What % of people drop climbing because of time consumption

gabeschwartz wrote: Your wife must be a saint... My wife would simply laugh at me if I asked if I could climb 3 times a week...

I 'm with the guy that climbs 3 days a week. I actually only climb two usually but do grab a third day once in a while. I climbed before I was married. I don't ask, thats for children, I inform, and do my best to manage my time. If my wife can't handle me having a hobby then my wife can go find a new husband.

Bill Lawry wrote:"Climbing is great but damn if it isn't a huge time commitment, money commitment, occupier of space (bouldering pads, quickdraws, etc), and just requires a lot of... not actually climbing... " Probably goes without saying that adventure multi-pitch is not on your list. :-)

I'm not on adventure multi-pitch type of level at the point, but actually it is right up my level, because I'm a single guy who loves going for it. It's not the time-to-time big project that I could find being awfully time-consuming, it's the trying to climb 2-3 times a week and not living close to a crag. I am also the type of person who likes to own nothing, so I hate the idea of having a bunch of bouldering pads... moving apartments and lugging them around everywhere. I'm not married with a mortgage, so accumulating stuff isn't something I am fond of. Sport climbing gear isn't so cumbersome though.

I think it's a valid question. Sure there are other sports, like golf, cycling, fishing, where it eats up big chunks of time. With those sports I know that the views, the moving of scenery, the stunning landscaping, the flowing water, the watching of the fish, etc. in the downtime of the sport, is part of what makes it great. For many people I think the downtime at the crag is very relaxing, while not as implicitly part of the enjoyment factor as it may be for other sports, just like it may not be as large a part of the enjoyment factor of tennis, the time spent resting and waiting for a court. I'm really more just thinking of the limitations of being a casual climber, with the minimum time commitment to get a good day of climbing in, vs being a casual fisher, tennis player, golfer, cyclist, etc. where you can really pack in a ton of action into a short period of time. It actually makes it better for the dedicated climber, because it does weed out the "casual climber," who would otherwise be crowding up the crag.

jamesldavis1 wrote: I'm not on adventure multi-pitch type of level at the point, but actually it is right up my level, because I'm a single guy who loves going for it. It's not the time-to-time big project that I could find being awfully time-consuming, it's the trying to climb 2-3 times a week and not living close to a crag. I am also the type of person who likes to own nothing, so I hate the idea of having a bunch of bouldering pads... moving apartments and lugging them around everywhere. I'm not married with a mortgage, so accumulating stuff isn't something I am fond of. Sport climbing gear isn't so cumbersome though. I think it's a valid question. Sure there are other sports, like golf, cycling, fishing, where it eats up big chunks of time. With those sports I know that the views, the moving of scenery, the stunning landscaping, the flowing water, the watching of the fish, etc. in the downtime of the sport, is part of what makes it great. For many people I think the downtime at the crag is very relaxing, while not as implicitly part of the enjoyment factor as it may be for other sports, just like it may not be as large a part of the enjoyment factor of tennis, the time spent resting and waiting for a court. I'm really more just thinking of the limitations of being a casual climber, with the minimum time commitment to get a good day of climbing in, vs being a casual fisher, tennis player, golfer, cyclist, etc. where you can really pack in a ton of action into a short period of time. It actually makes it better for the dedicated climber, because it does weed out the "casual climber," who would otherwise be crowding up the crag.

Maybe climbing isn't for you? Only you can ultimately make that decision. Not the end of the world if you give up climbing. You can always take it up again when the desire strikes you.

I understand the context and ratinale behind this post. I work M_F full time have a wife and Son with other responsibilites. My "home" crag is 3.5 hours away if I speed. Hueco is also 3.5 hours away if I speed. I dedicate most of my spare time to climbing and balancing out my life. I love the life too much to give up climbing. I would say depending on the factors, demographics and geographics, the drop out rate is like the Seals training camp.

gabeschwartz wrote: Your wife must be a saint.

She is. I am lucky.
She also climbs and sometimes comes with.

We also have a great babysitter which in the long run can get expensive but is really worth it.

And for the record I said I climb 4 days a week :)

Dom wrote: She is. I am lucky. She also climbs and sometimes comes with. We also have a great babysitter which in the long run can get expensive but is really worth it. And for the record I said I climb 4 days a week :)

I wish my body could handle that much pulling

Here's a great thought, don't have kids. There's over 7 billion people on Earth, the pool is already overflowing. Whenever people have sex trophies running around and complain about not having time, it reminds me of someone who drank too much and complains about having a hangover. To top it off, a parent might even say someone who doesn't have kids is lucky. Same scenario, that dude with a hangover is now saying that others without the hangover are lucky.

Yes I compared kids to a hangover, commence the hate. It feeds my mortal soul.

Kids need their parents to be there for them ... And not just when asked. The amount of time varies some from kid to kid and lifestyle to lifestyle. But they do.

