Why do YOU climb?
Rhapsody, attempt #3. A couple of seconds later I took a 70 footer. Its worth making sure you know why you do it!Following on from my last post, knowing why you go climbing is a useful exercise not just for getting better at it. Climbing has so many avenues, shapes and sizes, sub-disciplines, whatever you want to call it. If you ask yourself often why you do what you do, you sometimes find out that you are in one field out of nothing more than habit or what your mates do, and would enjoy something else better. I like to put everthing I've got into whatever I'm doing (not just climbing) as much as I can. I think you can see this on my face in the photo above. So I like to constantly ask myself if I really want what I'm trying to get, because it is taking a lot of effort. Its also nice when people ask you why you climb, to be able to answer them well. So, could you make a list of your five top reasons for doing climbing? post them below! it would be cool to hear them. Mine are (possibly in order, but they change with my mood):
1. Advenuture (danger, exlporation and uncertainty)
2. Athleticism (movement, strength, fitness)
3. Beautiful places (like Scottish mountains, or just nice bits of rock)
4. Social (climbing is a cool way to meet other psyched individuals!)
5. competitiveness (I like the way it makes you push harder)
what are yours?
I think I mentioned somewhere that they were done before in a later report. If you want to speak to the Aberdeen lads best send them a msg via SC.
ReplyDeleteGah! I've been sitting at work all morning trying to get something done, but I couldn't help myself ffrom coming back here and leaving this comment.
ReplyDeleteMy five top reasons for climbing
1. Concentration
I love the moment when my active conciousness switches off becasue I have to concentrate so hard on what I am doing. This is one of my motivations to climb hard. When I have to pull out all the stops I sometimes, rarely, get a moment where my very identity is supressed by the moment, the action. I'm not the best climber in the world, but I enjoy it. Two years ago flashing my one and only fr 6c I climbed past the chains at the top because I didn't notice them, I was concentrating on the rock so much, it was brilliant. You can get the smae thing in an instant when bouldering too.
2. Perspective
A long day in the hills, at the end of a rope, mostly on your own, as your mate is off on lead. For me it puts the measure of a man into perspective, the rock doesn't care that you are there, nor the clouds, or the curve of the earth. It's so damn peaceful.
3. Motion
Unlocking a sequence because you move your centre of mass by a few centimeters. Figureing out how to move. Moving, and moving well. Climbing as an endless variety of body-motion puzzles to be solved.
4. Friendship
The people are great.
5. Exposure
I love the feeling of air beneath me. This is related to the point on perspective, but stands as it's own experience enough to be a motivation on it's own.