A friend of mine cycled over to Crimple Beck crag this weekend to see if it had fallen over yet, and came across a couple of climbers there.
From what he could tell, it was their first time outdoors. They didn’t seem that aware of guidebooks, UKC, or that clear on some of the terminology we use. They’d made a mostly good job of setting up a top rope with rope protectors and a static line but they’d also made some questionable choices with their anchors.
I’d guess that a lot of people are in the same situation. Keen indoor climbers for whom the only option to continue their hobby this side of summer is to venture outside. These are naive, vulnerable people coming into our domain out of desperation, with very little awareness of how much is at stake if they make a mistake. We won’t stop them by turning our backs.
It is in the best interests of everyone to try to help them and I think that as a club, there’s a part we could play in that. Sharing the pastime I enjoy is my least selfish reason for joining YMC.
That’s a lot of words to say that I’m going to start climbing outdoors again, carefully, and I’m willing to climb with other club members who want to do that too.
