Drinking and Climbing

[specialed]

I just wanted to express my dismay at the fact that climbing gyms prohibit alcohol consumption on their premises. I go to the gym after work and it would be nice to have a few beers while I boulder. I pay the cash for the membership! I know most people who work at the gym are uptight sportos and might look down their noses at drinking and climbing, unless you're drinking wheatgrass juice. But a nice swig of almost-cold Pabst before you send - can't beat it. Here's to Practice Rock where drinking and smoking are alright with the kids.

[willstrickland]

It's just liability concerns, and considering the litigous(sp?) society we live in, can't say I blame them. I think the Club Sport, here in PDX actually has a cafe inside that serves beer, I could be mistaken.

That doesn't stop us from getting straight faded before the training session though....

[erik]

i hear you ed, pbr makes those hard sport routes seem like another day at the bar.......well maybe the sport routes wene't hard but the pbr tasted good.....well maybe the pbr didnt taste good, but it was cold....well i guess they werent cold either....least we were enjoying pristine scenery....damn there i go again nothing pritine about it....

i like to drink

[AlpineK]

They had a party when the new VW opened. CrazyJZ and I did some drinkin and climbing then. Pretty dam fun.

BTW every time you take a fall there your trusting CJZ's anchors.

[Lambone]

Duct Tape + nalgene = But you didn't hear it from me.

You can probably get away with drinking at the UW rock, if the campus police arn't to stict about it.

[David Yount]

There have been plenty of times in Seattle's Vertical World where mass quantities (keg) of malted beverage were served and climbing ensued. Er.... maybe not serious climbing.... more like games..... er.... more like stupid human tricks, make that stupid climber tricks.

A few years back at a climbing comp there remained a mostly full keg 'cuz most of the competitors were sorely underage.... So after they were driven home by mommy and daddy the remaining adults (that term is not used to connote wisdom nor maturity) began some serious work. Then all the fun ensued.

VW employee who shall remain nameless but worked for Feathered Friends directly after VW instigated all manner of enebriated competitions.

One comp involved asking for much slack after reaching ceiling. The belay weighed less than 115lbs and was not secured. The goal was to jump from the top, free fall through the slack, pull hard on belay and hoist him skyward, and eventually you stop moving. This particular comp was judged over after I jumped and met gravel with a solid WHUMP! I won?

The next comp involved a big free fall, then sudden arc, and at the lowest point (determined by your requested slack) now try to grab roll of duct tape off prone volunteers chest while zooming on Maritime Pacific's finest malts.

[mikeadam]

I'm really more into fire than beer that's why I climb at Stoner Gardens when I'm in the burbs

[CleeshterFeeshter]

Dennis Hopper to Kyle McLaughlin (in Blue Velvet)

What Kind of Beer do you drink son?Kyle: Heinekin!

Hopper: Fuck That Shit!!! PBR!

Drunken Climbers and Hopper's character - I now see the connection

[TERRAPIN]

I find that one or two beers helps me to relax and focus on the absolute present while climbing. More than that, and I've lost that minute balance that is important to climbers

[specialed]

Unfortunately, drinking probably doesn't improve my climbing. It makes bouldering sessions more enjoyable though. And climbing makes me thirsty

[allthumbs]

I'm always too drunk to climb anything other than broom hilda.