Date:
05.04.10
Author:
Sam
Title:
Metolius offset TCUs – luxury or necessity?
I don’t own any offsets. I have used other people’s. They can be handy, but I’ve always done fine without them. Certainly, they can offer bomber pro where nothing else will truly engage, but I could never justify buying any (then again, I have a hard time justifying buying shampoo). They always struck me as more of a luxury than a necessity (then again, I also see toilet paper as a luxury).
I’ve been climbing in Eldo quite a bit lately. Maybe I’m climbing harder, or just getting older, but I find myself more frequently re-assessing my definition of luxury. Too many times lately, I’ve been run-out above some sideways little jobber, trying to fiddle some squeaky, archaic four-cam-unit into an asymmetric crack. I’ll stand there forever trying to make something work, and almost always, I’ll end up just making a bunch of promises to some higher power, that I have no intention of keeping. Then, I’ll clip my joke of a placement and proceed with some kind of contrived faith. I’ll reach the belay with tears streaming down my face and vow that I’ll never put my self in that situation again. I also vow that as soon as I get back to town I’ll buy a set of offsets and enough toilet paper to last a lifetime…
Sound familiar to anyone? I hope not. But in case it does, here is how we can help:
Climb bold, climb hard, and don’t be a cheapskate,
SB