I feel fortunate climb-wise now that my kids are grown and the mountains are less than an hour away. But it wasn't always that way. And the grandsons are virtually pure joy. :-) ... granted that their parents are the ones now doing the heavy lifting.

Steven Groetken wrote:... Yes I compared kids to a hangover, commence the hate. It feeds my mortal soul.

"Fucking and making a child is no more a miracle than eating and making a turd"
Bill Hicks
RIP

You find time for things you love to do. Atleast thats my personal opinion. The hike to the boulders is part of the adventure. When i started bouldering it wasnt something my Fiance and i did together although we hiked together regularly. He works a full time job over an hour away from home, i luckily work from home. When i started really getting into it, he joined me in bouldering which made it nice because it was time spent with my significant other.(even if he hadnt he would likely take the hike back with me and spot) But both of us get change right after work, hike and climb until it gets dark on days we both finish work to late we go to the gym until 10 oclock or so..

20 kN wrote: So dont have kids, get a fun wife, and say no to being overworked. Hell, I would do all three of those even if I dident climb.

Making sure to only fall in love with people who climb is not exactly advice that one can just go out and apply! Climbing, maybe more than any other mainstream sport including skiing, is definitely a lifestyle sport just for its time commitment. Unless you live in very close proximity to crags or can get your family involved, it is very hard to do much outdoors if you do something crazy like having a family.

I climb 2-3 times a week in a non-air conditioned converted racquetball court in the South, hope to boulder outside 1-2 times a month and don't climb at all in the summer given the first point. Getting enough fitness back to even make an outdoor trip worth it in non-summer weather is its own challenge.

gription wrote: I 'm with the guy that climbs 3 days a week. I actually only climb two usually but do grab a third day once in a while. I climbed before I was married. I don't ask, thats for children, I inform, and do my best to manage my time. If my wife can't handle me having a hobby then my wife can go find a new husband.

Climbing friend,

agreed, you must not marry a woman that will cockblock your life's passion. Also, do not have a family. And you must be more manly than to be in position to meekly ask to go climbing and have your wife laugh in your face.

The majority of climbers within fifty miles of New York City have solved all those problems -- except the one about money.

The "new majority" climbs only indoors. Fits great with children, small equipment storage footprint, short driving time, waiting around for your partner to build a Trad anchor. Talking with them, it seems like they're rather happy with their climbing experiences and measurable progress.

Now with good indoor bouldering (and auto-belays!), no need to even coordinate schedules with a belay partner.

I could name a guy who used to do First Ascents of outdoor 5.13 routes, but now he climbs only indoors, multiple times a week.

Ken

P.S. Myself I have little interest in indoor climbing. Instead I do lots of indoor training exercises, to fix weaknesses for my outdoor climbing.

Steven Groetken wrote:Here's a great thought, don't have kids. There's over 7 billion people on Earth, the pool is already overflowing.

Babies are one of the most serious STDs one can contract. It often takes 18-26 years for the infection to clear, even longer.

As for the original poster, people with all sorts of different incomes, schedules, and obligations make climbing work or not work for them. If it's not for you, that's ok. You can just put your rock shoes in the back of the closet behind your drumset, roadbike, and dignity, and take up something easier like lawn darts or flatrocking.

Then, when you are a washed up has-been/never-was you can set up TRs on Gunks 5.4s and spray about how you are "getting back into it." Win!

Aleks Zebastian wrote: Climbing friend, agreed, you must not marry a woman that will cockblock your life's passion. Also, do not have a family. And you must be more manly than to be in position to meekly ask to go climbing and have your wife laugh in your face.

Climbing friend Aleks,
I now believe I am not manly enough because I treat my wife with respect and ask if she is ok with me doing things instead of spending time helping raise our child. Shall I eat fish heads and inform her that we are making of the love? I also have problems with flashing too quickly. Will the fish heads also help with that?

About 60% of my regular climbing partners petered out after 20-30 years. Luckily, MP solved most of that deficiency.

Pnelson and stevegroeken are huge d*uches. But im sure they've been told that for many many years

jamesldavis1 wrote:Pnelson and stevegroeken are huge d*uches. But im sure they've been told that for many many years

WOO! THATS ME!

Climbing has taken all sorts of twists and turns over the 22 years I've been dangling my way up stones, large and small. It's all about the perspective--or lense--you choose to view climbing through, as well as commitment level. I am married, have two great little boys whom I don't consider STDs (thanks, Paul, that made me laugh!), and I work full-time, yet I climb regularly (and not just in a gym). My advice--think long and hard about the life you want to live prior to committing to a partner, kids, and work, and assess whether or not those things will enhance or hinder meeting whatever goals you have set for yourself.

Believe me, all of the aforementioned things can actually stoke the fire and make you a better, more focused, climber.

jamesldavis1 wrote:Pnelson and stevegroeken are huge d*uches. But im sure they've been told that for many many years

I'm a d*uche! I'm happy about that, although I have no clue what that is. Is it something that you pass on the left hand side?