What Does "Dirtbag" & "Dirtbagging" Mean to YOU?

So - define the terms, on YOUR terms, before reading the posts from others.

What is a "Dirtbag"? What is "dirtbagiing"?

I'm just interested, since the term is about as broadly used as "Splitter" was a few years ago(to the point people referred to a gorgeous day as being "splitter".

The way the "word" is thrown around here - typically in a glamorized fashion - indicates that people haven't a clue. Questions like "what gear, what car, how much $$ - does it take to dirtbag for x amount of time" are meaningless. A dirtbag has nothing - no material possessions, no health insurance, few clothes, no time frame... A dirtbag is a bum, period. The only way he will get another meal is to go out and scrounge for it (not "budget" for it). Here people associate it with a climbing life style - really not. In the past the phrase "climbing bum" - similar to "ski bum" or "surf bum" - was more commonly used. More accurate.

Eric Engberg wrote: In the past the phrase "climbing bum" - similar to "ski bum" or "surf bum" - was more commonly used. More accurate.

Yea but dirtbag sounds so much more......splitter.

Glenn Schuler wrote: Yea but dirtbag sounds so much more......splitter.

"I was the splitterest dirtbag on my week-long roadtrip to the Red over spring break, brah"

I can see it now...

When your chalk bag brush is also your toothbrush you might be a dirtbag.

You throw your sleeping bag and your duffel bag on the dirt and that's where you sleep.

Isn't that the same as tea-bagging, except that you haven't showered in over a week?

A dirtbag is a homeless climber... and happy to be that way!

When I was young and said "I'm broke" - it meant I didn't have any money - at all, anywhere, period!

Now it means I need to visit an ATM. I haven't met a truly dirt bagging climber in a while now - I used to see a few back in the 80s. I see lot's of guys doing it on the cheap but that's hardly what I call dirt bagging. True "dirt bagging" is basically a homeless person who climbs rocks.

I think there's a fine line between dirtbagging and mooching. I would imagine a dirtbagger is self-sufficient, but has little money. I don't think you can go on a climbing trip with no money, unless someone else drives you there and you bring all your own food.

A mooch asks everyone else to help him subsist, "Can you give me a ride?" "Do you have any extra food?" "Can I borrow your cell phone or sleep at your (paid for) campsite?"

FrankPS wrote:I think there's a fine line between dirtbagging and mooching. I would imagine a dirtbagger is self-sufficient, but has little money. I don't think you can go on a climbing trip with no money, unless someone else drives you there and you bring all your own food. A mooch asks everyone else to help him subsist, "Can you give me a ride?" "Do you have any extra food?" "Can I borrow your cell phone or sleep at your (paid for) campsite?"

+1

A lot of people who call themselves dirtbags, are really just mooches.

something that gets talked about and glorified way too often on mountainproject.com forums

I agree with Brunt. Dirt bagging was a great thing, you'd hang out in camp four, scarf food at the lodge, dodge rangers for campsites, pick-up cans, and hang out. In the end, climbing became secondary, though. There are way too many of us these days for dirt bagging.

Camping or even a bivy seems almost a synonym for dirt bagging, which sadly is not even close to the truth.

ask yourself one question - have you ever scarfed food or eaten out of a dumpster?

I did once hear a group of guys at Miguels asking if anyone wanted the last piece of the pizza they had. First guy says "no, I' full." Second guy goes "No, me too."

I says "Are you going to throw it away? If yeah, I'll take it!"

But I am no dirtbag.

I have never eaten from a dumpster. Well, except that one time one of the ranger at Mohonk was dumping the trash and there, right on top, was a quart of brand new strawberries in a plastic bag. I was sure they must have been peed on or something, and let him try the first one.

Still, not a dirtbag.

Once I also saw a HUGE grocery bag sitting atop the trash bin at the Keys View in JT and....of course i investigated. Some one must have left this bag behind and another put it on the trash box because, it was not trash. At all. It had FIVE boxes of figs, two pounds of raw almonds, a bag of powdered chocolate that I later saw cost $18, about 2 dozen of these little squares of nuts and chewy stuff, and a bunch more stuff. Easily a hundred dollars worth of left behind food.

Damned right I ate it!

Still, not a dirtbag.

It's a silly thing really.

I guess that's it's a glamourised lifestyle these days...

I think it's a contest to see how little you shower.

I tend to think of it as a devotion. Do you devote as little time as possible to making $$ and as much as possible to climbing?

I have had dirtbag days and responsible days. In my dirtbag days I lived I a cave to climb, hitchiked around, had no car, no job, no spare clothes.... But I always tried to save enough $$ to eat well and buy beer.... Does having a work ethic that supported my lifestyle disqualify me from dirtbag? I don't really care....

It's all about what you value, and what you are willing to sacrifice in irder to crush.

Now I am a climbing guide with a house (rented) and I try to climb 4 days a week and work 5.... How does that work? I don't know....

Like I said it's about what you value in life?

I value climbing, community, self reliance, paying my own way through life, and personal growth.

Jake Jones, and happie it is an age deal
Dirtbag after a certain age and you are a homeless bum.
The American crush for the comfortable life style, is a first world thing of entitled children.
Now jake , I know you do not like the way I say things but if you can, please try to say it better, less. . ? I do not know what my style is but it always rubs you wrong so post your thoughts
You are now one of the ' best posters here'
I await the wisdom of Billy Kirby ?!

I just noticed that 'Scoop' and I both only joined the project in 2014,
I think one true test of the poor is how well they try and live.

Ghetto fabulous or Dirt-bag Royalty?

The line of the haves and the have-nots Is blurred by a climbing life style where passion for the
Wild vertical places oft r leaves one wanting for much
But content with the life chosen and Almost free.

Same as "adventure" and "epic" - terms used to romanticize/glamorize certain lifestyles in order to sell crap to naive desk jockeys, thus in the process lost their original true meanings.

"Dirt bagging" = Weekend warrior with a 9-5 job or trust funder looking for a place to park their $60K Sprinter van for the weekend.

Michael Schneider wrote: I await the wisdom of Billy Kirby ?!

I'm flattered even if you're being sarcastic.

Sorry, no wisdom here. I might sleep in a barn for a week but when dinner time comes Im not cooking whatever's on sale at Price Chopper. I'm headed to the Baxter or the Noonmark. I just got back from the Gunks yesterday. I slept in a friends backyard. I know that sounds dirtbagish, dirtbag-like but the $150 bill from La Stazione doesn't.

Dirtbagging is what you do when you have more time than money.

Greg Petliski wrote: The Noonmark? Overrated man! I definitely agree about the time/money thing though. I took a greyhound from NJ to TX because it was $50 cheaper than flying (and I could bring my weed). I'll gladly trade an extra 40 hours of travel to save $50 because hey, Ive got books I can read.

Mr. Kirby - good choice.

Greg - according to your calculations, your time is worth $1.25 an hour. Mine is worth way more than that.