Gym Group Climbing

Did you consider just bouldering? When my partner quit (temporarily) on me a couple of years ago, all I did was boulder by myself in the gym. You can get a great workout in 30 or 45 minutes of continuous bouldering, compared to the couple of hours of going vertical that it would take to get the same physical workout.

Bouldering is nice but sometimes you want to get that elevation for your natural 'high'. I find people are fairly open and receptive in the gym. It doesn't matter which one. It's a 'come as you are' mentality and once there do some bouldering and then seek out a partner. Eventually you are bound to find some people to hook up with. It's even better to not have a partner at a gym I think. I usually climb with my brother but I have a female friend who started climbing about a month ago and she always seems to want to go when I don't. It doesn't seem to be a problem for her! She meets more people there than I have in 6 months! I am not sure whether that says more for her friendliness or my antisocialness. In either case my point is, go up to them, stick out your hand and say 'Hi I'm Juan, do you need a belay partner?' I guarantee you will find more than just a belay partner. You will find friends.

... She meets more people there than

I remember You had the right idea about growing breasts couple of months ago <sorry, I couldn't resist>

Olga! Nice to see you are still lurking around =)

..

I am reading it on and off.. Too busy lately, but I do find time to get out to some climbing trips with girls. Few of us are going to red rocks soon, planning Nepal, Thailand & India trips. So life is good. I've seen Your climbing pictures, glad too see You are managing to get out even during cold winter months!

Look for someone who's alone or a group of 3 people climbing together, say 'Would you like a belay?' to the person who's not climbing. Most people, even if they say no to wanting a belay from a stranger, will at least offer you a belay in return.

How much you trust strangers to belay you in the gym depends in part on how much you trust your gym. I trust strangers to belay me at my gym because I've witnessed the belay test repeatedly and I've seen people fail it. I know that marginal doesn't pass there.

At the gym you're referring to, everyone supposedly gets tested on each of their first three visits. Sounds pretty safe. Except that they let me climb there for three visits before they remembered to test me at all. (And then my tester announced that he was going to pass me for all three tests.) So maybe climbers there should be a little more suspicious.

I also use my own test - I watch them belay before I approach and see how diligent they are. I'll also climb a route first that I don't expect to fall on and watch/feel how they belay.

Do your own breasts tell you to say these things?

Yeah. I usually can't resist those either.

BTW, I met a girl last Sunday that is moving out to your town and already knows you and your group. As usual, I forgot her name within five minutes of hearing it. In any case, small world. When I ever get around to visiting you myself, I will hopefully be able to climb cracks somewhat. I tried a very short onsight lead a few weeks ago, but the crack flared out so bad that I couldn't get my hand in it deep enough to set a cam. My friend ended up just running it out. Yeah, this trad stuff scares the crap out of me. Going to buy some crack shoes this week, though. You betcha.

-Tim