{"id":43536,"date":"2019-02-06T10:41:44","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T18:41:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=43536"},"modified":"2020-05-22T12:51:43","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T19:51:43","slug":"how-not-to-be-that-person-at-the-crag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/how-not-to-be-that-person-at-the-crag","title":{"rendered":"How Not To Be *That* Person at the Crag"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re heading out to the crag to try outdoor rock climbing for the first time, it\u2019s natural to have lots of questions. After all, nobody wants to be that <\/i>person\u2014the one who unintentionally does something rude or unsafe. Climbing comes with inherent risks\u2014but with the right knowledge and attitude, it can also be super fun. We\u2019ve compiled a list of dos and don\u2019ts to help you become a safe, responsible visitor to the many outdoor climbing areas you\u2019re sure to be exploring\u2014and have the best time possible, too.<\/p>\n

Do Your Homework, but Still Be Ready to Learn<\/b><\/h4>\n

Research the area<\/b><\/p>\n

Read the local guidebookto find out about the nuances of the crag you\u2019re visiting. For example, if you\u2019re going to Red Rocks, it’s important to know what happens to sandstone when it rains (it gets fragile\u2014and gear placements can fail<\/a>), so you should give it sufficient time to dry.<\/p>\n

Get beta from locals<\/b><\/p>\n

If you engage with the people you meet at the crag, you\u2019ll find that many locals are friendly and a great source of information. They can tell you what routes are good warm-ups, what routes might be sketchy and which ones are sandbagged. If, for example, you wanted to project an extremely popular warm-up route, you should know that doing so on a busy summer Saturday morning might not be the best idea.<\/p>\n

Be open to suggestion<\/b><\/p>\n

If someone tries to give you some advice, be open about what they\u2019re telling you. Maybe it\u2019s important local beta, maybe it\u2019s a way to do something safer. Regardless, put your ego aside and open your mind.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Use Best Climbing Practices<\/h4>\n

Embrace the wait
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

If you roll up to a crowded crag, be sure to ask around to see what routes people are waiting for, rather than setting your rope bag down and starting to tie in on a climb that may have five people waiting in line. Put your rope bag in the queue and learn to embrace the wait\u2014you might even make some new friends.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t remove quickdraws from routes<\/b><\/p>\n

At many sport crags, it\u2019s an acceptable practice to leave quickdraws up on a route you are projecting. Generally speaking, newer climbers don\u2019t always know about this and think the gear is free for the taking. A good rule of thumb is: If you aren\u2019t sure, leave it up. This goes for lowering carabiners too\u2014they aren\u2019t prizes for making it to the top.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t top rope directly off the fixed hardware<\/b><\/p>\n

The fixed hardware you use to clip in at the top of a route isn\u2019t cheap, and it doesn\u2019t last forever. Bring your own top-rope anchor to clip to the anchor points, and then lower through the fixed hardware. It\u2019s also bad form to leave a rope hanging on a route all day. It\u2019s polite to climb your pitch and move along.<\/p>\n

Learn More: How To Set And Clean a Top-Rope Anchor <\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Be Considerate of Other People\u2019s Experiences, Too<\/b><\/h4>\n

Keep your dog on a leash<\/b><\/p>\n

Many climbers are dog owners, myself included, and like to bring their pooches to the crag. But it\u2019s important to remember that not everyone loves your canine buddy like you do, so be sure to keep your dog leashed and out of the way, especially at a busy crag. Bonus points: Consider leaving the dog at home. Some dogs get stressed by a busy crag environment, and taking them for a walk when you get home later might be a better situation for everyone.<\/p>\n

Play loud (or any) music<\/b><\/p>\n

For many people, climbing outside is about enjoying nature, which typically doesn\u2019t involve listening to your favorite song. Regardless of your musical taste, tunes at the crag can be distracting in an environment where clear communication is key<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Be friendly<\/b><\/p>\n

When you’re at a crag, you are part of the community, too, so you might as well make it as friendly and fun as possible. The climbing world can be small, and you probably have more connections to your neighbors than you realize. It often goes something like this:<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re from Tahoe? Do you know so-so?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, they were my roommate!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t shout unsolicited beta<\/b><\/p>\n

Climbing is all about your own personal journey, so don\u2019t assume someone who is struggling wants your help. If you really feel you just have to share your advice, it\u2019s best to ask the person before giving them pointers.<\/p>\n

No throwing wobblers<\/b><\/p>\n

Nothing says self-absorbed like a giant temper tantrum. Sure, we all take this stuff seriously, but it\u2019s just rock climbing. You\u2019d be appalled to see a child screaming, swearing or throwing things, so why would it OK for adults at the crag? If you are on private land or in a public area where non-climbers are present, it\u2019s even more of a faux pas.<\/p>\n

Remember Your Climbing Leave No Trace Principles<\/b><\/h4>\n

Pack out your trash<\/b><\/p>\n

It\u2019s discouraging enough to find tape, food scraps, etc, laying around the crag, but if you don’t pack out human waste, well, you\u2019re definitely being that<\/i> person. If there\u2019s no pit toilet nearby, make sure to bring your own wag bag and use it.<\/p>\n

Keep your stuff orderly and close instead of exploding your pack<\/b><\/p>\n

It seems simple, but we all have to share a small space. Keep things tight, and don\u2019t trample vegetation to make more room. Look for rocks and well-worn surfaces to set your things on.<\/p>\n

Learn More: Leave No Trace Climbing Ethics<\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Stay Safe<\/b><\/h4>\n

Don\u2019t chat up people while they\u2019re belaying<\/b><\/p>\n

We all enjoy being friendly, but talking to people who literally have someone else\u2019s life in their hands is not a good idea. It often only takes a moment of inattention for an accident to happen. When someone is belaying, let them belay\u2014you can chat all you want when their climber is down.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t belay sitting down<\/b><\/p>\n

Crag chairs are fine, but lead belaying from a chair, or super far away from the wall, can be dangerous. Give your climber a good belay, even on the warm-ups.<\/p>\n

Learn More: How To Belay<\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Remember: Safety is your responsibility.\u00a0No internet article or video can replace proper instruction and experience.\u00a0Make sure you\u2019re practiced in proper techniques and safety requirements before you climb.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re heading out to the crag to try outdoor rock climbing for the first time, it\u2019s natural to have lots of questions. After all, nobody wants to be that person\u2014the one who unintentionally does something rude or unsafe. Climbing comes with inherent risks\u2014but with the right knowledge and attitude, it can also be super […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":43587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[734,451,442,804,66],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-43536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climb","tag-climbing","tag-climbing-tips","tag-rock-climbing","tag-safety","tag-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/climb\/how-not-to-be-that-person-at-the-crag","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How Not To Be *That* Person at the Crag","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/how-not-to-be-that-person-at-the-crag","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/how-not-to-be-that-person-at-the-crag"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/02\/Crag-etiquette-header.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/02\/Crag-etiquette-header.jpg?fit=2000%2C1333"},"articleSection":"Climb","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["climbing","climbing tips","rock climbing","safety","tips"],"dateCreated":"2019-02-06T18:41:44Z","datePublished":"2019-02-06T18:41:44Z","dateModified":"2020-05-22T19:51:43Z"},"rendered":"