Much of our journey in life is one of self-discovery, ideally finding what naturally moves us. As difficult as it may be, we strive to operate from a place of self-acceptance and joy rather than being prodded by shoulds and external pressures.
Guiding questions for such self-discovery are helpful when we try to answer them in a way that is internally honest. These questions include: What motivates me or removes the wind from my sails? What makes me smile or makes me cringe? What feels right and what feels wrong? What lifts my heart or makes it sink? What opens me up or makes me constrict?
Getting a sense of these internal sensations and responses helps us “find” ourselves amongst the noise and various pressures that try to shape us. Our gut reactions are the internal storytellers that we must heed to be happy.
One would hope that the shoulds and external pressures would not plague our beloved hobby of rock climbing, but often they do. Ideals like "you have to climb harder," or "you must finish the climb without resting for it to count," or "you have to lead to be a climber," can poison our psyches and prevent us from finding our true climber nature.
Perhaps your true nature is to climb harder and send cleanly. If so, it is awesome that you have found your calling. But, if you find those statement and beliefs to be stressful and debilitating rather than motivating, that may be a sign that you are still discovering your rock-climbing-self. One way to help define your rock-climbing-self is to identify what type of climbing you like and don't like, who you are and who you are not, what rock climbing categories suit you and which are less compelling.
Although certainly nothing is black-and-white and we all exist in our own unique spectrum, rock climbers can essentially be divided into 18 different climber categories. Typically we fall into 3 or 4 categories, but it can be less or more and can change over time. You could also have primary and secondary categories. For example, I personally identify the most with being an easy, trad, multi-pitch, traveling climber who also loves top roping. My secondary categories would be enjoys leading moderate grade sport climbs and hanging at the local crags. The other categories really do not resonate with me.
Which categories work for you and whether category placements change over time, really do not matter. All of the climber type categories are valid and wonderful. What matters most is that you feel good with your discovery and that you honor yourself by releasing self judgement and climbing the way you like - the way that brings you the most enjoyment.
Read on and maybe you will feel a special connection with one, two ,or more of these climber types.
The Gym Climber –For various reasons many people choose to climb primarily in the gym. A gym climber is a "real" climber and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. No, a gym climber does not necessarily mean a new climber, although this is a wonderful setting in which to begin.
The Top Roper – Some people just don’t want to lead, they have a perfectly fabulous time following or top-roping. You definitely do not have to lead to be a “real” climber.
The Sport Climber – The lead climber whose preference/ primary climbing style is to clip bolts.
The Trad Climber – The lead climber who prefers to place his or her own gear (e.g. nuts, cams, etc.).
The Easy Climber – Climber’s who prefer to climb easy grades, typically on-sighting climbs.
The Multi-Pitch Climber – Climbers who particularly enjoy long climbs that extend beyond a single rope length or pitch.
The Extreme Climber – This type of climber enjoys really long, difficult, exposed approaches for a very isolated and physically difficult experience from beginning to end. S/he either does huge climbs with long, complicated walk-offs or very difficult single-pitch climbs that test every ounce of strength and resolve. This type of climber really enjoys being one of the few who have ever climbed someplace.
Big Wall Climber – This is a type of multi-pitch climber who will climb such huge walls that it requires spending multiple days (and nights) on the wall itself (i.e. bivy-ing on the wall).
The Alpinist – High altitude mountain climbing with technical rock multi-pitch faces, and often ice climbing, and/or glacier crossings. These typically have very long approaches and walk-offs that can take multiple days.
The Developer – Climbers who like first ascents.
The Projector – Climbers who want to progress in climbing grades and will work a route above their current climbing ability over and over again until success is achieved (success = a clean climb, no takes or falls).
The Professional – A climber who makes money from climbing. Often they compete in events, have very regular work-out and climbing routines, and must continuously push the boundaries of the sport.
The Ice Climber – Pretty self- explanatory – climbs ice.
The Traveling Climber – Climbers who like to travel and climb in as many different locations as possible.
The Local Cragger – Climbers who love to hang out or frequent the local crag.
Boulderer – Climbers who prefer to climb without a rope on boulders or smaller formations/generally lower to the ground. Routes tend to be short, technical, and intense.
Free Soloer – Climber who likes to climb long routes without using ropes or protection.
Aid Climber – This is the one category that is not considered “free climbing” because the climber uses aids, such as a rope ladder (instead of climbing with hands and feet on the rock), to ascend a wall. Usually these are large walls, which are sometimes bolted or the aid climber needs to place his or her own protection (like a trad climber).
Of course there are other sub-categories of climbers like the offwidth, crack, slab, or face climber that can apply to any of the above broader categories (e.g. the big wall climber that prefers pure crack). Usually you find a style or two of these that you like and then cringe at the rest (or try to convince yourself that you really do need to get comfortable with ___________ (fill in the blank) - haha!
