why people love to climb

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I am writing a research paper on why people love to climb. What really drives them to the edge to reach their final goal. Myself, I am scared to death of hights but I love to climb. I would love it if you could e-mail me on your thought on why you like to climb, or why your friends like to climb. Or mabye why they dont like to climb. Thanks -TJ Langer

-- TJ Langer (tjlanger@thacher.org), March 24, 1998

Answers

Response to climbers

I love to climb and am pretty new at it. I think climbing is a great stress reliever and I love to be outdoors. Climbing of all kinds is a challenge for me and I love to reach my personal goals. I like learning about different kinds of climbing, gear, and places to go. I guess what drives me to climb is the unknown and to see what I am truely capible off. Plus, I have a great time and have a wonderful climbing partner...my boyfriend:) Good luck on your paper. Write me if youhave any information on the black hills or S.D. Julie

-- Julie Johnson (johnsonju@post.uwstout.edu), March 24, 1998.

Response to climbers

I love to climb since about 18 years. During this time I noticed, that the reasons why I loved to climb changes. In fact, climbing is a wonderfull sport but it is also more than sport - it is a philosophy of life. Some reasons for me in detail: I love it to be outdoor, I love it to be travelling, I love it to have all time new challenges and I love it to do our sport together with good friends. I'm from Germany so my english is maybe not good enough to describe my feeling - hope you can understand what I want to say. good luck for your work Guenther

-- Guenther Rieth (rieth@ruhpb.physik.uni-freiburg.de), April 24, 1998.

Response to climbers

There are a million different answers to this one. Let me just say why I like to climb. Climbing seems to hold an endless spectrum of challenges, no matter how good you are, there is ALWAYS something else to challenge yourself on. There are many types of climbing, from bouldering to himalayan peaks, each with it's own unique rewards. I like climbing for the sense of reward you get from accomplishing a goal. It may be small or large, but when a goal is reached, any amount of effort exerted in attainment of that goal, seems to be reciprocated greatly by the act of success. I personally have always loved high places, airy perches that took some kind of effort to achieve. The reward for me, at least, is a few introspective moments in those places, knowing that not just anyone could have walked up there for the same view. Climbing also helps me to put the rest of my life in perspective. Bills, relationships, school etc all seem to just be a little less of a hassle after a day of climbing. Climbing is freedom. The ability to express yourself in a variety ways, if you choose. Also, the most important part is being outside, in the mystery that is this world. Natural formations intrique me, and I find a very calming sense of beauty in the natural landscape. So basically, everyone climbs for different reasons. Some to be good climbers, some to say they are a climber, and some to just enjoy everything that comes with climbing. I am not sure if that helps, but the old term "I climb because it is there" just doesn't seem to cut it with me anymore. Although when I was young that term seem ed to explain it all quite nicely.

-- Mike T. (mtea@ptc.com), May 04, 1998.

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