Climbing season is here. We all have hopes and desires for this coming season and it is important that we figure out a way to share some of these objectives with the greater climbing community. Sometimes this requires an open mind and the ability to make plans on the fly.
Not too long ago a friend and I went to climb Astroman, one of the most classic free climbs in the valley. When we arrived at the base we saw that there was not one but two other parties on the route. We sat there contemplating whether or not to climb and after a game of rock paper scissors we decided to go on up and see what the pace was like. As the day slowly passed I thought about the pros and cons of bailing. After spending an hour sitting on overnight ledge waiting for parties to wiggle through the slot some other friends showed up. We decided to join forces and go back down to the ground to find some less crowded climbing. As we descended we were sad to bail, but excited to no longer be forcing our way up the wall.
Fast forward a couple weeks and I find myself at the starting tree booting up. This time something is different, and we have the route to ourselves! Having a route uncrowded changes the entire experience. It is important to be open minded and to adjust to the situation at hand. Climbing requires dynamic fluidity, a value we must transfer into our lives in the way we share routes. There are so many things to do here in the valley there is no reason that you should jump in line behind a bunch of parties. It is important to savor the experience and the solitude created through climbing and finally, to honor others’ experiences.