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General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Are guidbooks killing the adventure climb ? 21-Sep-2007 At 12:32:02 PM ado_m

Message

I think guidebooks add significant comfort that you're not going to get in over your head, and thus encourage people to climb and develop skills to place pro and pick lines in a safer manner. Once people have the skills, some of them will instinctively move onto 'adventure climbing' (due to the same adventurous attitude that got them into the sport). Seen this way, guidebooks encourage more people to "adventure climb" in the longer term.

eg. I've been climbing trad for about 4 years. For the first, say, 2 years I slavishly followed the guide and freaked out when off route. With good reason, as I had no idea what I was doing! But, now I feel more comfortable about my ability to climb, place pro, back off, downclimb, rescue, so I'm happy just to pick a line I like and go for it without the book. But, I don't think I would have ever been able to develop my meagre skills without a guidebook to encourage me (particularly as I didn't have mates that were really into the sport to act as a guide). Reading the descriptions and history of routes is also one of the pleasures of climbing, and gets me enthusiastic between trips away.