num_pages: 320
description: Hangdog Days vividly chronicles the era when rock climbing exploded in popularity attracting a new generation of talented climbers eager to reach new heights via harder routes and faster ascents. This contentious often entertaining period gave rise to sport climbing climbing gyms and competitive climbing--indelibly transforming the sport.Jeff Smoot was one of those brash young climbers and here he traces the development of traditional climbing rules enforced first through peer pressure then later through intimidation and sabotage. In the late 70s several climbers began introducing new tactics including hangdogging hanging on gear to practice moves that the old guard considered cheating. As more climbers broke ranks with traditional style the new gymnastic approach pushed the limits of climbing from 5.12 to 5.13. When French climber Jean-Baptiste Tribout ascended To Bolt or Not to Be 5.14a at Smith Rock in 1986 he cracked a barrier many people had considered impenetrable.In his lively fast-paced history enriched with insightful firsthand experience Smoot focuses on the climbing achievements of three of the eras superstars: John Bachar Todd Skinner and Alan Watts while not neglecting the likes of Ray Jardine Lynn Hill Mark Hudon Tony Yaniro and Peter Croft. He deftly brings to life the characters and events of this raucous revolutionary time in rock climbing exploring as he says what happened and why it mattered not only to me but to the people involved and those who have followed.
language: English
title: Hangdog Days: Conflict, Change, and the Race for 5.14
publisher: Mountaineers Books