Did you know that keeping your area clean can actually help you with sending hard? Climbers often get a bad rep for not being the tidiest athletes, but if you follow a few simple tips it can actually improve your organization and focus in the long run. Here are a few ways you can do just that.
1- Place all your gear and trash together
When arriving at an area, it can be tempting to dump all your gear wherever it’s convenient. Don’t do this! Instead, pick a spot away from any sensitive vegetation where your whole group can place down gear and keep it there. Instead of tripping all over bags and water bottles strewn around the area, you can have a clear space to work out the intricacies of your project and prepare for what you really came to do. And plus, gone are the worries of looking around for your shoes, chalk, or other essential items; they’re all right there in one neat pile. In addition, you should keep all your trash together in the same pile so you can throw it away once you’re in a place to do so. No one wants to see finger tape and food wrappers under their favorite boulder.
2- Keep distractions to a minimum
Sometimes at the crag you’ll run into pets or loud music, and if you’ve seen it before, you know how detrimental it can be to not only your focus, but your safety. Unleashed pets can easily distract belayers or spotters at inopportune moments, creating a major hazard for the climber. You should always make sure to keep your pets on a leash, or better yet, consider leaving them at home if you have the opportunity to. Loud music can similarly get in the way of crucial vocal commands between belayers and climbers, where clear communication is critical. Keep the volume of your music at a minimum, or better yet, take some time to enjoy the sounds of nature. Allowing the climber to focus and have minimal distractions is a surefire way to improve not only their safety, but their ability to try hard.
3- Have a bathroom plan
If there’s anything worse than stepping on other people’s gear at the crag, it’s definitely stepping on other people’s waste. Make sure you have a bathroom plan for the crag; sometimes it’s as simple as using the provided facilities. In less developed areas, make sure to carry a WAG bag with you in case of emergencies, which will allow you to transport your waste out of the crag. With the amount of people going to different crags nowadays, catholes don’t always cut it. This one should be self-explanatory; sending hard is a lot more difficult when you’ve got poop on your shoes.
4- Keep groups small and compact
You can’t always avoid traveling with a big group, but sometimes smaller groups just make more sense. With less people, you can focus on putting more burns in on your project, and everyone gets more chances to have a good time. When your group is together, make sure not to leave topropes hung on routes you’re not actively climbing, as this can leave you without a rope for the ones you are.
In summary, anything that lets you and your group focus on the task at hand is a good reason to follow through with it, and keeping the area around you clean and free of garbage is a good way to do that. While giving back to nature is often a selfless action, hopefully these reasons can help you see how it benefits you as well.
Author: Paul Zachos