Try Climbing ‘Why Climb?’ Rock Climbing Survey

I'm not sure this fellow asks the question...

It’s an age old question: Why Climb?
Because it’s there?!

Try Climbing are carrying out some research through an online survey. If you climb and would like to take part it’s here.

Many thanks to all those guys who have taken part (and so far it is mostly ‘guys’!  with only 2% of responses being from females).  I have loved seeing the results coming in and thought I would share some of them here.  There will be a full report of the survey out in a few months, but for now here’s a summary of a couple of interesting points:

Climber’s pass it on!

96% of those surveyed have introduced someone else to climbing

Based on this, it looks like climbing spreads through climbers.  Mates take their mates climbing and it gets more & more popular!

So, if all of these climbers are introducing their mates to the sport, I wonder what their advice is??  The question I asked was ‘If you were to introduce someone else to climbing, what ONE piece of advice would you give them?’ (although if I had known it wouldn’t have said ‘if you were’!).  My favourite selection of these responses are below for you to enjoy:

” Buy shoes before harness.” (see this!)

“Use your feet.”

“Take your time… ie. don’t rush the grades, take the time to do things right (like anchors), stop and enjoy the views.”

And possibly my number 1.  I think it’s a great piece of advice:

“No matter how long you climb, keep a little bit of the fear.”