Rock climbing has gone from a niche sport to a fairly mainstream pastime over the past decade, and many old-guard climbers have seen their formerly quiet crags fill up with an influx of new climbers.
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There's nothing wrong with a sport gaining popularity, necessarily, but most people would agree that a sense of continuity is important in the community, especially when land-use ethics and responsible recreation practices are so critical. Patagonia's Stone Locals profiles five metaphorical anchors of the community, whose love for the sport is so strong that it shapes the soul of climbing.
