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tallmark515
Nov 29, 2006, 6:34 AM
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herbaltee
Nov 29, 2006, 6:39 AM
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I try not to. I generally feel that my hands get sweaty because I'm not breathing and generally scared.
So I rather try to calm down, think and breathe slowly.
But if its really hot I'll generally chalk before I go and thats it...
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overlord
Nov 29, 2006, 8:12 AM
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i do. i drys the skin, plus there are the psychological advantages
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bill413
Nov 29, 2006, 12:52 PM
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Personally, I prefer Red Bull - it doesn't leave my throat feeling so scratchy.
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jammer
Nov 29, 2006, 2:24 PM
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I only use chalk if the rock is wet. Other then that, it's like a security blanket and nothing more.
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j_ung
Nov 29, 2006, 2:33 PM
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And your point is?
EDIT: Hey, how you feeling?
(This post was edited by j_ung on Nov 29, 2006, 2:34 PM)
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jammer
Nov 29, 2006, 2:41 PM
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Point is that there are a lot of Linus's out there ...
Feeling great! Cleaning the dust out off the cams and ready for climbing!
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microbarn
Nov 29, 2006, 2:50 PM
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I agree with you. I don't use chalk much. I always have it hanging there, but I try to only chalk up when I have already failed and feel it was the reason. You would be surprised what you can do without it sometimes.
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coastal_climber
Nov 29, 2006, 3:41 PM
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I use chalk.
Why?: Because on longer routes my hands tend to get sweaty so I need it.
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ranther
Nov 29, 2006, 3:46 PM
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I am lucky not to get sweaty hands and never really chalked up as a matter of habit.
In fact I often forgot that I have it strapped on - not using it the entire session. I once end up walking around the grocery store after climbing with it still on.
I don't bother with the chalk bag any more and don't miss it. I don't think my climbing has suffered without chalk. However I do appreciate the chalk beta previous climbers have left for my onsite attempt.
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baja_java
Nov 29, 2006, 4:32 PM
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no chalk. none. because i'd rather fail without chalk than to FAIL AS A HUMAN BEING!!
yeah, that's right. you heard me. most people don't really give a rat's ass about the rock anyway. but of course no one likes the idea of seeing themselves that way. i mean, god forbid you're a bad person. considering how easy it is to stop or at least curtail use, and yet most don't, but just keep on chalking even when it's just a mindless compulsion, think that says plenty clear about the toughness of mind that climbing supposedly brings out of you, strength of character and all that bloated crap. yeah, whatever
and because it leaves a mess on the rock. you'd have to be blind to not see that, that or in full blown denial, or like said, that you don't really care
and because you don't really need it
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tilt
Nov 29, 2006, 5:07 PM
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I use it. Living in Washington, it's essential most of the time. I only leave the chalkbag home when I'm headed to the gym...
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notch
Nov 29, 2006, 5:19 PM
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coastal_climber wrote: I use chalk. Why?: Because on longer routes my hands tend to get sweaty so I need it.
I use it sparingly in the summer, and leave it at home starting in September.
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dbrayack
Nov 29, 2006, 5:51 PM
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I'm a chalk whore...I'm up to like 1 block a week.
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erin
Nov 29, 2006, 6:00 PM
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One a week, come on, I'm up to 1 a day.
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angry
Nov 29, 2006, 6:10 PM
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baja_java wrote: no chalk. none. because i'd rather fail without chalk than to FAIL AS A HUMAN BEING!! yeah, that's right. you heard me. most people don't really give a rat's ass about the rock anyway. but of course no one likes the idea of seeing themselves that way. i mean, god forbid you're a bad person. considering how easy it is to stop or at least curtail use, and yet most don't, but just keep on chalking even when it's just a mindless compulsion, think that says plenty clear about the toughness of mind that climbing supposedly brings out of you, strength of character and all that bloated crap. yeah, whatever and because it leaves a mess on the rock. you'd have to be blind to not see that, that or in full blown denial, or like said, that you don't really care and because you don't really need it
Quoted to make you all read it again. Baja is right.
It's not that much of a task to ween yourself off of chalk, spend 2 months with an empty chalk bag, then leave it at home.
I do have a Metolius Eco-Ball in case I need chalk. I bought it in August. My hand has been in it about 3 times, each out of curiosity, not need.
I was teaching my little brother how to crack climb over thanksgiving. We talked about everything, chalk, women, bolts, GWB, everything.
On the chalk issue I pointed out that I could take a jackhammer and carve "Fuck off Bitches" into the side of a cliff. The environmental impact would be negligent. The amount of rock missing would be miniscule compared to what gets taken out daily by construction, there would be no added pollution, not a single lizard or bird would be bothered.
