lcarreau wrote:You's guys are taking this WAY TOO seriously, except for Bill Reed.
I'm NOT driven by goals. If it looks good, I do it. If it doesn't look good, I save it for later.
End of story ..
Some avid climbers especially those practicing alpine and expedition style, which require many disciplines want to progress and experience new "heights"(greater difficulty's, greater ranges , commitment, exposure maybe FA).
In order to do this, to go out and climb what looks "good" you must plan ahead and figure out what you want and need it's not something you just "do" .
craging i can go once a week but life gets in the way and narrows that down, going abroad for a season (1-3 months) is not something so easily achieved.
back to the OP the need for goals in a mountaineers agenda is so he can try (just try cus most aren't on the face every other day) and get to a higher proficiency more skills so he can climb what looks good and what looks great and even what looks impossible.
That is why every now and again I try and find out what i need to do this year winter\summer to achieve progression and have a great vacation in new areas requiring different skill to be applied.
after all i don't want to climb the same 5.10s in my area until im too old nothing wrong with that its just in my opinion climbing is like swimming if you dont move you sink.
Call it what you want thats my reason for planning ahead.
Excuse if this response seems condescending that wasn't my intention i apologize if so.
Your idea was just as great theres this saying the s.a.s say when packing gear for a mission: "keep it simple stupid".