It’s nearing 11 p.m. on a Thursday. I’m squeezed onto a couch with 3 other people, sipping PBR and watching Dosage 5. My eyes are getting heavy; I should be going home soon. Hell, I should already be in bed — I have work at 7 a.m. Around me are 10 of my fellow climbers, whose average age might be 22, their eyes glued to the TV as they watch kids their own age dispatch V-double digit problems with ease. Their excitement is obvious and genuine. These cohorts are in it for the long haul, all of them…
I think back to a few years ago when many of the “crew” here on Climbing House actually lived together at the Climber’s House. They were tight-knit but certainly not elitest…they just had a lot of fun together. I was glad to be part of that scene, albeit mostly on the fringe as married life and work relegated my participation to an occassional weekend party or road-trip. Graduation and life beyond school brought an end to the Climber’s House. The group dispersed (most to other states) and the house became a memory.
Even though I still had plenty of roadtrip partners and people to climb with at the wall. I couldn’t shake the feeling something was missing. Where was the dynamic, the core of fun loving, hard climbing fanatics to give us center? I certainly didn’t need it but there’s no denying the importance of “community” within our game. I think it’s that way for a multitude of sports, hobbies, and lifestyles.
This school year has shown a resurgence in our group. We’ve got a dedicated group with interests in sport, bouldering, trad, slacklining, biking, beer drinking and general fun…plus they all get along. This summer and fall have already spawned some great adventures with more to come.
…11:15, definitely time to get home. I stand up to leave, say my goodbyes and make a few plans for climbing in the upcoming week. They’re all good people in this room. I can see that the climbing house lives on.
Here’s a few pics from our little community at Penitente two weeks ago.
1. Al on Dazed and Confused (5.12a)
2. Stephen on No Intent (5.12a)
3. Steph on Not My Cross to Bear (5.11a/b)
Damn this site's jpeg compression!
Doug,
Thanks for the article and pictures. Yeah, the embedded flicker images look great, even if they are more work.
It's nice to hear the UNL community is still going strong. I recall the feeling my last year in school, when many of our friends had already left. It was hard, but it drew the rest of us closer together- and for that I'm thankful.
Without puffing you and Jon up too much, I'd like to thank you "pillars" for teaching the new guys, and helping to maintain the UNL climbing community.
Talk to you soon,
Eli