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Sad representation of Boulder climbers

Original Post
Jason Maurer · · Colorado · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 790

Check it out for yourself. coloradodaily.com/outdoor-r….
And you wonder why everyone thinks Colorado/ boulder climbers are egotistical self absorbed individuals....unfortunately this article sheds light on the worst part of our awesome climbing community.

alpinejason · · Minneapolis · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 176

This is pretty funny.

I work in a midwest climbing gym and in my/our defense, we don't make the rules. Some suits in the offices make the rules. Our stuff is free to "rent" but we do require you to print and sign your name as if we'll chase you down if you steal our crappy harnesses.

I also bend/break rules on a regular basis for real climbers. Which, remarkably, isn't very many people.

Chris Plesko · · Westminster, CO · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 485

upper limits is a cool gym. its not flashy by boulder standards but the staff is always cool with me, the setting is good, the grades are stiff and i always have a good time on vacation.

the article was sort of silly. other than being embarrassed if i had written the article its not a big deal.

Phillip Morris · · Flavor Country · Joined Aug 2002 · Points: 20

If the over/under is two. And the bet is number of years actually a boulder resident. I'll put a crisp franklin on the under.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

I can't believe that was some sort of professional article. Seems more suited as one of those pointless rc.com forum rants.

Truth be known, Boulder climbers have been nothing but cool as hell to me.

Anthony O. · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 145

Mark: The Daily mainly serves CU students. Most of the articles they publish are worthless.

Ryan Williams · · London (sort of) · Joined May 2009 · Points: 1,245

Every community has their morons. The best communities keep the morons from going public.

Richard Radcliffe · · Erie, CO · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 225
Anthony O. wrote:Mark: The Daily mainly serves CU students. Most of the articles they publish are worthless.
Actually, the Daily Camera is THE paper for Boulder County. It's not a student paper.

And Buff has clearly been drinking today.
Julius Beres · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 364

I think that article says more about the Daily Camera than Boulder climbers... what the hell was the point of some annoying climber ranting about nothing? Why publish that?

What blows my mind is the the Camera can publish crap like this from an annoying climber, but they cannot find a climber to post a half decent accident report despite the numerous accidents that occur every year climbing in Boulder.

Jason Maurer · · Colorado · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 790

I started this feed mainly because I was disgusted that the author of the article was pretty much taking pride in representing herself as a "Boulder climbing snob". I also understand that unfortunately there are many more like her ( the author ) out there in the community...I guess the point Im trying to make is that this was the worst representation of Boulder climbers I've read recently, and the last bad article I read on being a Boulder climber she was also the author.
Thats why Im speaking up! Its totally lame!

Andy Novak · · Bailey, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 370
Julius Beres wrote:I think that article says more about the Daily Camera than Boulder climbers..
No! This article is from the worst/most amateur newspaper in America: the COLORADO DAILY.

The BOULDER DAILY CAMERA is a different publication and would never publish this useless drivel.

Just a friendly public service announcement.
Jeremy K · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 0
Chris Plesko wrote:upper limits is a cool gym. its not flashy by boulder standards but the staff is always cool with me, the setting is good, the grades are stiff and i always have a good time on vacation. the article was sort of silly.
+1

The line about topping out the boulder problem was pretty funny...it is painfully obvious in that gym that boulder problems are not topped out.
Kevin Craig · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 325

Wow, some pretty heated comments.

So I take it that most of you think that it's a good idea to perform a belay test with a simpler device than the one you plan to actually belay with?

Or is your point that you think that most gyms should charge to rent lead ropes?

Or topping out on boulder problems in the gym is bad?

Or perhaps we should refrain from publicly identifying practices of dubious rationality or safety merit? (wouldn't want to embarrass anyone afterall, this is Boulder)

Surely NONE of you have EVER gotten frustrated or exasperated with an irrational situation, and God/Allah/Yaweh/Buddha/Brahma/Zarathustra/Earth Mother/Flying Spaghetti Monster forbid, NEVER EVER expressed that frustration out loud! We're all cool, laid-back, it's-all-good dudes and dudettes here afterall.

