As a future father, I have some insecurities about how a child will impact my climbing. I wonder what my Beauty:Horror ratio will be. And I wonder how to continue guiding with a baby (there SO much travel involved). But I just keep telling myself that I (we) can figure it out. And I try to learn from climbing families when I see them in the wild.
The numbers referred to (5.7, 5.11, 5.12) tell how difficult a climb is considered. These numbers are from the Yosemite Decimal System for routes in the US. The number five refers to 5th class: technical climbing where a rope and safety fear is necessary. So, 5.7 is "easy." The grades go up to 5.9, and then when you get to 5.10, an additional letter is added to the grade; so 5.10a, 5.10b, 5.10c, 5.10d. Then you get to 5.11 and so on and so forth. The hardest grade in the country at the moment is around 5.15+. I think.
5.11s are moderate-hard, and I think most ordinary climbers would agree that 5.12s are considered hard.
"No matter, I could always climb, just climb, even if it means top-roping 5.11, failing miserably on 5.12, or padding up 5.7 on gear. Climbing, just climbing, for the joy of it."
Fifteen years later and I am STILL trying to learn this particular lesson.
As a future father, I have some insecurities about how a child will impact my climbing. I wonder what my Beauty:Horror ratio will be. And I wonder how to continue guiding with a baby (there SO much travel involved). But I just keep telling myself that I (we) can figure it out. And I try to learn from climbing families when I see them in the wild.
I'd be happy for you to explain the numbers to us non-climbers that love reading about your climbing!
The numbers referred to (5.7, 5.11, 5.12) tell how difficult a climb is considered. These numbers are from the Yosemite Decimal System for routes in the US. The number five refers to 5th class: technical climbing where a rope and safety fear is necessary. So, 5.7 is "easy." The grades go up to 5.9, and then when you get to 5.10, an additional letter is added to the grade; so 5.10a, 5.10b, 5.10c, 5.10d. Then you get to 5.11 and so on and so forth. The hardest grade in the country at the moment is around 5.15+. I think.
5.11s are moderate-hard, and I think most ordinary climbers would agree that 5.12s are considered hard.
Does that help? If you want more info: https://www.climber.org/data/decimal.html.
I love this type of granularity. And it helps me appreciate your climbing ability!
"No matter, I could always climb, just climb, even if it means top-roping 5.11, failing miserably on 5.12, or padding up 5.7 on gear. Climbing, just climbing, for the joy of it."
Fifteen years later and I am STILL trying to learn this particular lesson.
yeah, you're terrible at that.