Guiding questions for such self-discovery are helpful when we try to answer them in a way that is internally honest. These questions include: What motivates me or removes the wind from my sails? What makes me smile or makes me cringe? What feels right and what feels wrong? What lifts my heart or makes it sink? What opens me up or makes me constrict?
Getting a sense of these internal sensations and responses helps us “find” ourselves amongst the noise and various pressures that try to shape us. Our gut reactions are the internal storytellers that we must heed to be happy.
One would hope that the shoulds and external pressures would not plague our beloved hobby of rock climbing, but often they do. Ideals like "you have to climb harder," or "you must finish the climb without resting for it to count," or "you have to lead to be a climber," can poison our psyches and prevent us from finding our true climber nature.
Perhaps your true nature is to climb harder and send cleanly. If so, it is awesome that you have found your calling. But, if you find those statement and beliefs to be stressful and debilitating rather than motivating, that may be a sign that you are still discovering your rock-climbing-self. One way to help define your rock-climbing-self is to identify what type of climbing you like and don't like, who you are and who you are not, what rock climbing categories suit you and which are less compelling.
Although certainly nothing is black-and-white and we all exist in our own unique spectrum, rock climbers can essentially be divided into 18 different climber categories. Typically we fall into 3 or 4 categories, but it can be less or more and can change over time. You could also have primary and secondary categories. For example, I personally identify the most with being an easy, trad, multi-pitch, traveling climber who also loves top roping. My secondary categories would be enjoys leading moderate grade sport climbs and hanging at the local crags. The other categories really do not resonate with me.
Which categories work for you and whether category placements change over time, really do not matter. All of the climber type categories are valid and wonderful. What matters most is that you feel good with your discovery and that you honor yourself by releasing self judgement and climbing the way you like - the way that brings you the most enjoyment.
Read on and maybe you will feel a special connection with one, two ,or more of these climber types.
The Gym Climber –For various reasons many people choose to climb primarily in the gym. A gym climber is a "real" climber and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. No, a gym climber does not necessarily mean a new climber, although this is a wonderful setting in which to begin.
The Top Roper – Some people just don’t want to lead, they have a perfectly fabulous time following or top-roping. You definitely do not have to lead to be a “real” climber.
The Sport Climber – The lead climber whose preference/ primary climbing style is to clip bolts.
The Trad Climber – The lead climber who prefers to place his or her own gear (e.g. nuts, cams, etc.).
The Easy Climber – Climber’s who prefer to climb easy grades, typically on-sighting climbs.
The Multi-Pitch Climber – Climbers who particularly enjoy long climbs that extend beyond a single rope length or pitch.
The Extreme Climber – This type of climber enjoys really long, difficult, exposed approaches for a very isolated and physically difficult experience from beginning to end. S/he either does huge climbs with long, complicated walk-offs or very difficult single-pitch climbs that test every ounce of strength and resolve. This type of climber really enjoys being one of the few who have ever climbed someplace.
Big Wall Climber – This is a type of multi-pitch climber who will climb such huge walls that it requires spending multiple days (and nights) on the wall itself (i.e. bivy-ing on the wall).
The Alpinist – High altitude mountain climbing with technical rock multi-pitch faces, and often ice climbing, and/or glacier crossings. These typically have very long approaches and walk-offs that can take multiple days.
The Developer – Climbers who like first ascents.
The Projector – Climbers who want to progress in climbing grades and will work a route above their current climbing ability over and over again until success is achieved (success = a clean climb, no takes or falls).
The Professional – A climber who makes money from climbing. Often they compete in events, have very regular work-out and climbing routines, and must continuously push the boundaries of the sport.
The Ice Climber – Pretty self- explanatory – climbs ice.
The Traveling Climber – Climbers who like to travel and climb in as many different locations as possible.
The Local Cragger – Climbers who love to hang out or frequent the local crag.
Boulderer – Climbers who prefer to climb without a rope on boulders or smaller formations/generally lower to the ground. Routes tend to be short, technical, and intense.
Free Soloer – Climber who likes to climb long routes without using ropes or protection.
Aid Climber – This is the one category that is not considered “free climbing” because the climber uses aids, such as a rope ladder (instead of climbing with hands and feet on the rock), to ascend a wall. Usually these are large walls, which are sometimes bolted or the aid climber needs to place his or her own protection (like a trad climber).
Of course there are other sub-categories of climbers like the offwidth, crack, slab, or face climber that can apply to any of the above broader categories (e.g. the big wall climber that prefers pure crack). Usually you find a style or two of these that you like and then cringe at the rest (or try to convince yourself that you really do need to get comfortable with ___________ (fill in the blank) - haha!
