Theory

The work we do in climbing is shaped by more than techniques, standards, and best practices. Beneath them are ideas about what climbing is, how we describe and understand it, why it matters, and the role it can play in our communities.

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This section is a place to explore those ideas. Through working papers and research-informed writing, ECCC examines some of the assumptions underlying climbing, outdoor recreation, and the organizations built around them.

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Theory gives us a framework for understanding practice - and a place to ask deeper questions about why we do what we do.

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These papers are intended as working conceptual frameworks. We welcome qualified individuals and institutions to contribute to their continued development, evaluation, and refinement.