Snot Rockets, Yellow Snow and Comp Season
It’s wintertime and snot rockets are cool. Whether you’re at the base of an ice climb or you’re about to shake off the cold and step into a climbing gym, it’s OK to let it f ly. Every autumn, when I unpack my jackets, I find hardened snot stains plastered along the sleeves from the previous winter. It’s a reminder of the brutal temperatures that make us to do crazy things like go ice climbing or spend eight hours at the climbing gym. My best snot rockets are always 30 metres up an ice pillar. With a snotty upper lip, I’m sure to aim away from my belayer, but no one can control the spray. Don’t be shy, it feels great to blow your nose with nothing to blow into. Just be sure you have a glove or sleeve to wipe the drips from your nostrils.
Yellow snow, on the other hand, is not cool. Especially at the base of an ice climb. Sometimes it’s impossible to hold it in, but put in the extra effort and post-hole away from the trail or climb. With so many more ice climbers, things get messy fast. I have climbed at popular winter crags in the Rockies and had to hop between yellow patches. There’s nothing worse than pulling your rope and having it whip onto yellow snow. And, yes, climbers are used to dirty things. In Chamonix, piles of poop can be found at the base of popular routes and on El Cap, fresh pee often glistens down the first pitches of The Nose. As Canadians, let’s lead by example. By working together, we can turn yellow belay stances back to snowy white.
The popularity of competition climbing in Canada is on the rise. With record turnouts to provincial competitions, it’s no wonder many comps are now live streamed. One of my favourite things to do on a cold winter night is tune into a live comp. If you never have, then make a point of it this season. Whether it’s a national comp in Canada or the U.S., it is worth your time. You get to watch young and old climbers pushing themselves on the latest styles of hard indoor routes.
From big volume compression problems to technical feature climbing, route setters are taking climbing to the next level. Some will say that the problems are more ninja warrior than rock climbing, but who cares. The athletes are some of the strongest rock climbers in the world and watching them being pushed to the limit on any style of route is motivating. So give your Netf lix a rest this winter and tune in to support Canadian comp climbing. Have a fun and safe winter solstice, holiday season and Happy New Year from all of us at