The Sacred Trust: having a climbing partner of your own

If you have one person you invariably call up to go bouldering after work, if weekend climbing trips together are a foregone conclusion - and especially if you've taken off for those life-affirming holiday road trip/climbing trips - then you've got a climbing partner.

It takes a while to reach that stage. Good partnerships are like being a couple: you have to learn how each other's mind works, and get practiced at those little things that show you care (care enough to keep each other intact - the stakes are higher than in a romantic relationship, but without the heartache).

Partners usually have a system. When I was learning to climb, I was the inevitable rope gun. Scott taught me it was my job to make life easier for the leader, so he could concentrate on being at the sharp end of the rope.

Made sense to me. He was my ticket up the rock. I would carry the rope, flake it out, place the anchor, tie in the knots and get the belay ready to go, while Scott would eye the rock above him, rack up, and scratch himself. I'd hand over the open water bottle for my first to drink from and be peppy and encouraging. I'd carry the extra gear up the multi-pitch climbs without complaint.

I fully expect the same treatment from my second when I am the de facto leader.

When both partners lead equally, the relationship isn't nearly as strict. Both climbers know how to take on tasks that make life easier for each other, effortlessly and without discussion. A great partnership is a beautiful thing.

Deb learned that my cursing on the rock had nothing to do with her. I learned that Bill wanted me to stand directly under him when belaying, and only occassionally got kicked in the head for it. Scott taught me that when we climbed together we were a focused team, not there to play kissey-kissey on the rock. I knew to assure Jason I was watching closely when he lead sport routes. And I learned from John to be nice when breaking in your new second.

As the years progressed I noticed that climbing partnerships ebbed and flowed. People grow up, change interests and locations. Some disappear once they get married. And each time, the task of finding a new partner to climb with starts anew.

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