More People Should Lead

Isn't all climbing done from the ground up? 

Soft Catches and The Hard Truthwrote:

I've tried to give people space to respond before pushing back too strongly.

Some say I shouldn't care what others do. On an individual level, that's fair. But I'm not targeting any one person specifically. Take this example: imagine someone wants to run a marathon, but they're training in dollar store flip-flops. Encouraging them to use proper running shoes isn’t elitist—it's because I genuinely believe they’d benefit from better gear.

Now consider the traffic implications of top-roping. It's like driving on a highway. If one person drives with one foot on the gas and the other on the brake, it doesn’t affect me much. But if many people drive like that, it creates noticeable traffic. In that case, it’s worth pointing out the issue so that everyone can enjoy a smoother, more efficient experience.

You genuinely believe - well, you are the man.

WF WF51wrote:

Isn't all climbing done from the ground up? 

Well, not necessarily---consider places such as the Verdon Gorge and Fremont Canyon.

Alan Rubinwrote:

Well, not necessarily---consider places such as the Verdon Gorge and Fremont Canyon.

Climbing - not how climbs are established. Certainly, this activity could change, and everyone would start at the top and climb down. But up to now, we have all been starting on the ground and moving up. My original post was a mild jest. 

WF WF51wrote:

Isn't all climbing done from the ground up? 

Mostly, but I can think of a couple of key counter examples... There is some neat stuff at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram that you can do, if you ride the team up and rappel down into the canyon under the tramway. I guess it's theoretically possible to hike/climb in from below, but it would be a gigantic hassle.

Let me ask you this: Would it count as "ground up" if you rappelled down -- and then *pulled* your rope down after you, so that you're leading it back up? I mean -- it's a hell of a commitment, if you don't have another exit option! ... Maybe you could just bring two ropes, and leave the rappel line in place while you lead on the other line?

I need new material or a new audience. 

^^^
Man, AI bot comments can be weird.

J W wrote:

I have to admit I’ve come full circle. After being one of the vociferous naysayers years ago about bots taking over the forums, I see my concerns were misplaced. They have taken over, but they’ve really jazzed up the place.

Human posts suck butt.

So you're a clanker lover, eh?

But how would you feel if one of them was dating your sister? Not so open minded then, I bet...

Guys, that’s clearly a real person who is just new to climbing, stop perpetuating the social panic of bots on MP. What possible motive would a bot have to post here?

Wokul, can you put me in touch with Lord Haragon? I’d like to join the Illuminati but I’m not sure how to do it without human sacrifice.

Ryan Lynchwrote:

So you're a clanker lover, eh?

But how would you feel if one of them was dating your sister? Not so open minded then, I bet...

Typical meat supremacist nonsense. I’d be happy for her. Apparently clankers are really good at sucking butt.

I down climb all my climbs. It that reverse leading or still Tr'in ?!?

Michael Swrote:

I down climb all my climbs. It that reverse leading or still Tr'in ?!?

Are you on lead and unclipping as you down climb?

Soft Catches and The Hard Truthwrote:

Are you on lead and unclipping as you down climb?

He topropes from the ground up and leads from the top down. 

Old lady Hwrote:

someone still has to give a great lead belay....

More people should just solo. Save everyone the bother.

Okay, a real answer?

Yes. I am capable of leading. But, for me? It's the climbing. Not the clipping, not the gear placing, not any of the extraneous crap that comes along with it, even including tying into a rope at all. My most suitable climbing style would likely be deep water solo, honestly, but there's a severe lack of oceans where I live.

So.

Pretty much everyone I climb with, not only likes to lead, the climb doesn't even really "count" for them, if they don't lead it themselves. 

They lead. I let them. Since there's a rope just hanging there, (usually my rope), I sometimes tie in and climb the thing. Or the adjacent route. Or anything in striking distance that looks interesting, route or no route, or pieces of several routes, or the old gear line that never gets climbed anymore....

Works out just fine. 

H.

True. This thing about Top Roping is you can JUST do the exercise, the moves, with bothering with all the stuffing around placing gear or clipping etc.  When I trad climb I really do feel all the mucking about interrupts the flow, not SO much with sports but still there's some interruption. I like climbing I don't like trying to climb. Also, where I live, one can set up a TR on many routes without anyone needing to lead anything. I don't need stress in my life, I do find that sometimes trad and sports climbing can stress me out a bit. A lovely afternoon with friends in the sun doing laps of a hard route on TR, working it so you do it really really nicely can be very enjoyable for me. Conversely, leading can be a real emotional roller coaster, and I can shy away from leading even before I try as I work myself up in to such a histrionic state I feel physically unwell.  

Sep Mwrote:

Typical meat supremacist nonsense. I’d be happy for her. Apparently clankers are really good at sucking butt.

You're a traitor to your species, and your metallic perversions aren't gonna save your ass when the Great War comes.

Disgusting!

Ryan Lynchwrote:

Letting this guy on the Internet is like trying to toilet train a chimpanzee. It ain't gonna work, and it's just gonna leave a big mess that nobody wants to clean up.

Brain rot forums.

Tanner! I am so complimented that I get to live, rent free, in your head ❤️ but unfortunately, I'm not interested in you romantically.

I fully stand by my comments: Lincoln is a piece of shit, and represents all of the worst parts of rock climbing. He's kinda like White Supremacy -- popular lately with you kids, but for all the wrong reasons.

And Tanner... You're also a pretty awful person, for defending Lincoln.

Ryan Lynchwrote:

Tanner! I am so complimented that I get to live, rent free, in your head ❤️ but unfortunately, I'm not interested in you romantically.

I fully stand by my comments: Lincoln is a piece of shit, and represents all of the worst parts of rock climbing. He's kinda like White Supremacy -- popular lately with you kids, but for all the wrong reasons.

And Tanner... You're also a pretty awful person, for defending Lincoln.

Wow those screen shots are pretty damning.

Superclown detected. 

You think that's bad? That's not even the most offensive comment I made, yesterday... Probably not even top 5.

Also -- if it's possible for your feelings to get hurt by what people say about you on the Internet... Why is your self-esteem so fragile?

grug gwrote:

Wow those screen shots are pretty damning.

Superclown detected.