More than climbing ability, climbing is about respect for the mtns & other climbers, fellowship, judgment, and leadership. For example,
if you want to show off to your friends, you'll probably be doing things you shouldn't be doing. Mountaineering is all about mature thinking and educated risk taking.
Now reply to Ryland- a very common problem with many inexperienced climbers is that they want the shortcut "how soon can I be climbing rainier?". And there's no shortage of somewhat experienced climbers willing to take them up while downplaying the danger "it's no big deal, anybody can climb rainier, there's even a trial to the top!".
We were all beginner at one time, I took a year-long climbing course and only go out with people with some type of training. Unfortunately in this "microwave/DSL" culture people just want the shortcut. There's definitly danger in climbing, but from what I know about the most recent three accidents they can all be avoided if they just used their heads!
[ 06-07-2002, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: jc_climber ]
