Cragsters: Meet the Gumby
Presenting Cragsters, a series of illustrations and descriptions by Adam Nawrot of climber-types. Cut ’em out, collect ’em, laugh, cry, or rage—just remember, don’t judge, because we’ve all been one type of Cragster or another.
Enjoy unlimited access to Climbing’s award-winning features, in-depth interviews, and expert training advice. Subscribe here.

The Gumby picked up climbing after scoring a sweet Groupon deal. His new Facebook profile pic—a butt shot of him gym-toproping—has elicited comments from concerned aunts, as well as a “You’re just as crazy as I was at your age” from Uncle Benny. On any given night, you’ll catch the Gumby walking out of the bathroom in rental shoes, wearing a harness in the bouldering cave, and offering big-voiced beta to his timid Tinder match on their first date. Although he and a few fellow Gumbies have planned to visit the “Real Cliffs” for months, the only rope owner keeps flaking—literally. He started uncoiling his rope a week ago, and still can’t get the figure 8 knot out of the middle. All the while, the Gumby is losing steam as the middle-school team flashes his projects. No bother: The Gumby is ready for his next big challenge: SCUBA with sharks!
Dreams of
- Netflix & chilling
- Lead certification
- Whitewater-rafting bachelor party
- Finally pulling the trigger on a set of quickdraws
Stomping Grounds
- Brooklyn, New York
- Miami, Florida
- Bay Area, California
Lingo
- Spin class
- Belay test (and re-test, and re-test … )
- Paleo diet
- Meal-prep Sundays
- Stopper knot
- Membership
- Leg day
- Toprope
- Double dyno
- Figure four