8 Comments
Oct 6Liked by will maclean

This was such a joyful read and made me really excited about climbing! I'm ashamed to admit that I've historically thought about climbing as a 'sport' and climbers as 'sportpeople', but I loved your distinction between climbing and other sports because of the 'aimlessness' or climbing (or put another way, the multifaceted and self-defined aims of climbing).

I found this really cool because it reminded me of a book I loved (which I can lend, if it's interesting to you) called 'The Grasshopper', written by a Canadian philosopher called Bernard Suits. It defines games as a 'voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles according to rules', and Suits goes on to suggests that in an ideal world, humans would engage in games as the highest form of life because games provide challenges and meaning without the pressure of necessity.

It feels like climbing, at least in the way understood by Dawes and you (and now me), is a pretty Utopian pursuit!

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thanks Anastasia! thats really kind

Yes i would love to read this book - sounds extremely on message ❤️

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Full wank will !

Really enjoyed this.

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thanks Mark! much appreciated:)

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I followed up your article with viewing some footage of Johnny’s no hands technique - truly astonishing!

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One of the best essays i've ever read about climbing (been reading about climbing and climbing for 20 years). Fantastic work here.

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Oct 27·edited Oct 27Author

that's extremely kind, thank you Patrick

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This was lovely to read, as a climber and a lover of language. The idea of style being law and freedom, together-- that one's given me a lot to mull. Thank you!

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