Hangdog Days vividly chronicles the era when rock climbing exploded in
\npopularity, attracting a new generation of talented climbers eager to reach
\nnew heights via harder routes and faster ascents. This contentious, often
\nentertaining period gave rise to sport climbing, climbing gyms, and
\ncompetitive climbing–indelibly transforming the sport.<\/p>\n
Jeff Smoot was one of those brash young climbers, and here he traces the
\ndevelopment of traditional climbing \u201crules,\u201d enforced first through peer
\npressure, then later through intimidation and sabotage. In the late \u201970s,
\nseveral climbers began introducing new tactics including \u201changdogging,\u201d
\nhanging on gear to practice moves, that the old guard considered cheating. As
\nmore climbers broke ranks with traditional style, the new gymnastic approach
\npushed the limits of climbing from 5.12 to 5.13. When French climber Jean-
\nBaptiste Tribout ascended To Bolt or Not to Be, 5.14a, at Smith Rock in 1986,
\nhe cracked a barrier many people had considered impenetrable.<\/p>\n
In his lively, fast-paced history enriched with insightful firsthand
\nexperience, Smoot focuses on the climbing achievements of three of the era\u2019s
\nsuperstars: John Bachar, Todd Skinner, and Alan Watts, while not neglecting
\nthe likes of Ray Jardine, Lynn Hill, Mark Hudon, Tony Yaniro, and Peter Croft.
\nHe deftly brings to life the characters and events of this raucous,
\nrevolutionary time in rock climbing, exploring, as he says, \u201cwhat happened and
\nwhy it mattered, not only to me but to the people involved and those who have
\nfollowed.\u201d<\/p>\n
– Fast-paced history-cum-memoir about rock climbing in the wild-and-wooly
\n\u201980s
\n– Highlights ground-breaking achievements from the era<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"