This week in honor of Valentine’s day, we thought it would be fun to talk about why we love climbing. Before jumping into the love of the climb however it might be prudent to share some Valentines Day factoids.
People often think of Valentine’s day as a Hallmark Holiday, but this is not actually the case. If you’ve never heard the expression “Hallmark Holiday”, it refers to a holiday created for commercial purposes. Hallmark is an American greeting card manufacturer started in 1910 by a man named Joyce Hall. Hallmark Holidays are holidays that are concocted in order to sell greeting cards. Grandparents Day, Sweetest Day, and Boss’s Day are all examples of Hallmark Holidays. Although there are a dozen different St. Valentines, Valentine’s Day refers to St. Valentine of Rome who died around CE 270, 1,640 years prior to the creation of Joyce Hall’s greeting card empire.
Nonetheless, Valentine’s Day was in fact manufactured. Around 1,105 years after St. Valentine’s death we get what appears to be our first acknowledgement of Valentine’s Day by none other than the English poet Geoffery Chaucer in his poem The Parliament of Foules. Although both Chaucer and Hallmark are both known for their inspiring poems, I’m sure Chaucer would want it to be known that Valentine’s day is NOT a Hallmark holiday, but rather a Chaucermark Holiday. Not sure that makes it better, but now you know!
In addition to love, for which St. Valentine is primarily known, he is also the patron saint of engaged couples, happy marriages, epilepsy, fainting, traveling, beekeeping, and plague. So, just in case you have no desire to celebrate a holiday centered around overpriced flowers, dinners, and shitty chocolates (I’m looking at you Palmer Chocolates), just know that the same holiday can be used to celebrate traveling, beekeeping, and COVID 19. Good lookin out Valentine!
So, now that we have a little background, let’s talk about why we love rock climbing.
Carrot
This could easily be a five part series, and who knows, maybe it’ll be the muse for some future project, but for now let me just be as concise as possible. I love rock climbing for so many reasons, but I can say without hesitation that my favorite thing about climbing is the community. In addition to the community, climbing offers a sense of adventure that comes not only from climbing, but also hiking, camping, falling, and road trips. That sense of adventure is not difficult to achieve as a climber, and I love it! Finally, I love climbing simply because it’s fun!
So, in the spirit of the holiday, and the love we’re spreading for the climb, here is my Hallmark to climbing.
Dear Climbing,
We’ve had our ups and downs, but you’ve always been able to peak my interest and rock my world!
Happy Valenclimbs Day!
Yours,
Carrot
High-Clip
I doubt I’ll even scratch the surface of why I love climbing, but essentially it’s because it fits so perfectly. The physical aspects are a fit since I love pushing my strength to its max. The mental aspects are a fit since I love challenging my brain to figure out and learn new things. Most of all, the climbing community is a perfect fit. I’ve never felt so comfortable and free with any group as I have with climbing. The support, the laughs, the perspectives…what’s not to love? Not to mention the built-in friends who will go camp and crush rock with you.
For the rocks, here is my Hallmark:
Dear Climbing,
You are a light at the end of a very dark tunnel for some; shine on!
You rock!
Much love,
High-Clip
thedihedral.com 
Ode to the peaks and valleys and obstacles that life’s Cautionary Tales knows so Well expressed by ya rock 🪨 solid poetry 🥳🙏💯🥰✔️
LikeLiked by 3 people
What a nice comment…thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great puns, Carrot. One of the things I liked about climbing back in the day was getting high and I mean the double entendre. Feel free to ask… Just know that back then all we smoked was cheap Mexi which provided only a cheap and silly buzz.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Martha…I have been wanting to write a post about getting high on the rock for such a long time, I just never know which direction to take it? If you have any direction through experience please feel free to share! I’d love to hear about your days of double entendre heights.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Martha…I was just thinking that if you wanted to tell that story, we would love to post it, but no pressure I know you’re working on a new book, so if that is too much no worries. As always our door is always open to you!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’d love to write that story. It’s incredibly sweet and I’d love to share it. Your post made me think about the bonds of climbing. I was closer to my adult brother when we were climbing or scrambling than at any other time. ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
P.S. Just tell me how to get it to you. Writing it will be a nice break.
LikeLiked by 2 people
YES!!!! That is so good to hear Martha. If sending it via email works, you can send it to thedihedral@gmail.com For the cover photo we can find one, or if you have one you’d like us to use, feel free to send that too!
Looking forward to it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great! I actually started writing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s on the way. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome
LikeLiked by 2 people
Moira…thank you!
LikeLike
Being high up in the mountains has always been something I cherish. Growing up in the lower Himalayas, they fascinate me and I cannot wait to go back every year to the mountains.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That sounds like such a dream come true Parikhit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! It certainly is : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
So lovely, thank you! ^_^
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awww…Elena, thank you!
LikeLike
Palmer chocolate is not even considered chocolate in my book.
It’s been many many years since I’ve climbed and certainly nothing like you guys talk about. More like hiking up a mountain really (Sedona, AZ). But, I’m enjoying reading your posts. Plus I loved the nod to Valentines. Keep on rocking! (See what I did there…huh?, huh? 😜 )
LikeLiked by 2 people
That was really impressive!!! My mom lived in Sedona too…what a beautiful landing spot! I’m pretty sure Palmer chocolate is just brown wax, but if they want to call it chocolate, I guess it’s okay! Thanks for the pun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah, I’m totally with you on the brown wax. Living here in NL, I’m just a stone’s throw away from Belgium. Now there…that’s great chocolate! 🍫🍫
I loved Sedona! Still miss it. I think a great part of my heart is still there. My favorite hike there was Cathedral Rock. Never made it to the top though. Here’s a tip, don’t hike up there in the rain! Those rocks become ice really quickly, but I guess you already knew that. Also, that red earth never comes out of your clothes. Especially when you “climb” down on your bum in the rain! 😝
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh no comparison to the chocolate in Belgium…my grandma is from a town in Belgium called Ninove, not sure if you are near there, but it is pretty and quaint little town.
Red Rock Stains kind of become badges of honor, my pants may be ripped, or car may be trashed, but as long as the dirt was red, I was okay with it. I imagine if I lived there full time it may be different. I loved climbing Cathedral Rock, never tried it in the rain, but I’ll take your advice and just avoid it at all costs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ninove is just under 200km from me. I might pass through on my next trip to Brussels.
I still miss that red earth. I’d be glad to have some red stained clothes right about now. Wise man to heed the advice of an old lady. 🤪👵🏻👍
LikeLiked by 2 people
I find it so interesting that climbers love climbing so much and other people don’t. I think about it a lot, and will write a blog about it one day. Interesting facts about Saint Valentine, too. Love and plagues, lol, what a portfolio.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, there I haven’t noticed many climbers who are just indifferent about climbing, or like it a little bit. There is a really strong pull/admiration involved. Looking forward to your post about it!
LikeLiked by 1 person