Introductions time!

[rydra_wong]

You know what? It's far too quiet around here. I see from the profile page that the comm has quite a few members and subscribers, so let's have an introductions post!

Comment and introduce yourself -- tell us what sort of climbing you're into, how you got into it, what you enjoy most, and/or anything else that springs to mind: dream routes? favourite shoes? sport or trad? slopers or crimps?

If you're lurking because you're not a climber (yet) -- tell us what's interesting you about climbing, what's holding you back, and what you're curious about.

To get the ball rolling: I started climbing a couple of years ago, having been lured in by posts from people on my f-list; before that, I would never have thought of it as possible for me.

I boulder -- indoors only so far, but I'm hoping to get onto some real rock before the end of the year. RL keeps messing with my travel plans, but one day, I'd like to make it to the Peak District or Font.

I fangirl Johnny Dawes and Alex Puccio. I like slabs, bridging, and nasty fingery balance-y problems, and I also like overhanging power problems -- when I can do them. Oh, and I'll talk endlessly about shoes if given the slightest excuse.

Comments

[ilanarama]

I'm an old and semi-retired climber. I started in about 1989 when I dated (and eventually married) a climber, although I learned better from other people and ended up climbing with him only about half the time. I am pretty much strictly a trad climber, although I'd go to the gym in the winter, and my favorite type of climbing is multipitch on big peaks, although I have never done (nor really wanted to do) the multiday big wall type stuff. Probably my favorite and most spectacular climbs were Hallett Peak and the Petit Grepon in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Durrance route up Devil's Tower. At my peak I was leading 5.9 and following/TR'ing 5.10c or so, but I haven't climbed much in the last 10 years (due to moving away from good climbing areas, and becoming obsessed with other activities) and am not nearly so good any more.

Here's a picture of me leading the 5.8 second pitch of Ruper, a stellar long climb in Eldorado Canyon near Boulder, Colorado:



I hate bouldering, because I'm scared of falling without a rope. I have taken 2 lead falls and they were both terrifying. I like toproping, because you can fall all you want. I like stemming and laybacks. I hate crimpers. I love it when the key to making a move is to figure out the right way to balance your body - maybe you need to flag your foot, or swap hands, or press on a sloper just enough. It's like solving a crossword puzzle with your body.

[rydra_wong]

Oh, that's an awesome picture!

I love it when the key to making a move is to figure out the right way to balance your body - maybe you need to flag your foot, or swap hands, or press on a sloper just enough. It's like solving a crossword puzzle with your body.

*nods fervently*

I haven't found anything else that requires you to think with your whole body in the same way.