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Editorial
CLIMBING – WHO’S IN CONTROL?
What is climbing? I mean, what does climbing mean to you? What effect does climbing have on your life and lifestyle?
Is it just a thrill thing that you do now and then? Do you consider it a hobby, where you go out, do your thing and log all your outings and routes? Maybe you see climbing as a sport; a sport that keeps you fit and healthy; a sport whereby you could possibly compete with other climbers in the competition arena. Or is climbing a passion that has captivated your soul and occupies your mind every possible moment in a day? Do you lie in bed and endlessly work sequences of a route through your head or dream of routes to come and mountains you wish to visit or road trips to exotic countries? Road trips that see you living off a couple of bucks a day, wild camping in forests and fields, at the foot of crags, surviving on a staple diet of lentils and potatoes? And all that keeps you alive, keeps you going, are the dreams and promises of the days and climbing to come.
There are two very distinct differences between the first three reasons and the last one. With the first three you have full control over when, where and how often you want to climb. With the last one you simply don’t have that luxury. You do not hold the reins of control. The passion controls you. The enthusiasm and desire to climb is all encompassing, and you have to feed your soul. It is something you have to do to make yourself whole. There is no choice. Of course, saying that, as life takes its course, you may find yourself wanting to climb a little less, due to commitments to family, children and friends, but the will to escape to the hills will always have a firm hold on you.
This brings me to the second difference. Again, with the first three reasons, there will come a time in your life, and this can come at a young age or in your middle years, when you will decide that you have had enough of this climbing lark, and maybe it is time to play tennis, bowls, or something equally ‘sensible’. In a sense, you will retire from the game. With the last reason, it is not possible to retire. It does not even come up for consideration. The rat needs to be fed no matter what, and the beauty with climbing is that the threshold can be moved to accommodate any ability.
I’ve never seen an U50s or U60s rugby or cricket team, but there are many climbers in their middle and twilight years who still get out on the hill regularly, climbing the routes on the mountains they love. And, inside them, that fiery passion still burns deep.
Actually, not much has changed. They still lie in bed and think about the moves and dream about routes to come and trips with their mates and loved ones that take them to exciting places to climb yet another route on another mountain. Only the threshold changes. So, tie on and cast off. After all, let’s face it; life’s way too short to retire.
Be safe in the hills.
Tony
Contents
The Totem Pole
by Dave Barnes
Monteseel F3s
by Gavin Raubenheimer
Zaghouan – Sport Climbing in Tunisia
by Massimo Cappuccio
RAW Exposure
Gear Reviews
Classifieds
Classic Tale – Sandbagged by Dawn
by Andy de Klerk
