I have to admit that usually when I go to my local climbing wall, I am often found in the bouldering wall, hopefully not strutting too manfully about pull down on holds, gurning and power screaming. If you observe this behaviour from a distance and I have on many occasions, then it is like some form of homo-erotica, with loads of men stood about tops off , catching each other in some big fat gay fest. In fact I have seen less overtly gay behaviour in gay bars.
This is probably due to the sheer amount of testosterone that is in the air, no wonder so many women climbers grow moustaches, they must absorb too much of the stuff simply breathing in an indoor wall. At times it gets pretty primal, with showdowns of power and supremacy on this tilted plastic rutting ground, as all the wanna be alpha males go head to head to see who’s going to be the silver back.
I have to admit to actually liking climbing walls for this, the narcissist in me likes to play up to the crowds, and seeing that this year I had done most of my climbing inside, meant that I was holding my own, against the fitter, faster and lets face it, younger generation; It did my ego no end of good. However, as the inevitable happen, a move to far, a tearing pain in my finger, i was instantly sidelined from the manly pursuit of supremacy to one of a more sedentary nature.
As such i went up the wall with a large group of friends who I am more likely to go for a leisurely cycle with or even more likely to go and drink, as heavily as a lightweight can do, when there are professional about. Going on a Friday night meant that the wall was quiet, and largely full on people with similar social life’s to my own, where it’s either the wall or the TV, and strictly come dancing can always be Sky+’d.
What was great about this climbing session was the lack of testosterone fuelled homo-eroticism that I usually find I become sucked into whenever I go to a climbing wall. Instead there was lots of standing around, mixing up belayers, chatting, laughing and generally having a nice time rather than a hard time! Not once did I get pumped, not once did I pull on a hold smaller than a massive jug and not once did my injured finger hurt.
It made me remember that for me its not so much the climbing, but who your climbing with. I am lucky to have the climbing buddies I do, I am often criticised for not climbing with other people in North Wales, but I just really appreciate and enjoy the company of the few people I spend my time with, whatever we are climbing.