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rock_junkie
Nov 29, 2006, 9:10 PM
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I guess the matter of chalk being unsightly is a matter of preference. Some may view it to be ugly and hurt the potential of true onsights. While others may feel that it is beneficial and dont mind seeing its use in moderation. I will extrapolate this argument. Say certain individuals find land dumps to be unsightly and dangerous to the environment. While others feel that their use is of absolute necessity regardless of its consequences. Almost all climbers contribute to the proliferation of chalk (climbing on existing routes whether you use chalk or not, moves it from the bottom to the top (unless your cleaning the route)) The same can be said for everyone's contribution to land fills, regardless of how much you recycle, additions to them can be made indirectly.
BTW people out west use chalk just as much as those in other areas. However, I've yet to see in any directives to limit its use or switch to colored chalk.
Dam i wish it wasn't so cold and rainy here right now!
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g_spot
Nov 29, 2006, 9:11 PM
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Yes, I use a lot of chalk. Just like 98% of the climbers in the world. It drys my hands. Why wouldn't I? If it is a sensitive area or there are access issues because of chalk use. I have found an alternative that has seriously kicked ass. Tite Grip. When I use it, I chalk less and my hands stay dry indoor & out. I started experimenting with it for comps. and when the Forest Service regulated chalk use at the Skeleton & Hidden Forest caves. It hardly shows on your hands and leaves no mark on the rock. Plus, I hold an Ice Pack in between attempts.
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g_spot
Nov 29, 2006, 9:21 PM
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heh heh, classic. 
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skinnyclimber
Nov 29, 2006, 9:49 PM
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I use chalk. I use it a lot of the time. When I'm feeling anti-chalk, I tie a rag to the back of my harness and dry my hands off on that. works just about as well as chalk and leaves you on the chalk-debate-moral-highground.
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caughtinside
Nov 29, 2006, 9:55 PM
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the 'chalk debate' is not a moral issue, despite what some people want you to think.
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ihategrigris
Nov 29, 2006, 10:07 PM
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If it's a cold day, I won't use is. If it's a hot day I'll probably use it. Also, chalk is an important part of my pre-climb ritual. I like to get my whole hand chalked, and rub them hard to remove all the excess dust. Maybe slap my hands a few times. Then, I'll climb and unless I fall, or take a rest I won't chalk again.
Also, occasionally I like to cover my entire body with chalk and pretend I'm a dusty, white ghost.... but that usually uses waaay too much chalk.
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yokese
Nov 29, 2006, 10:44 PM
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again?... oh boy.
(This post was edited by yokese on Nov 29, 2006, 10:46 PM)
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tallmark515
Nov 29, 2006, 10:52 PM
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ryanb
Nov 29, 2006, 11:56 PM
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If you don't use chalk on cold days where the hell do you carry your chemical hand warmers?
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GunksMonkey
Nov 30, 2006, 1:35 AM
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It depends on where I am climbing.
When I climb in a more humid area ie New York I tend to bring chalk along with me and use it.
However when I was bouldering in Prescott Az I had my bag with me but it was so dry that I didn't need it. Also for some reasion the rock out there seemed a little more pourous than the rock in Upstate NY.
So If you need it use it if you don't then don't
Edited to add:
I rember reading that chalk left over on climbs can actually be a detriment to the next persons ability to climb up which is why the man who penned the book "Downward Bound" suggests bringing an old toothbrush with you when you climb.
(This post was edited by GunksMonkey on Nov 30, 2006, 1:45 AM)
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vegastradguy
Nov 30, 2006, 2:36 AM
Post #36 of 61
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almost 2 years without chalk now....i've onsighted my toughest climbs without it- i dont even really notice that i dont have it.
what i do notice, though, is that every time i go to one of RR's more popular sport cliffs- all the holds are pre-chalked and i come down with white hands and a bunch of chalk on my pants from me trying to wipe the stuff off!
personal opinion- if you dont actually have hands that sweat profusely, leave the chalk on the ground. if you do, use it, but use it sparingly.
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jomps
Nov 30, 2006, 3:40 AM
Post #37 of 61
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i havent been climbing too long but im getting stronger each time out. ive noticed that with my hands are perspiring all the time. they are even a little moist right now. i went through my first sock of chalk and thought it was alright but i never liked the unsightlyness of the aftermark, but then i found the eco chalk. it drys my hands just like some chalk but barely leaves a trace on your hands and none on the wall. eco chalk is a must for me and the only drying agent i use.
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tshimkus
Nov 30, 2006, 9:09 PM
Post #38 of 61
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I used gray rock chalk for about a year. It was only slightly less unsightly than white chalk on the Sierra granite. The problem is that this chalk comes in 4 or 5 colors but they rarely blend in with the rock perfectly. When I climbed on basalt or anything other than granite the chalk looked even more alien than the classic white stuff.
