photo by Andy Day | @kiellgram
Climbing ethics and etiquette may seem pretty obvious to most of us, but as the sport is getting more and more popular, it’s easy for our values to become diluted. In a time when every summer sees a long queue form for “La Marie Rose”, it’s good to keep reminding ourselves what good crag behaviour is.
This little list is by no means a definitive guide but bouldering is a little bit like life: you can’t go wrong with simply being considerate.
Respect the people
- If you want to join somebody sessioning a problem, ask. At least attempt asking them in their language. Not everybody is obliged to speak English.
- If somebody asks you to join in, let them. (Unless you’re questing for a FA, hogging a climb is not a thing.)
- Don’t monopolise the rock – take turns.
- Don’t walk in your dirty shoes over somebody else’s pads.
- Don’t play music unless your group are the only people who can hear it. If you’re not sure, don’t play music.
- Unless somebody asks, don’t spray beta.
- Don’t take other people’s stuff. Even if you think it got left behind, it’s not “booty” – it’s stealing.
- Spot people to keep them safe. If you don’t know them and you end up climbing together, ask before you grab them by the backside.
Respect the environment
- Never litter. (This includes toilet tissue. Don’t even attempt to bury it. Take it home. End of discussion.)
- Unless you’re a hundred miles from civilisation, don’t take a number two in the woods. Ever.
- Don’t scare the animals with excessive noise. (Even if you can’t see them. Rodents and birds also deserve some peace.) Don’t play music.
- Stick to existing paths as much as possible.
Respect the rock
- Don’t climb wet sandstone. Even if it’s just slightly damp, you are destroying it.
- Thoroughly clean your shoes from sand and soil. Grinding dirt into the rock polishes it.
- As you climb, keep brushing the holds. Sweat, chalk and shoe rubber accumulate over time and damage the rock.
- Clean the rock after climbing. Get rid of all tick marks. They ruin the experience for whoever climbs after you, damage the rock and are an eyesore to everyone else.