Modern Climbing Culture and the 9A Tier List

The discussion centers around the creation of a tier list for all the 9A climbing routes in the world, emphasizing how modern climbing culture is increasingly focused on grading climbs for social media and online content. By creating a structured list, the hosts acknowledge the shift towards valuing climbs based on difficulty rather than the experience or enjoyment of the climbing itself. They address the peer pressure and standards that come with this trend, as climbers might feel compelled to chase higher grades, specifically 9As, which may lead to them overlooking the beauty and community aspects of climbing. The hosts also express mixed feelings about this grading phenomenon, revealing their initial reluctance but eventual engagement with the tier list as a thought experiment.