Hey y'all,
Hey Alexis--
Yes, I was knocking New Hampshire climbing. (Sorry!) I guess I compare it to Boulder, Colorado, where I grew up and to all the beautiful pictures of Yosemite I've seen in Climbing magazine!
Hi
In the somewhat male-dominant world of climbing, I wanted to see if there are any girls out there who climb or are interested in climbing. Myself, I've only climbed for less than a year, but I've definitely found my niche!!
I don't climb ice, although I think it's very cool and I have an awesome cousin who does it. I mostly climb rock, top-roping both outdoors and in two semi-local climbing gyms. Outdoors, my boyfriend (my main climbing partner) and I climb 5.8's and 5.9's, although I've never flashed anything above a 5.8. (He can do a 5.11, but he's also been climbing for 3 years.) This winter, I hope to try a 5.10 in the "local" climbing gym (it's an hour drive away) and definitely start leading (sport at first). Next summer, I'd hope to start trad-leading, but that's a big hope!
I wanted to know what the climbing is like in other parts of the world, because it really sucks it up big time here in New England (as far as variation goes). If anyone has any questions on ability-level, terms, or equipment, I know a fair amount (I work in a climbing gym), or if anyone just wants to gloat over being a female climber in this vast world of climbing men, feel free. :) And if by some stroke of luck, Lynn Hill or Katie Brown happens to wander by, it'd by "nice" (more like, INCREDIBLE) to hear from them too!!
By Amelia Wilson (Admin) on Sunday, September 27, 1998 - 12:19 pm:
I haven't gone climbing in over a year now and I miss it terribly! When you knock New England climbing I hope you're not talking about that gorgeous granite in New Hampshire. My husband and I climbed Cathedral Ledge and Whitehorse up in NH a couple of years ago, and believe me, the quality of the rock there is amazing compared to the 'Gunks in NY or (according to my hubby, who's from out west) Smith Rocks in Oregon.
We do trad climbing only, no sport stuff, so the grades we climb aren't nearly what you're talking about (never higher than a 5.7 for me, and that was kind of a mistake-- we got off route!)
Actually, when you said early in your post that climbing was male dominated, my brain flashed to the great number of women I saw climbing, at least at the Gunks in NY state. I think a lot of women get mislead by the notion of climbing and assume that they don't have the upper body strength for it, when actually, you use your legs and agility way more (plus, there's nothing better than climbing to *build* your upper body strength!). I don't know how it is in other places, but there are lots and lots of women who climb in NY (and actually, in New Hampshire, the first day we got there we saw a woman trad lead up to the top of Cathedral Ledge, which was really really cool).
Anyone else out there?
By Alexis on Monday, September 28, 1998 - 09:24 pm:
Exciting news, (Amelia- you might know of this climb) I get to go on a trad-leading climb up at Cannon Cliff in Franconia, NH. (The route will most likely be a 5.7, but I'll be amazed if I can trad lead on flat ground! -Just kidding!)
By Kate on Tuesday, October 6, 1998 - 08:41 am:
I have done a bit of climbing over the last three years here in the UK. Mainly out of doors in the Lake District national park and the Peak District where there is a lot of Gritstone which according to my boyfriend is "god's own rock" . I suppose he's got a point. Its easier to do more technical climbs on a rock type that seems to stick to your boots.
Im nowhere near as good as you two, as I dont climb regularly and I dont have what you would consider a "Climbing physique", but I do love it for the sense of achievement and the wildness of the outdoors.
Good to talk with fellow female climbers!
Kate