Climbing Ethics - A Story About Two Very Selfish People

I will say my reasons for climbing are more centered around the community, the simplistic lifestyle and the motivation, encouragement and support that you feel from others. So with that said, I feel I must somewhere document to the public on a recent situation that occurred during the Fourth Annual Ice Pixies event in Valdez.

When we arrived in the parking lot of Keystone Canyon, there were already eight cars filled with ladies ready to get out and climb for the day. We looked across the canyon to see two climbers suiting up to take on Bridalveil. (For those of you unfamiliar with this area, in short there are two large climbs – Bridalveil and Greensteps , Bridalveil being the easier of the two, and more ideal for a large group of beginer climbers. ) After a long conversation with the climber guy, who claimed to be a climber and guide, he and his girlfriend (I’m assuming) refused to move. I won’t go into the details of the conversation; nonetheless, we were forced on to Greensteps.

I will say that the Ice Pixies is a very informal event and I will agree that the Ice Pixies did not own the ice that day. But I will say I could not believe the disrespect and consideration that this couple had for fellow climbers and an organized event. It was a very selfish act on their part. It was clearly a situation that had alternatives and options; clearly a situation that had resolution. Really, Valdez houses 100’s and 100’s of amazing climbs, I find it extremely difficult to understand how this couple could be so greedy and unwilling to share the day with others.

I guess in the end it all worked out. Sherrie led the hardest pitch I have climbed this season, in fine style, the newbie climbers did a fantastic job working hard for the goods, and these Bridalveil climbers will have to live with their decision they made that day…..I can only hope that in the future that the climber guy can learn that life and climbing isn’t all about being selfish and ego, and that the girl realizes what an ass her boyfriend is, dumps him, and comes to the Ice Pixies next year.

Please feel free to pass this message on if you know who these people are!