the anthropology of climbing

self-flagellation? hmm.

i often wonder how present-day climbing cultural will be described by future writers and anthropologists. will they see us as exotic adventurers or just a bunch of risk-lovin' crazies?

there's a whole lot about crag life that will probably be seen as downright bizzare. the terminology, the painfully tight shoes, the taping of hands, the colorful cams, the dot/dash (-----xx) problem maps, the blood that's proudly left behind as offerings to the rock, etc.

it does sometimes feel like i'm a member of some colorful outdoor cult.

sidebar: led my first trad route on sunday. 5.8+ thought it was a 5.6! didn't make it to the top and took a nice fall. my first placement: 2.5 yellow wild country cam. after writing this lingo-filled sentence, today's main posting seems especially funny.