The author in question has never held herself out as a paragon of unassailable virtue. Rather, some of what attracts her readers is, doubtless, her periodic "warts and all" self-examination and confessions of her own human frailty. So all you haters, can you honestly say you've NEVER been a Boulder Snob to ANYONE? EVER?
Hopefully, this article will help all Colorado/Boulder climbers to *not* be Boulder snobs - even when some people/situations might richly warrant it.

(but come on, face it, we do live in a pretty kick-ass place!)

Jeremy K · · Evergreen, CO · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 0
Kevin Craig wrote:Surely NONE of you have EVER gotten frustrated or exasperated with an irrational situation, and God/Allah/Yaweh/Buddha/Brahma/Zarathustra/Earth Mother/Flying Spaghetti Monster forbid, NEVER EVER expressed that frustration out loud!
Charging $3 for a lead rope is not an irrational situation. Pay the $3, bring your own rope (what most people do), or go somewhere else. It isn't that hard.

Topping out boulder problems there make no sense. There is only one small wall that even could be topped out (doesn't extend into a lead climbing wall), and the thought process would be something like: "Golly, now that I am holding the marked finish jug, lets grab a rail of the three rail fence to pull up into the kids second floor birthday area. I am such a stud."

The belay device thing is interesting. Perhaps shows how much faith that gym has in people who only use a grigri?
jmeizis · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 230

I can't tell if she's being self depricating, sarcastic, and funny or taking herself way too seriously.

Colorado was actually the first place I'd climbed indoors where I didn't have to bring my own rope or pay to rent one.

Wayne DENSMORE · · Superior, CO · Joined Jul 2007 · Points: 5
Andy Novak wrote: No! This article is from the worst/most amateur newspaper in America: the COLORADO DAILY. The BOULDER DAILY CAMERA is a different publication and would never publish this useless drivel. Just a friendly public service announcement.
Wrong - It was in the Daily Camera today, both the paper version and online: dailycamera.com/ci_16947874
Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster 1:2

"It took several woman-hours to bring His Noddliness to life, but the expression on my husbands face was worth it! ;) "

When they say Happy Holidays, oh yeah

Anthony O. · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 145
Richard Radcliffe wrote: Actually, the Daily Camera is THE paper for Boulder County. It's not a student paper. And Buff has clearly been drinking today.
The website J1 links the article to is from the COLORADO DAILY, not the DAILY CAMERA, so therefore that is the Daily I was referring to. I know she writes for the Colorado Daily, but did not know she also is featured in the Camera.

Edit to add: at the bottom of the Daily Camera article it says "Jenn Fields' Field Notes runs every Monday in the Colorado Daily". Which brings me back to mine and Andy's comments on that paper being worthless.
Peter Stokes · · Them Thar Hills · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 150
Richard Radcliffe wrote: Actually, the Daily Camera is THE paper for Boulder County.
That's a sorry state of affairs....

Some of the confusion might come from the Colorado Daily being owned by the Daily Camera- a fair amount of features get shared between the two.

For what it's worth, I took the article as a humor piece- the kind most papers run pretty regularly about most recreation topics...
matt davies · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 25

The fact that this was published at all says a lot about who was expected to be reading it- evidently people who think it is interesting that a decidedly callow young woman exposed her petty elitism about an obscure and semi-rediculous pastime (indoor climbing).
Bravo, Boulder!

matt davies · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 25
EdAsh wrote:Piss off Matt
Bravo, Ed!
I have no doubt that Jenn is a very nice person. She did, however, write an article that was published on two different Boulder news publication websites about being a Boulder climbing snob. I found her article proved out her assertion. I think consumption of articles concerning snobbery about ineffectual and superfluous pastimes is indicative of a climate of decadence and entitlement (not to mention ego run amok), a climate which is found in spades in Boulder, CO. I am sorry if my post spurred a negative emotional reaction which resulted in your unfortunate retort. If you would care to address any of the points in either of my posts and explain to me how I am mistaken, I would enjoy the debate.
As it stands you illustrated magnificently the more egregious tendencies of the audience I was describing.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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