He didn't use chalk that weekend, neither did I. Neither did my other friends. No-one in the group fell because of sweaty hands and we all enjoyed our time on the rock and the respect we each had for it.
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dbrayack
Nov 29, 2006, 6:19 PM
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that what I like to hear!
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caughtinside
Nov 29, 2006, 6:56 PM
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I go through about a block a route. I turned a poop tube into a chalkbag, so i can chalk up to my elbows. I need them to stay dry for all my chickenwinging. I also spit on my knees and coat them with chalk if I'm going to have to kneebar.
I love chalk. I am always looking for new and better ways to cheat.
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rock_junkie
Nov 29, 2006, 7:02 PM
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I went my first few years climbing in Oregon without chalk. Only using it when it was humid (ie climbing in the NE) or really hot (Smith in the summer). But as I got on harder and harder routes with few positive holds and a ton more pinches, slaps, and slopers I found it too hard go with out it. I still dont bring a chalk bag with me on routes, but I do chalk up before hard RPs and Onsights. However, I almost never use for hard trad. Bare in mind I am one of those people who dont sweat all that much.
I dont take offense to those people who chalk like crazy and could care less if the rock is marked with chalk. Tick marks on the other hand I hate. If you have to have your ticks on a route for an extended period of time your most likely on a route that is way too hard for you.
I just recently got on Chain Reaction, I hadn't climbed it for a few months. There was a tick on the 1.5 ft jug after the lunge. Just trying to imagine the dumbass who cant find that.
Anyhow, chalk is great in moderation (for me at least)
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dbrayack
Nov 29, 2006, 7:06 PM
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I tick holds all the time, but you know, its a lot differenet here. Most of the chalk at the New River Gorge in WV is washed off every time it rains. Cliffs are predominantly slabby to slightly overhung, all subject to rain fall.
Using libertarious amounts of chalk is not a problem here...it'll be gone in a couple weeks!
I can understand you dislike for excessive chalk in arrid enviroments, but here, it tends to be humid, and if you don't chalk, you aren't going to stick to micro edges.
Thanks for the Headsup perspective, I never new so little people used chalk out west...well at least not as much as me.
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krusher4
Nov 29, 2006, 7:13 PM
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I use it all the time, whether its 95 degrees oot or 35, it's always there and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
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baja_java
Nov 29, 2006, 8:35 PM
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i have nothing but disdain for the likes of you
really, if you think about it, it's not all that different from pulling out a butcher knife and slaughter little kittens by the litters. a litter a day. or a litter an hour. or multiple litters stuffed into a tube by the hour. and splatter blood and whiskers all over the walls! YEAH IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THAT!!
quite frankly, i don't know how you people can sleep at night
signed,
Ethically Too Strong
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snoangel
Nov 29, 2006, 8:44 PM
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I use chalk.
I also drive a fuel efficient vehicle, use canvas bags when grocery shopping, don't smoke and buy organic as often as possible.
If using chalk defines me as anti-environmental, then I must not know myself very well.  [:roll:]
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snoangel
Nov 29, 2006, 8:45 PM
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baja_java wrote: i have nothing but disdain for the likes of you really, if you think about it, it's not all that different from pulling out a butcher knife and slaughter little kittens by the litters. a litter a day. or a litter an hour. or multiple litters stuffed into a tube by the hour. and splatter blood and whiskers all over the walls! YEAH IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THAT!! quite frankly, i don't know how you people can sleep at night signed, Ethically Too Strong
You know, that's not a half bad idea. Afterall, there are way too many kittens in this world. 
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lena_chita
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Nov 29, 2006, 9:00 PM
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Wow, I didn't realize there were such strong feelings attached to chalk!
I have a chalkbag and a ball of chalk in it. I think the ball is about an year old? I dutifully tie it on everytime I climb, and I never reach into it to chalk up. It just feels good to know that it is there in case I need it, but somehow I never do. I used to use chalk more when I first started climbing, but it seemed more psychological need than physiological - you know, when you fall on a top-rope, and have to make it sound like it was only b/c your hands weren't chalked up, so now you are going to re-chalk and all of a sudden you are going to nail that SOB... The better I climbed, the less I fell, so the less I needed that chalk crutch :)
And whoever said that you need chalk when the rock is wet, seems to have experience directly opposite of mine. If anything, touching the holds on wet rock that have been chalked up feels so SLIMEY! Ewww. Somehow to me it seems that adding more to the slime is the last thing I need. I always end up wiping my hands off on my pants if the rock is wet.
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