbing

Brings lunch for me

Brings weed

Brings beer

Buys dinner

Bonus if they are a slower runner than me just in case we run into any dangerous animals

All that matters is they bring a huge bucket of chalk and love choss and failure.

If I must say five... willingness to laugh about the ingrained contrivedness of climbing, and wow... I really can't think of another one. Idgaf if they're flakey or a fuckin noob or if they forget their harness, I'll climb with anyone.

Ideally someone just that tad bit better than me so that they are always pushing me.

Someone that knows when NOT to fall.

Someone willing to take some risk.  This of course only works if they have the previous and next attributes.

Technically really, really sound.

Fun to be around.  Somewhat crazy helps.

I spend a lot of time mentoring new climbers so competence is not on my list.

1. Enthusiasm

2. Ability to listen and learn

3. Ability to hold a conversatio.n

4. Reliable and on time.

5. Appreciation of the mentorship.

Alright, a real answer.

As a beginnerish climber?

1. Accept me at the level I'm at. If I'm not the partner you need for the mission you want, please, find the right person! I might even know someone and can get you in touch!
2. Be patient. I've got oodles of "try hard", even if it may not look like it to you.
3. Don't talk me into something I'm not comfortable with. It is really hard to know what you don't know. You better know me really really well and be very sure of yourself before you take me "adventuring", or ask me to "trust" you. Just by showing up, I've given you a huge chunk of trust.
4. If I say no, well, see number three.
5. Failure to remember all of the above is very, very dangerous to both of us.

1. Leads trad and let’s me follow

2. Puts up sport routes for me And cleans them 

3.  Leads snow and ice and let’s me follow

4.  Navigates glacier terrain safely and let’s me tie in on a rope with them.

5.  Takes pictures of me on V10+, and posts it to Instagram, even though I just went up and grabbed a few hold for the pose.  

Prerequisites for my belay slave:

1. carry gear 

2. Hang my draws on my proj 

3. Belay for hours on end as I hangdog, and scream, and pretend to refine beta.

4. Give words of encouragement even though I suck, and my proj is way over my head.

5. Get rad photos for the gram, so I look like I crush.

In all seriousness though, I think finding a partner you vibe with, and have similar goals is key. Just someone to have fun with and is trustworthy 

Old lady Hwrote:

1. Alive, or a reasonable proximity of alive
2. Sentient, or some semblance of sentient
3. Hot as hell, or at least lots of chemstry
4. My species, although that could be negotiable (see 4)
5. Willing to do anything whatsoever to please and fully satiate my every desire, without any expectation of me whatsoever. 

Probably other stuff. 

Oh.

My bad.

Thought this was that climbing dating thing those ColoRADuns got going.

Climbing?

Don't be That Person Who Splatted OLH, probably covers it. 

:-)

This is the mic drop.

Chris Joneswrote:

A quality climbing partner is key to enjoying a day out on the rocks.  What are your top five must-haves in a climbing partner?  Here's mine:

1. STOKED!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Keeping it light hearted and hilarious no mater the circumstance
3. A keen sense of direction and route finding (cause mine sucks)
4. Supportive and encouraging
5. In it for the adventure (not to grade chase or run through a tick list)
   
   

Hey, buddy. I feel like I’m interviewing for my own job, over here! ;) 

Willing to Dawn patrol, willing to dusk patrol, good at catching whips onto the first piece; supportive during mega 100 foot slab run outs, laughs at my jokes, builds safe anchors; can laugh about sawing 3/4 of the way through a rope. Puts up with my stoke and shenanigans.

Know anyone like that?  

Nathaniel Wardwrote:

...can laugh about sawing 3/4 of the way through a rope... 

Can't get on board with that one...  

One that’s 90% troll and 10 %climber