You like the GYM?!? Hahaha...gym rat. What's that you said...you're a boulderer? Then you're not really a climber. Oh, you do sport sometimes do ya'?Yeah well, sport is just like doing long boulder problems anyway. Wanna learn trad, huh? Whatever, trad's for the old and arthritic. Oh, come on... Ice? Who the hell climbs ice? It's for mountaineers with A.D.D. What do I think of alpinists? They're loaded. You what? Oh really? Soloed what? Never heard of it. Soloing isn't climbing anyway - it's just dumb. Talk about dumb, I saw some idiot trying to climb a building just down the street from here. Now THAT'S dumb. You don't think so? Of course you don't think so. You're a boulderer, gym rat, wannabe sportradicepinoloist, right? You're not really a climber..."

Gotta love the goddamn labels. They could easily take the word 'diversity' to a whole new level - the same one that segregation parks on. It's not uncommon to find out you're not a "real climber" just minutes after you thought you just climbed, especially if you boulder or sport climb. If you builder, forget it...you might as well be shot. And this inexpensive, dare I say cheap, labeling system doesn't discriminate against traddies, soloists, ice climbers or alpinists either. They hear their fair share. It's a funny little revolving door with the same people going round and round, some forgetting they're ultimately sharing the same space.

What constitutes being a "climber" anyway? Does it matter whether you choose to roll out with a partner or a crew? Whether you place cams or clip bolts? Harness up or lay the crash pad down? Whether you nail V12 easily or struggle on 5.7? Are you a climber because the stone garden of Yosemite is your backyard? What if the budding architecture of a big city is your only refuge? Does it matter whether you get out once a week (if your lucky) or three times a day? Is that guy, who spent 3 months on a mountain, 29,000 feet above sea level, any better than the dude who spent 3 years on a project, 12 feet above the sand...or vice-versa. Either way, we're not going to change the course of the world. We're ALL only going climbing.

Here's how I see it:

We're expressionists - masters in the artistry of life. We've been gifted with the ability to achieve satisfaction using the fluidity of movement. The world, limitless with creative possibilities, is our canvas. Our styles may vary, but just because some may choose ink over oil doesn't make them any less of an artist. Climb on rock, brick, plastic or steel... choose your medium and master it. It's nobody's right to tell you how to express yourself, or decide whether or not what you're creating is art.

A line is a line is a line. It connects point A to point B to point C and ultimately creates a picture. If you find yourself salivating over a "line" that nobody else can see, whether in Smith Rock, Boat Rock or outside the Hard Rock, chances are you're a climber... and that's the only label you need to wear.

See you out there,
Joe Iurato

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