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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Poll Option Votes Graph
Yes I use chalk 126
82% 
No I don't use chalk 28
18% 

 Page 6 of 12. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 60 | 61 to 80 | 81 to 100 | 101 to 120 | 121 to 140 | 141 to 160 | 161 to 180 | 181 to 200 | 201 to 220 | 221 to 227
Author
To Chalk or not to Chalk
dalai
5-Apr-2005
5:21:04 PM
No, they usually notice the green stuff in the boogey board bag first...

Never had a problem, customs have always been more concerned about the hardware - karabiners, wires, cams etc.

itchyfingers
5-Apr-2005
5:21:12 PM
no, but i can imagine the scene. Has anyone seen the simpsons when they try to smuggle pharmaceticals over from canada and apu and flanders goes with them? Apu has a cold towel on his head and has burnt his tongue. the mounties point their guns at him and cry "stop him. he is expressing his religion, yah". i could imagine some poor chalk junkie crossing the border, on his knees and pleading with the thaliand customs officers... "no really, i need it. it's for climbing..." (numerous references to it being planted on you could be made, but won't be because of corby in indo at the moment)

sabu
5-Apr-2005
5:42:58 PM
na i've thought about as my hand luggage with the chalk in it is being scanned but i dun think it shows up and it's fairly sentless so the dogs don't either. but it could get ugly if a officer sees a white powerdry bag in ones luggage.

itchyfingers
5-Apr-2005
7:32:30 PM
i think next time i'm going overseas i'll take a bag of chalk with me (even though i don't use the torrid stuff) and put it in the front of my backpack. i wonder if the dogs do sniff it... of course i could always put a rotten apple on top of it and have them search my bag that way. but i'm sure there's still a rotten apple in there from the last climbing trip anyway. hmmm. i'll need someone to have a camera for when they try to violate my rights...hopefully thats all they'll try to violate...

Rich
5-Apr-2005
11:06:07 PM
i think they see enough of it (and us) nowadays to know what it is we are carrying. recently my carryon with gear in it went thru the xray and the customs guy is like 'oh yeh, climbing gear' and passed it on. I've often shown them the chalk too just to minimise hassles and they've never raised an eye about it.

sabu
6-Apr-2005
12:50:09 PM
On 5/04/2005 itchyfingers wrote:
>i think next time i'm going overseas i'll take a bag of chalk with me (even
>though i don't use the torrid stuff) and put it in the front of my backpack.
>i wonder if the dogs do sniff it... of course i could always put a rotten
>apple on top of it and have them search my bag that way. but i'm sure there's
>still a rotten apple in there from the last climbing trip anyway. hmmm.
>i'll need someone to have a camera for when they try to violate my rights...hopefully
>thats all they'll try to violate...

hehe i'll be ther i trust me i'll do nothing but laugh whilst u lose all ur rights and honour (lets not go ther otherwise i risk being kiked off this site by conservative people like Dalai)!! wouldn't they be i bit concered bout wat a cam could do to the pilots head if used like a mace (always wondered how effective it would be). lol wat bout the knife that is contained on my nut key (trango shark)! guess that would always hav to go main luggage( i say be4 any smart alec replies and mentions it)

IdratherbeclimbingM9
6-Apr-2005
12:52:42 PM
Re using dirt instead of chalk. There is probably quite a 'grain' of truth to this. I have found whenever I end up climbing a chossy route and get dirty fingers as a result, that my need for chalk is correspondingly less.
Maybe a suitable substitute exists. Sawdust perhaps?
Another thought for those who have started 'designer' threads; ... climbing trousers/shorts with sewn in panels of towling or corduroy?

sabu
6-Apr-2005
1:04:58 PM
it just needs to be something that absorbs moisture. nothing special i suppose dirt is fine. also very finely grained sawdust would probably work fine. in fact im going to try that whos with me? SAWDUST insted of CHALK!!!

rodw
6-Apr-2005
1:29:07 PM
You use sawdust then with one more person using less chalk I can use more chalk...maybe we need a system like Kyoto except Chalk credits...and those that dont sweat can trade credits with those that do....of course i wont ratify it and use what I want.
dalai
6-Apr-2005
1:38:41 PM
@itchyfingers

Given new powers given under the Border Protection (Validation and Enforcement Powers) Bill 2001, and the Customs act. They can and will search you if you are under suspicion. You will feel violated afterward but they are within their rights. Will make amusing footage for 'Funniest home videos' I'm sure...

The Customs Act 1901(CTH) allows for a customs officer to detain and search a person where the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a person is unlawfully carrying any prohibited goods.

@Rodw - I like your thinking ;-)

nmonteith
6-Apr-2005
2:07:22 PM
My advice - don't EVER joke with a airport security officer about ANYTHING. Your one joke could get the entire airport shut down lickity split.

