NORM 3

We will not harm the experience of others

That we should not negatively affect the experience of others is a fundamental and self-evident human ethic. In the mountains and while climbing that implies respect for the local style of climbing.

Concrete examples of harm to the local community would be to create sport routes in zones where “trad” methods are the norm, to use nuts or pegs where only soft protection is the custom, or the building of infrastructure in wilderness areas that have been traditionally kept wild.

Less concrete but as important, is the direct human experience. For example, popular routes, which can often be crowded, will benefit from simple good manners such as allowing faster parties to pass in the mountains, keeping quiet areas quiet on cliffs and removing equipment from climbs in a timely manner allowing as many others as possible to share the activity.
In short, as mountaineers and climbers, we recognize the boundaries of our freedom with respect to others.

Norms:

We treat others’ climbs with respect and avoid commenting negatively.
We do not hinder or disturb others more than necessary.
We let faster parties pass.
Climbers ascending should have right of way over parties descending provided it is safe to do so.
Local climbing communities should have precedence over the way they treat climbs. We will not deface the rock by chopping or adding holds.
We are considerate when proposing a name for a route, a peak, or other parts of a mountain: we consult with the local communities and respect local customs and existing rules to ensure that the proposed name is not offensive.