The Morning Crew!!!

If you’ve been reading along for a while, you’ll note that one of our primary concerns at theDIHEDRAL has to do with the value we put on community.  From intimate relationships with family and friends to work relationships with acquaintances and colleagues, a positive community atmosphere is a tide that raises all boats.  In fact, theDIHEDRAL itself is a byproduct of our local climbing community.  Carrot, High-Clip, Coach Max, and Gaia, all came together through our local gym.  In addition, every writer, guest, climber, reader, and listener that we’ve interacted with has played a role in establishing the roots of theDIHEDRAL.  

Beyond our work at theDIHEDRAL we’ve come to make great friends throughout the climbing world.  One such group of friends that has become a cherished part of our lives is a group that is affectionately referred to as The Morning Crew¹.

This group of climbers is composed of a bunch of characters.  Most of us are either professionals looking to get in a quick sesh before work, students looking to get in a quick sesh before school, or retirees just looking to get in a quick sesh.

At 6:30 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays there are around 15 regulars who try and shake the Pb out and sail up a few walls.  It doesn’t take long to wake up when your strapped into a climbing harness and attached to a 10mm rope ascending 35’ walls.  Some people go for coffee; we go straight for adrenalin!  C₉H₁₃NO₃ is a great way to start the day, but it’s the conversations, personalities, encouragement, and good vibes that keep us coming back week after week, and year after year.

After years of climbing with the same people you tend to start picking up on some of their habits, references, and expressions.  Shared memories of dancing together to Brittney Spears and Fergie, sharing the highs and lows of climbing, from intense sends to devastating injuries, simple movie and song references all become foundational aspects of community.

This group has taught me about trains, West Coast Swing, the early days of climbing in New Mexico, cats, mountain biking, disc golf, cruising, Disney World, #Vanlife, energy drinks, cows, motorcycle clubs, and much much more.  But, more importantly they also taught me about friendship, encouragement, persistence, trust, patience, hard work and love.

If all I ever did was climb by myself, I would probably be in great shape, but I would be missing out on all the color that the world of climbing has to offer.

The Morning Crew fills me with joy.  It’s because of them that I am out of bed at 5:30AM, it’s also because of them that I’ll be continuing this ritual for as long as I am physically capable!

Cheers to The Morning Crew, and cheers to community!

1. In honor of this group, I tried to immortalize a few of the common expressions on to some new t-shirts.  What better way to pay homage than to create 9 t-shirts!  Thank you Morning Crew, it wouldn’t be the same without you!