Unsent: 100 Reasons Why We Climb
Unsent /un-sent/ 1. To have failed so badly on a route you had previously climbed that you negate your redpoint. 2. A humor column.

- Hands had too much skin
- Tired of being defeated by jars
- Mountains nice and cool in hot summer months
- Groupon had great deal on gym membership
- Makes living in car cool, not sad
- Combines passions for aluminum and nylon
- Because it was there and had nothing better to do
- Prefer rollerblading, but can’t stand constant ridicule
- Internet not currently working
- Thought it would give me beautiful flowing locks like Chris Sharma
- Fun, and modern technology minimizes risk
- Instagram likes
- Always envied wind chimes
- Find dirty “rack,” “jugs,” and “crack” puns endlessly funny
- Tiny shoes make feet look small and cute
- Belay tests provide validation and sense of self-worth
- To earn Dad’s respect (it’s not working)
- Easier than climbing metaphorical mountains
- Needed reason to obsess over my body fat percentage
- Love wearing Lycra ironically
- Makes beer taste better
- Beanie just looks better while bouldering
- Chalky white hands make me feel like spooky ghost
- Believe large, wing-like lats will allow me to fly
- Inability to sleep past 2 a.m. perfect for alpinism
- Want sexy ripped back muscles
- Already had crag dog and figured might as well
- Terrified of solid ground
- Complements walking-with-crashpad hobby
- Think the word “ballnuts” is hilarious
- Curious what tendonitis felt like
- Bocce videos weren’t using GoPro to its full potential
- Can’t get enough failure
- Into all sports where people condescendingly tell me to wear helmet
- Will do anything that can be done shirtless
- Striving for unrealistic standard of beauty set by Popeye
- Invested heavily in Black Diamond stock and need to bolster sales
- Nothing good on TV since Game of Thrones ended
- Boulders need to be put in their place
- Makes hamburgers taste better
- Not compared to Spiderman enough otherwise
- Live in Boulder, Colorado, so have no choice
- Thought it would impress opposite sex (it’s not working)
- Great way to rest between rope-coiling speed-record attempts
- Love yelling commands
- Sausage fingers fit well in cracks
- Older brother can’t punch me when up on wall
- Heard it will be in Olympics and want medal
- Didn’t get picked for baseball team
- Kicked out of yoga class and need place to wear yoga pants
- Had too much money and closet space
- Thought gold might be hidden behind Texas Flake
- To experience adrenaline rush and/or Zen flow state
- Good training for American Ninja Warrior
- Mom’s constant worry a nice reminder of her love
- Trying to win 8a.nu
- Wanted to experience pooping in a tube for myself
- Didn’t know you could walk to summit of the Diamond
- Want to be like hero: Sylvester Stallone in “Cliffhanger”
- Finger cracks satisfy masochistic tendencies
- Think rocks are cool and like touching them
- Quit golf and Stone Fort was right there
- Love reminding friends to breathe
- Thought lost wallet might be on top of desert tower
- Only enjoy types 2 and 3 fun
- Skills will come in handy if I ever need to escape from prison
- Makes pizza taste better
- Get weird rush when holding friends’ lives in hands
- Engaging way to get fit that doesn’t feel like a chore
- Going over cliffs quicker than walking around them
- Offwidth routes drain body of extraneous blood
- Enjoy ethics debates on Internet forums
- Modern society has made us soft or something
- Curious if door frame could support my weight
- Couldn’t make it to book signing, so followed Honnold up Half Dome
- Great core workout for slacklining
- Only way to replicate upside-down kiss from Spiderman movie
- Love taking heavy pack on long hikes
- Harness makes butt look great
- Untangling rope like solving a fun puzzle
- Wanted to try out life with chronic finger injuries
- Saw Dawn Wall on news and thought, I can do that
- Was in Spain and found history and culture boring
- Crowded belay ledge a good place to make friends
- Only way to make granola bars palatable
- Determined to be in next REEL ROCK film
- Get invited to a lot of children’s birthday parties at gyms
- Pants too clean and free of hand prints
- Deep water soloing cheaper than buying a pool
- Striving for body shaped like upside-down triangle
- Safer than BASE jumping
- Front levers a fun party trick
- Believe natural environments look better with white powder
- Only way to overcome fear of falling off cliffs we all experience in daily life
- Inspired by favorite Nintendo game: Ice Climber
- Black rope residue on hands makes me feel like tough auto mechanic
- Dream of being in Accidents in North American Mountaineering
- Love sharing good times outside with good friends
- Thought life of sponsored pro would be cushy and luxurious
- Fucking love rappelling