Photo Credit: Lady Lockoff
You can see the byline for the website - features created by and oriented towards the common climber – that is the 95% of us who work, go to school, raise families, and climb when we can - proudly crushing whatever we can - you get the idea of the concept, but what compelled me to start this site?
Reason 1 – An alternative voice - I subscribe to the major climbing magazines. I definitely enjoy them, but there are moments when I toss them down in frustration. Why? Because I can only take so much. I can only take so much “noobs,” “newbie,” and “gumby” insults. I can only take so much elite bad-ass-ness and epics. In those moments of frustration I either felt insulted or left out. I found there were many moments after reading certain articles I didn’t feel good. The message I kept receiving was if I wasn’t fuckin’ crushin’ on rock I was a flea-bag gumby nothingness contaminating the crags. The only crushin’ that was happening was my spirit. A magazine, especially one I am paying for, should not do that.
I wondered, am I the only one that feels this way? When I spoke with others I learned there were plenty of climbers who did not feel represented. I wondered if there was a place for something that represents the 95% of us who are not climbing at the highest of levels? That was when the name Common Climber came to me. At that point I realized I am a Common Climber.
Perhaps the words Common Climber are uninspiring, after all who wants to be common? None of us. None of us, at least initially, wants to be common. But the fact of the matter is, with respect to climbing, most of us are. And, you know what? Being common is OK, normal, perfectly acceptable, and, can actually be a relief. But, being common does not take away from individuality and uniqueness – we each have our own passions, talents, and stories. Rather, being common binds us together, which leads me to Reason 2.
Reason 2 – A common community – As climbers we are a community. Most climbers struggle – with ourselves, our demons, the messages we receive about striving to “get better,” then trying to get “better” and, perhaps, reaching a plateau. We struggle with disappointment, fear, injury, insecurity on the wall. We also take pride in accomplishments small and large - or at least we need to. As a Common Climber it is important to recognize that finishing your first 5.9 without a rest is a worthy accomplishment.
Whether you are a 5.9 or a 5.13 climber, we have in common that we are ALL trying our best given individual circumstances – be they physical, mental, or time limitations. We are also ALL trying to find our place in climbing. If the only voice and messages we receive about what being a climber means are the ones we receive from the popular media, then we will almost always be disappointed in ourselves. Rather, our place as a climber is the one we define ourselves, defining AND accepting our likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, limitations, choices, mental framework, etc. What that looks like for me is different than what it looks like for you, but there is still considerable commonality between us.
Since Common Climber is about these commonalities, my hope is that the website CommonClimber.com would be an outlet for us. That it would contain unique, funny, heartfelt stories that we can laugh at or shake our heads yes to because they are relate-able. I want CommonClimber.com to be a respite from the insulting and the hard-core, and, instead, be a place we can relax in our normalcy.
This leads me to reason number 3.
Reason 3 – An outlet for expression –CommonClimber.com is an outlet for expression. Part of the human experience is the need for personal expression. Some express through writing, others through photography, others through talking, singing, or video, others through sewing. I need to write.
I considered a blog, but my expression was more in the form of articles. I also wanted to open this up to others, since not everyone desires to manage a blog or a website. Thus, CommonClimber.com is more like an online magazine, where people can submit their creative expression about climbing. If you have an idea for expression that might fit on the website, but the category does not yet exist, share it with me.
The bottom line is, let’s create together, let's relate together, let's celebrate our commonness together. Proudly, I AM a common climber!
Reason 1 – An alternative voice - I subscribe to the major climbing magazines. I definitely enjoy them, but there are moments when I toss them down in frustration. Why? Because I can only take so much. I can only take so much “noobs,” “newbie,” and “gumby” insults. I can only take so much elite bad-ass-ness and epics. In those moments of frustration I either felt insulted or left out. I found there were many moments after reading certain articles I didn’t feel good. The message I kept receiving was if I wasn’t fuckin’ crushin’ on rock I was a flea-bag gumby nothingness contaminating the crags. The only crushin’ that was happening was my spirit. A magazine, especially one I am paying for, should not do that.
I wondered, am I the only one that feels this way? When I spoke with others I learned there were plenty of climbers who did not feel represented. I wondered if there was a place for something that represents the 95% of us who are not climbing at the highest of levels? That was when the name Common Climber came to me. At that point I realized I am a Common Climber.
Perhaps the words Common Climber are uninspiring, after all who wants to be common? None of us. None of us, at least initially, wants to be common. But the fact of the matter is, with respect to climbing, most of us are. And, you know what? Being common is OK, normal, perfectly acceptable, and, can actually be a relief. But, being common does not take away from individuality and uniqueness – we each have our own passions, talents, and stories. Rather, being common binds us together, which leads me to Reason 2.
Reason 2 – A common community – As climbers we are a community. Most climbers struggle – with ourselves, our demons, the messages we receive about striving to “get better,” then trying to get “better” and, perhaps, reaching a plateau. We struggle with disappointment, fear, injury, insecurity on the wall. We also take pride in accomplishments small and large - or at least we need to. As a Common Climber it is important to recognize that finishing your first 5.9 without a rest is a worthy accomplishment.
Whether you are a 5.9 or a 5.13 climber, we have in common that we are ALL trying our best given individual circumstances – be they physical, mental, or time limitations. We are also ALL trying to find our place in climbing. If the only voice and messages we receive about what being a climber means are the ones we receive from the popular media, then we will almost always be disappointed in ourselves. Rather, our place as a climber is the one we define ourselves, defining AND accepting our likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, limitations, choices, mental framework, etc. What that looks like for me is different than what it looks like for you, but there is still considerable commonality between us.
Since Common Climber is about these commonalities, my hope is that the website CommonClimber.com would be an outlet for us. That it would contain unique, funny, heartfelt stories that we can laugh at or shake our heads yes to because they are relate-able. I want CommonClimber.com to be a respite from the insulting and the hard-core, and, instead, be a place we can relax in our normalcy.
This leads me to reason number 3.
Reason 3 – An outlet for expression –CommonClimber.com is an outlet for expression. Part of the human experience is the need for personal expression. Some express through writing, others through photography, others through talking, singing, or video, others through sewing. I need to write.
I considered a blog, but my expression was more in the form of articles. I also wanted to open this up to others, since not everyone desires to manage a blog or a website. Thus, CommonClimber.com is more like an online magazine, where people can submit their creative expression about climbing. If you have an idea for expression that might fit on the website, but the category does not yet exist, share it with me.
The bottom line is, let’s create together, let's relate together, let's celebrate our commonness together. Proudly, I AM a common climber!