Gainesbuildering: Gainesville Buildering
Philosophy
I follow the 7 P's Philosophy:
Previous Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Previous Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Clean Climbing:
Although originally intended towards raising awareness to the damages in the natural environment caused by increased traffic in climbing areas and damage to the rock from piton driving, this philosophy is as relevant to climbing urban buildings as it is Half Dome in Yosemite. The idea is that although climbing is essentially getting from point A to Point B; as time, experience and equipment have evolved, so has climbing style. With new climbing equipment and as techniques have been honed down there is more to climbing than the simple Point A to B perspective. Style and technique have gone from drilling a bolt or piton every 6 ft. to using removable chocks and nuts unless absolutely necessary. The result is a more natural, challenging, and fun climbing experience.
The same applies for climbing buildings. In a sort of blessing and a curse way of looking at it, buildings include a certain realm where the "Law" comes into effect. Whereas your not going to be arrested for driving a piton or drilling a bolt into a granite mountain, the same cannot be assumed for probably 99.9% of the buildings here in Gainesville. But again, this only adds towards the challenge. Buildering is pretty simple. Have a friend or two to spot you and as long as what your trying to climb is sturdy enough, its hard to know you were there afterwards. If you need to use some kind of aid though, take a minute to think of the best method that leaves the smallest sign of use if necessary. Most things can be done with some kind of anchor consisting of a couple of slings and biners. I prefer to not use chalk unless its a place where rainfall will obviously wash it away sooner rather than later. However, the reality of buildings is that their design inherently leaves little possibility of chalk washing away easily. It's better not to use it at all. It's no surprise some people wouldn't be happy seeing white fingerprints along the side of a giant brick building.
Simply put, Leave No Trace! These buildings, like nature, were there before you started climbing them. Try your best to leave it looking like it did when you found it. Better for you (God forbid you climb something that gets you in trouble), better for the building, and just the right thing to do!
Although originally intended towards raising awareness to the damages in the natural environment caused by increased traffic in climbing areas and damage to the rock from piton driving, this philosophy is as relevant to climbing urban buildings as it is Half Dome in Yosemite. The idea is that although climbing is essentially getting from point A to Point B; as time, experience and equipment have evolved, so has climbing style. With new climbing equipment and as techniques have been honed down there is more to climbing than the simple Point A to B perspective. Style and technique have gone from drilling a bolt or piton every 6 ft. to using removable chocks and nuts unless absolutely necessary. The result is a more natural, challenging, and fun climbing experience.
The same applies for climbing buildings. In a sort of blessing and a curse way of looking at it, buildings include a certain realm where the "Law" comes into effect. Whereas your not going to be arrested for driving a piton or drilling a bolt into a granite mountain, the same cannot be assumed for probably 99.9% of the buildings here in Gainesville. But again, this only adds towards the challenge. Buildering is pretty simple. Have a friend or two to spot you and as long as what your trying to climb is sturdy enough, its hard to know you were there afterwards. If you need to use some kind of aid though, take a minute to think of the best method that leaves the smallest sign of use if necessary. Most things can be done with some kind of anchor consisting of a couple of slings and biners. I prefer to not use chalk unless its a place where rainfall will obviously wash it away sooner rather than later. However, the reality of buildings is that their design inherently leaves little possibility of chalk washing away easily. It's better not to use it at all. It's no surprise some people wouldn't be happy seeing white fingerprints along the side of a giant brick building.
Simply put, Leave No Trace! These buildings, like nature, were there before you started climbing them. Try your best to leave it looking like it did when you found it. Better for you (God forbid you climb something that gets you in trouble), better for the building, and just the right thing to do!
