5 Worst Things About Climbing - A Professional Climber's Lament

I'm a professional rock climber. I've made a career out of climbing rocks and I truly love that this is my life. But like most people there are days I hate climbing and I wonder why I left the house that morning and wish I’d just finished that university course in life sciences and become a geologist instead.

A couple of years ago I created the video below, which is a compilation of all the worst things about climbing. Because as anyone who's been climbing knows, we love to complain and whinge about the sport we so dearly love.

The walk in and approach

Climbing is often done in remote locations, which means there's often a long hike or approach to get to the crag. This is tiring and time consuming, and just takes time away from your climbing. Throw in some hot or wet weather and you’re already having a terrible day before you even get to the crag.

Dealing with the weather

Climbing is an outdoor sport, so you're always at the mercy of the weather. If it's raining, you're going to get wet. If it's hot, you're going to sweat. And if it's cold, you're going to be miserable. If you climb in the UK, you’re likely dealing with all of these simultaneously on the day the Met Office said would be nicest of the year so far.

Midgies

Midgies are the worst. They're small, they're biting, and they're everywhere. They're like mosquitoes on steroids, and they're determined to make your life miserable. If you've ever been bitten by a midge, you know what I'm talking about.

Poor Rock Quality

Not all rock is created equal. Some rock is good for climbing, while other rock is not but we climb it anyway. Depending on your local variety your climbing trip might be more akin to make sandcastles or dodging rocks like a game of Donkey Kong.

Failing on your climb

I hate failing on climbs. It's the worst feeling in the world. You put in all that hard work, you train for months, you get to the crag, and you just can't do it. But then you remember why you started climbing in the first place. You remember the feeling of accomplishment when you finally get that hard move. You remember the feeling of satisfaction when you top out a climb that you've been working on for weeks. And you remember the feeling of joy when you're climbing with your friends and you're all having a good time.