I have since moved on to the eco ball. I will never use regular chalk again. Not is it only more effective in keeping your hands dry, but leaves no evidence on the rock. If everybody used this stuff the whole ethical debate of using chalk on rocks would dissapear completely.
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tallmark515
Dec 1, 2006, 12:12 AM
Post #39 of 61
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heh... eco ball.
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camhead
Dec 1, 2006, 12:23 AM
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I've stopped using chalk in the southern Utah desert, but only for totally selfish reasons: the landscape is beautiful, I feel a sense of propriety over it, and I don't want to make the walls uglier, which chalk does.
I still use chalk for sport climbing, and some bouldering, especially on limestone.
oh, and can I just take a minute and bitch about people who are ticking desert cracks?
idiots.
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gochubug
Dec 2, 2006, 3:14 AM
Post #41 of 61
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Ladybug is a chalk-a-holic. Addicted to the stuff. 
As for me, I seldom use it.
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curt
Dec 2, 2006, 4:37 AM
Post #42 of 61
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There's nothing wrong with not using chalk--unless you like to climb harder things.
Curt
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jt512
Dec 2, 2006, 5:22 AM
Post #43 of 61
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n00b?
No n00b?
Guess what forum this topic should have been posted in?
Jay
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angry
Dec 2, 2006, 6:27 PM
Post #45 of 61
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curt wrote: There's nothing wrong with not using chalk--unless you like to climb harder things. Curt
Spray alert!!!
I've climbed all of the hardest routes I've done without chalk, and will climb even harder in the future, still with no chalk.
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fancyclaps
Dec 2, 2006, 7:06 PM
Post #46 of 61
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The only thing I chalk up is my crotch. See I do every route(even slab) as a succession of one handed dynos, so I need to tick mark my crotch so everyone knows where that awesome power is coming from.
Once I got chalk on my hands, I didn't bring any water because people usually offer me water, seeing as how I am such a badass, and I had to spent like 5 or 10 minutes to find someone who would let me use their water to wash my hands off. Probably my worst climbing day ever.
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cam
Dec 2, 2006, 7:27 PM
Post #47 of 61
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I remember a few years ago when this very topic was raised that I started paying attention to how many people climbed with chalk. Mainly because so many posters claimed that they didn't need it, it was useless, its just psychological etc.
I 've observed scads of chalk users dipping in the pouch over the years since I started paying any mind to it, but not once have I ever seen or met someone that doesn't use chalk.
It's so interesting because so many people poo-poo chalk online but where are they? Are they in Ontario? BC? Not that I can tell. Are they in Kentucky? West Virginia? New hampshire? Southern Ill? Nope, haven't seen any. What about Thailand, Japan, Mexico? Nope. Nope. And nope. So where the hell are all these chalk free folks hiding?
I'm calling bullshit.
Flame on, bullshiters.
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curt
Dec 2, 2006, 11:19 PM
Post #48 of 61
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angry wrote: curt wrote: There's nothing wrong with not using chalk--unless you like to climb harder things. Curt Spray alert!!! I've climbed all of the hardest routes I've done without chalk, and will climb even harder in the future, still with no chalk.
Well, more power to you. I've certainly never seen anyone climb anything very hard without chalk, though.
Curt
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nightlion
Dec 3, 2006, 2:10 AM
Post #49 of 61
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My hands sweat when its 20 degrees out and I'm just walking down the street. I've tried going without chalk but after a minute or two my hands are so wet that I have a hard time holding on to the biggest jugs. So, for me, chalk it is.
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stevej
Dec 3, 2006, 3:16 AM
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cam wrote: I remember a few years ago when this very topic was raised that I started paying attention to how many people climbed with chalk. Mainly because so many posters claimed that they didn't need it, it was useless, its just psychological etc. I 've observed scads of chalk users dipping in the pouch over the years since I started paying any mind to it, but not once have I ever seen or met someone that doesn't use chalk. It's so interesting because so many people poo-poo chalk online but where are they? Are they in Ontario? BC? Not that I can tell. Are they in Kentucky? West Virginia? New hampshire? Southern Ill? Nope, haven't seen any. What about Thailand, Japan, Mexico? Nope. Nope. And nope. So where the hell are all these chalk free folks hiding? I'm calling bullshit. Flame on, bullshiters.
You've hit the nail on the head. I am not buying these anti chalk diatribes for one second either. But remember, these "climbers" mostly just sit in front of their computers and type about climbing rather than actually climb, so that doesn't really require chalk.
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