Climber’s Guide to the Public

If you’ve been a climber for any length of time, you’ve no doubt had some awkward conversations with the general public about it. When it comes to public awareness of our sport, at least in this country, the average citizen is woefully uneducated about climbing. Here’s a list of some of my favorite things I get asked by the general public when it comes up in conversation that I’m a climber.

You don’t free climb do you?

All the time, I respond, to which they reply, you climb without ropes? Ah yes, they are thinking of free soloing, but they only know it as free climbing. You correct them by explaining that what they are thinking of is called free soloing, which is indeed dangerous and only pursued by a small group of individuals, and then you attempt to explain the difference between free climbing and aid climbing, but they probably lost interest after you stopped talking about climbing without ropes.

Have you ever fallen?

Perhaps being related to the first question, most people (including my mom for a long time) think that if you fall climbing, something terrible will happen to you, certainly injury and probably death! If you are lucky enough to get asked this question, you then get the onerous task of explaining how the system works, including ropes, belays, bolts and trad gear. Good luck with that one.

How’d you get that rope up there?

A favorite of many climbers, who usually have a standard smart ass response. But seriously, this must be very confusing to the lay person, so give it your best shot. Since they are highly unlikely to grasp the concept, you might as well make something up. “Oh, they are there all the time for anyone to use” or “I use my Batman grappling hook to get it up there.” Use your imagination, as the possibilities are endless and we can all do our part to ensure that there is no consensus among the general public about how those ropes actually do get up there.

I could never do that, I’m not very strong.

You and the majority of the people climbing 5.9 and under. I guess we can thank movies like Cliffhanger for furthering the stereotype that climbers need astronomical upper body strength, and if you don’t have that, you might as well stay home and drink beer. Try explaining how technique comes into play and they’ll give you that blank I’m listening but not hearing you look. Classic.

Are you ever gonna climb Everest?

Apparently, if you are a climber, climbing Everest is the pinnacle of your career. I believe this stems from the fact that most people think of climbers as being “mountain” climbers. The whole concept of cragging is about as easy to understand as our current tax system, and it’s a brave soul that tackles that explanation with our less informed brethren.

Well, those are my top 5, anybody else got any good ones?