Comments on: New Routes http://www.thechalkbag.com/2008/12/new-routes/ Rock Climbing Blog by Derek Rippe Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:43:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Derek http://www.thechalkbag.com/2008/12/new-routes/#comment-34 Derek Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:09:32 +0000 http://www.thechalkbag.com/2008/12/new-routes/#comment-34 Yeah, that's exactly what it felt like: a crap shoot. Fortunately, when I was back at the wall a couple days later someone had gone through and put the V markings on all the routes, which certainly made finding doable routes much easier! The only big disadvantage to the gym I am a member of is there is a large number of younger children that are there on a regular basis (both the Junior team as well as other kids). As you probably know, middle school and high school climbers don't always have the best etiquette when sharing the wall with others. I think because of this, most of the young adults wait until 8 or 9 PM before heading to the gym, and climb until close at 11. I'm usually there from 6 to 8, so maybe I need to swap my schedule around to give myself the opportunity to meet more climbers my age. Yeah, that’s exactly what it felt like: a crap shoot. Fortunately, when I was back at the wall a couple days later someone had gone through and put the V markings on all the routes, which certainly made finding doable routes much easier!

The only big disadvantage to the gym I am a member of is there is a large number of younger children that are there on a regular basis (both the Junior team as well as other kids). As you probably know, middle school and high school climbers don’t always have the best etiquette when sharing the wall with others. I think because of this, most of the young adults wait until 8 or 9 PM before heading to the gym, and climb until close at 11. I’m usually there from 6 to 8, so maybe I need to swap my schedule around to give myself the opportunity to meet more climbers my age.

]]> By: jovino http://www.thechalkbag.com/2008/12/new-routes/#comment-33 jovino Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:33:19 +0000 http://www.thechalkbag.com/2008/12/new-routes/#comment-33 I had a similar experience at Planet Granite, San Francisco a few months back. Many of the routes weren't graded, so it felt like a crap shoot. I think they had a similar point structure to a rating system. Of course, you need to consider that two problems rated the same will be the same difficulty to you to send. Every person has different strengths and techniques, so they will be successful at different types of settings. As far as soloing goes, I hear you. All I can offer is support and say just keep at it. Eventually you'll start to see the same people and you'll get to know them and perhaps you'll start to work on problems together. Heck, even strangers can serve this purpose. I've spotted and worked on problems with people I didn't even know, and it was certainly good time for us both. I had a similar experience at Planet Granite, San Francisco a few months back. Many of the routes weren’t graded, so it felt like a crap shoot. I think they had a similar point structure to a rating system.

Of course, you need to consider that two problems rated the same will be the same difficulty to you to send. Every person has different strengths and techniques, so they will be successful at different types of settings.

As far as soloing goes, I hear you. All I can offer is support and say just keep at it. Eventually you’ll start to see the same people and you’ll get to know them and perhaps you’ll start to work on problems together. Heck, even strangers can serve this purpose. I’ve spotted and worked on problems with people I didn’t even know, and it was certainly good time for us both.

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