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There's no cheating in climbing, the only taboo is lying. But if you want to be recognized, your ascent has to be more stylish than the guy who climbed the rout
by Fricken 10y ago
There's no cheating in climbing, the only taboo is lying. But if you want to be recognized, your ascent has to be more stylish than the guy who climbed the route before you.
Climbing without oxygen is purer. Climbing in a single capsule style push rather than relying on fixed lines with sherpas ferrying loads from station to station is purer. Climbing solo is purer. On well traversed routes some climbers go for speed records. And if an individual were to climb a Himalayan peak buck naked, they would be recognized rightfully as a proper badass and an alpine god.
Now that there are few unclimbed peaks of note left in the world, style is everything. You've got to up the ante somehow, just getting to the top isn't newsworthy.
- mmmBacon 10y agoI would argue that the purest form of climbing is to do it without regard to recognition.
- Fricken 10y agoAlpine expeditions are very expensive. Gotta keep that sponsorship money coming in if you want to do it full time, and you gotta do it full time if you want to push the limits.
- snowwrestler 10y agoAnd quite a lot of climbers would agree with you.