4.

Not the Wild Wild West It’s not uncommon to hear some “old-school” climber mumble, “back in my day, there were no lineups and we climbed all these routes with one piton and hemp rope.” Fair enough, climbing has changed and with it so have the rules, ethics and styles climbers live by. While some new climbers hope to re-live that old-school, off-the-beaten-path, don’tpay-for-services lifestyle, just remember climbing is no longer the Wild Wild West. There are now access groups that oversee popular areas in North America with dedicated climbers who maintain cleanliness and update bolts and anchors. Crags can be busy these days, have a plan-B if you don’t like crowds. Respect crags and camping areas and donate to access funds wherever you can. Bad behaviour can affect access for everyone so it’s best to play by the rules.