What's the appeal?

[oldsarge]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

No picture in the world can capture the experience of any view or activity

Or the increase in the "pucker factor"!

[ppine]

Climbing is a lot like any other extreme sport as far as the mental part goes. It is exciting and some people really need that. I have friends that are sky divers, speed skiers, extreme kayakers, etc. They all realize they can get really hurt or dead. Some of their friends have.

Having some climbing skills can really make adventerous travel safer and less scary. It is good to spend some time with skilled climbers to increase your own margin of safety and reduce the fear of some situations. I loved Ghostdog's story about chimney climbing over a rattlesnake. Never stop working on your skills and make the scary seem routine.

[JimBob]

Some people live for risk and it is their hobby to do things like rock climbing where there are different variables in whether they get hurt or get to go back for more. I personally have done the fake rock wall climbing thing and that's as far as I'll go because I'm just not a thrill seeker.