OUCH! And I thought I had lost an arm and a leg at the gas station!

I wonder why the dudes at the golf course were "unavailable" to comment?

I think it depends. Some people start out middle class... and then they become climbers and drop a socio-economic rung or two.

Don't forget us students!

I need to get a bike to save even more money.

Except for that SC-MLC group, who apparently drive fancy cars and eat gourmet pizza, for
cryin' out loud ...

There are those who drive gas guzzlers and then black smoke belching junky cars, but some of them attest to riding bikes or buses (to then claim enviro purity and secure a penny a mile ride for a hike). They wouldn't waste their money eating gourmet anything, they are gourmands thriving on junk food, or discount casino buffets and a lot of that (it shows).

You won't find anyone among them who drives Corvettes or Hummers, although there are some that prefer cheapo used BMWs and such.

Myself, I am near poverty line, and subsist on being frugal. I saved my money while working, racing home on my bike to have a 10 cent top ramen lunch instead of the $5+ burritos and stuff (then) at the workplace cafeteria. Running to keep in good shape, that was free, and our carpools, mainly with me driving my own car, that got me a usually pittance from the rich misers that rode with me.

Now, I have no work expense like paying parking tickets for the workplace truck, and bets with coworkers or check pool games (although I usually refrained from those, and then the booze, smoke, or what, adding to my popularity, it seems). I can spend as I please, so save it for gas and car maintenance. I have all my gear, and it lasts forever, aside from my boots, which I get for as little as $19.99 (Amazon).

So, you can be dirt poor and still climb hundreds if not a thousand peaks!

I'm poor and live in the mid-west, FML!

I'm certain you folks recall the demise of Alpinist when they were selling their lucrative demographics.

http://www.statlistics.com/datacards/cndc182.htm

Average income, $91,000.

battledome wrote:I think it depends. Some people start out middle class... and then they become climbers and drop a socio-economic rung or two.

Haha! That's totally me. I lost all ambition to climb the corporate ladder when I found such a great way to spend my free time. And the "work hard retire early" path seemed to contain a lot of potholes...

Among the guys I climb with there is a huge diversity of incomes and it has no correlation with their ability. Mike is a pediatiric intensive care doc ond easily walks up 5.12 trad climbs (and should be climbing trad in the mid .13's but hasn't really tried yet). Matt is not quite as strong but is bold and recently led his first 5.13 trad route and lays up fiberglass for a company making windmills. Josh is a fireman and has about the same ability as I do, Kyle is a school teacher and has led plenty of 5.13R trad routes. I'm a PhD chemist. Huge diversity.... and that is what is cool about climbing.

If any of you wealthier climbers here wanna donate any winter or alpine gear to a poorer person hit me up.

To be honest, while I can someone dirtbagging as a sport or even trad climber, alpine climbing is much more gear-intensive (a good -20 deg bag = rack + rope), and difficult alpine-style climbs totally trashes gear.

I'm already dumping my income straight into gear, and I'm not sure I'd be able to do any alpine if I were to end up flipping burgers.

Just my guess that high disposable income is more of a factor (a requiste) for activities like high altitude mountaineering. I imagine Himalayan outings cost a pretty penny, not only in terms of out-of-pocket for travel and gear, but also the equivalent in time; unless you're in the renown/elite class where you have sponsors.

kheegster wrote:To be honest, while I can someone dirtbagging as a sport or even trad climber, alpine climbing is much more gear-intensive (a good -20 deg bag = rack + rope), and difficult alpine-style climbs totally trashes gear.

I'm already dumping my income straight into gear, and I'm not sure I'd be able to do any alpine if I were to end up flipping burgers.

True, you just have to be smart about that...I see way too many of you buying expensive gear that the industry produces for one purpose....to sell to the wealthier "big mountain" trekkers because they want the absolute best and can afford it....most of it really is not going to make you any better of a climber or your expedition go any smoother....i.e. ArcTeryx clothing, expensive plastics and/or the latest tools (if you are only climbing WI 4 anyway?)...if you want to climb hard, I expect you to rip your clothes and outerwear to threads, no matter who makes it. Be smart about paying reasonable prices for it. So many folks are geared up way beyond their level or what they need. Just an observation. The more you spend, the better for me, but there at better things in life to spend your hard earned money on.

Eric Beck, part of the Camp 4 crew in the 60s and who had mastered the art of dirtbagging, once famously wrote that: "At either end of the social spectrum lies a leisure class." I'd say that pretty much sum up alot of climbers.

Most climbers I know are either living hand to mouth for climbing or have a fairly comfortable or disposible income they can spend for that purpose. The folks I climbed with long ago, for example, typically fall into two camps: they frittered around professionally but devoted the bulk of their energy to climbing or they applied the drive that propelled them as climbers to their professional lives and they're now ph.ds or lawyers, doctors, etc.

Sadly, I for one have always been stuck in the 'have money-no time' or 'have time no-money quandry.' Nowadays, it's the money-no time, so I'm keeping up my end of the wealth/climbers issues.

Mountain Impulse wrote:Just my guess that high disposable income is more of a factor (a requiste) for activities like high altitude mountaineering. I imagine Himalayan outings cost a pretty penny, not only in terms of out-of-pocket for travel and gear, but also the equivalent in time; unless you're in the renown/elite class where you have sponsors.

The individuals going to the big three (Everest, Cho Oyo and Ama Dablam which accounts for the vast majority of those climbing in the Himalyas; probably ~85%) tend to be wealthier, but many happen to just spend A LOT of their hard earned cash on something that is important to them.

Also some of the most interesting mountains aren't that expensive. Kasum Kangaru which has an AMAZING north face and awesome ridge routes has a peak fee of $750 plus a garbage deposit which you can easily get back (plus a LO). Thee route can be done as cheaply as a trip to Alaska (almost)

The funny thing is that I find that my climbing helps my professional life (I don't care about advancement so I'm not afraid of telling people what they don't want to hear so people tend to respect my professional opinion more) and not climbing day in and day out and not placing my ego in terms of climbing, improves my climbing.

Probably because most climbers/hikers realize that there's more to life than working...