A Youth Wasted Climbing

by David Chaundy-Smart

David Chaundy-Smart took it as a compliment when his high school vice-principal told him he was wasting his youth by climbing. Here, he tells the story of how he and his brother, Reg, spent the last years of the 1970s fighting suburban boredom to become, in the words of renowned climbing historian Chic Scott, “one of the leading figures in Ontario rock climbing throughout the 1980s.”


With its vivid accounts of short and nasty climbs, dubious mentors, hapless climbing partners, teenage crushes, bad cars, underage drinking and questionable climbing techniques, this is a memoir of coming of age in a simpler era of clim ing, told with compassion, humour and insight.

Genres: Climbing, Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2015

Reviews

[Don Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for anyone who grew up during the '70s and '80s in Canada with an interest in mountaineering. Plenty of familiar references to growing suburban society, TV culture, influential books and life in the outdoors. The author has an excellent way with words and captures the energy of youth very well throughout the narrative.

[Ron S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climbing is about more than the seven summits and far flung places. Chaundy-Smart has a nice writing style in this memoir of coming of age climbing at Mount Nemo, Rattlesnake Point and Bon Echo in the 1970s when it was still very much a fringe activity and you connected with people on the rock, not social media.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up in Toronto, but learned to climb on the limestone of warmer countries, I never felt enamoured with Ontario climbing until now. Dave's heartful reflections and clever commentary roped me into the Escarpment's romantic (and sometimes crass) history. I'd recommend this book to the trad dads, the history nerds, and to those climbers who simply enjoy a good story and pulling on rocks.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was incredible. Stories of a child going out and getting after it! My connection to the authors stories likely hit a bit harder because we shared stomping grounds, but my main attraction to this book was the shared sense of adventure and excitement in learning how to climb.

This book offers a glimpse into simpler times, riddled with the same calling every climber is familiar with.

[Alexander Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like two stars: there isn't much details or explanation of what's going on or what he is feeling.
However, as I am from Ontario and learned to climb there, and share a lot of similar memories and beliefs, this book spoke to me. I especially enjoyed the very last chapter.
But otherwise, poorly written and conceived.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that makes us all wish we could find that something that you will do anything to pursue

[Harriette Hollihn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got lost in this book, reminding me of how great Ontario can be when you look in the right places!

[Katie Greaves · Rating 1 out of 5]

So dull and depressing.

[Andreas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and inspiring memoir about the teenage years of the author.

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same