From parking correctly to taking garbage with you - there should be respectful coexistence on and around the crag. If you take these tips to heart, you won't make any enemies in the climbing garden and you will also contribute to a wider acceptance of climbing.
What could be nicer than spending a whole day outside in the climbing garden? The sun shines pleasantly warm on your face and you can look forward to unique routes on super rock. Apart from the ringing of cowbells, you hear nothing. Pure relaxation between working weeks.
Unfortunately, not every climbing garden is so idyllic. There are certainly factors that tarnish such a picture. To avoid this, we have put together a few tips here so that we can do an even better job of protecting our climbing gardens.
1. litter away
But it's not just plastic bags and empty beer cans that belong in the bin. Cigarette butts and tape remnants don't degrade themselves either!
Tip: Even if the garbage isn't yours, take it with you because you know better.
2. chalk off
We rarely forget our chalk at home, but paradoxically very often at the crag. Especially on "easier" warm-up routes, the white stuff sometimes sticks to it so much that you can no longer feel the rock because of all the chalk.
Fortunately, the white decoration on the rock has hardly any negative effects on the environment. With the following exceptions: In sandstone, chalk clogs the rock pores and binds water, which expands when it freezes and can damage the rock surface. Incidentally, this applies everywhere: magnesia draws water. If you don't brush off heavily chalked holds, they will become irreversibly greasy in the long term.
Tip: Put a brush on the magnesium bag and use it to clean all the handles you have touched.
Faza brushes are a good way to clean the rock.
3. is climbing allowed at all?
If you are not sure, find out from locals or on up-to-date websites whether climbing is permitted in an area at all. The problem: in some climbing gardens, for example, climbing is not allowed all year round. In other regions, it is not even welcome, but only tolerated, and here a small faux pas by an outsider is often enough to close an area permanently.
Tip: If you know something, you don't have to believe everything. Inform yourself, because ignorance is no defense against punishment.
4. stay on the right path
The same applies to protected areas that are close to the rock. Climbing areas are often located in sensitive biospheres.
Tip: Stay on the paths until you reach the climbing garden, because 1) Following your nose is usually much more complicated; 2) If you simply go cross-country, you will never be a good Geoquest player.
Approach to the Ehnbachklamm gorge
5. noise
It's hard to believe, but you often meet people who value their beatbox more than the peace and quiet of nature. Loud music or constant shouting is a nuisance for all living creatures that move around in nature.
Tip: Listen to the sound of silence.
6. peace y'all
Unfortunately, there are people who are always complaining about the rock. One route is too hard, the other is too wide. This tour is not nice anyway and the other would be cooler if it were shorter.
Well, everyone is allowed to form their own opinion of the routes or the sport of climbing, but stop spreading negative vibes all over the crag. There are also people who see it differently.
Tip: Stop hating, start training.
7. fire
Only (!) light a fire in signposted areas and pay attention to the current fire risk. In dry conditions, one spark is enough to set the whole forest on fire.
8 If you have to go, you have to go
If you have to go to the toilet, you have to. At best, the person has to go at home. And if that's not possible, then 1) Find a place where nobody will be disturbed and where you won't be seen. 2) Take your toilet paper back with you after use (for example in a small bag that you have brought with you). 3) Bury or cover up what you have left behind.
Tip: Go to the toilet at home!
9 Parking and staying overnight
When parking, park in the designated areas. Some parking spots may be five minutes closer to the crag, but this spot may be the farmer's private property and he may not like it if another climber parks on his field or turns around in it. And maybe, you don't know for sure, you'll be the last to go to this climbing spot because the farmer has had enough of it.
The same applies to overnight stays: If it's not allowed to spend the night somewhere, then don't do it. You're probably not the only ones who have tried, and sometimes the local residents only have a short fuse left.
Tip: A night at the campsite or paid parking lot doesn't hurt and problem 8 would be solved right away.
10. caution before indulgence
Be careful with yourself and others on the rock. Especially on multi-rope tours, you are often not alone and a rockfall from above could have fatal consequences for the rope team below.
Tip: You can often see loose rock lying around. Make sure that it stays there.
You have to pay particular attention to loose rock, especially on multi-pitch routes, photo: Achensee Tourismus
Final note: Climbing is an ethical and moral sport in two respects. On the one hand, in terms of yourself, but also in terms of what the area needs in order to remain "viable".
The various ethical concepts in certain regions cannot be explained here. Nevertheless, each and every one of us can make demands on our own behavior and thus help shape the future of climbing. So one last tip:
Think about what is important to your set of values and act accordingly.