IdratherbeclimbingM9
6-Apr-2005
2:30:43 PM
>lickity split.

Is that an A ... merican say(grad)ing?

The ascent to the terminal 1st pitch (escalator) was straight-forward A1 but the crux was the lickity split ( greasy without chalk) section at the customs counter!

itchyfingers
6-Apr-2005
4:09:55 PM
yes, i suppose it would get the airport shut down 'lickity split' (+ a major fine/jail sentance for me), but it would be funny...

a friend had a can at home of sarsparella and it was bright red with SARS as the label. we were going to NZ at the time of sars. of course we didn't do anything, but it would be fun to leave it on a seat face up and watch the ensuing panic...

and could u imagine the bottom of a crag if everone used sawdust? it'd look like a timber mill, and then parks vic would suspect us of having secret wood turning workshops to evade taxes. or something...

steph
6-Apr-2005
4:45:20 PM
The poll stands at the moment at 71% of us using chalk outdoors which is absolutely shocking! I knew it was bad but that's terrible.

Out of interest - how many people are mainly boulderers?

cos i agree it's more necessary to use chalk when bouldering and i'm hoping that's the influence that's made the poll so bad. I guess I'm clutching at straws but is it possible for us to at least attempt at cutting down on the outdoor chalk addiction???

LittleMac
6-Apr-2005
4:55:45 PM
Sorry to pick on you here steph but currently the poll stands at 79% of people using chalk.
dalai
6-Apr-2005
5:16:46 PM
On 6/04/2005 steph wrote:
>I'm clutching
>at straws but is it possible for us to at least attempt at cutting down
>on the outdoor chalk addiction???

Sorry Steph, but my actions are not going to change because of your, or Rockys outcry... I understand you hold strong views on the subject which you are entitled to. As I equally am also, even if my views oppose yours.

There is far greater impacts that we humans make on this planet, which I think are far more important to address than the use of chalk. If your concern on the outdoor experience is such to minimise impact, best to not go outdoors anymore. It's all been discussed numerous times so I won't bore everyone by repeating them.

As to the impact of chalk and the environment. Boot rubber and human oils are doing the damage to rock, chalk is merely an aesthetics issue.


manacubus
6-Apr-2005
5:32:43 PM
Hehe, I love reading you Victorians in freezing conditions saying "Bah, you don't need chalk!" Maybe so when you're plodding up grade 17 slabs in delightfully crisp conditions. I just had a 41.3 degree bouldering day in Bowen. My only way of staying alive was to hook myself up onto a liquid chalk drip.

I use a chalkball, but I still go through copious amounts of chalk. On the plus side, I have stopped ticking holds with chalk pieces as I find it doesn't wash off as effectively. A small dab with the chalkball is now all I'll allow myself.

nmonteith
6-Apr-2005
5:33:35 PM
Apart from Noddy and Rocky I have never met a non-chalk user in 12 years of climbing. Pick up a climbing mag and try to find a pic of someone climbing without a chalk bag. It is very deeply ingrained in our sport and you will find it very hard to ban outright. I challenge you to find a climber who climbs routes harder than 28 or V10 who doesn't use chalk. Yes M8, it is a performance enhancer in the same vain as sticky shoe rubber.

oweng
6-Apr-2005
5:33:48 PM
Im actually really suprised that only 80% (give or take) of people voting use chalk. Its cerainly not representative of my experience with the many people ive climbed with. I can only ever remember climbign with one person who didnt use chalk.

I suspect this poll might be biased somewhat by those people who make an effort to minimise their chalk use (but still use it) choosing not to vote.

I think ill start not using chalk when I am seconding routes, or when leading things well within my limit. I cant possibly see myself not chalking up when a long way up leading a run-out route on a hot day. I see chalk use, like helmet wearing, as a safety issue at times. I believe im more likely to fall if I dont use chalk, and as such will continue to use it.

Perhaps ill find from not using it seconding that Im not more likely to fall, and may then decide not to use it leading. I doubt it though.




sabu
6-Apr-2005
9:51:49 PM
On 6/04/2005 nmonteith wrote:
>Apart from Noddy and Rocky I have never met a non-chalk user in 12 years
>of climbing. Pick up a climbing mag and try to find a pic of someone climbing
>without a chalk bag. It is very deeply ingrained in our sport and you will
>find it very hard to ban outright. I challenge you to find a climber who
>climbs routes harder than 28 or V10 who doesn't use chalk. Yes M8, it is
>a performance enhancer in the same vain as sticky shoe rubber.

you've just met one more..

 Page 6 of 12. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 60 | 61 to 80 | 81 to 100 | 101 to 120 | 121 to 140 | 141 to 160 | 161 to 180 | 181 to 200 | 201 to 220 | 221 to 227
There are 227 messages in this topic.

 

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