Hangdog Days chronicles the era when rock climbing exploded in popularity, attracting a new generation of talented climbers eager to reach new heights via harder routes and faster ascents. This contentious, often humorous period gave rise to sport climbing, climbing gyms, and competitive climbing-indelibly changing the culture of the sport, transforming it into what we know it as today. One of those young climbers, writer Jeff Smoottraces the development over time of traditional climbing rules, enforced first through peer pressure, then later through intimidation and sabotage. In the late 70s, several climbers began introducing new tricks including hangdogging-hanging on gear to practice moves, and considered cheating by the old guard. As more climbers broke ranks with traditional style, this new gymnastic approach pushed the limits of climbing from 5.12 to 5.13. When French climber Jean-Baptiste Tribout ascended the 5.14a To Bolt or Not To Be at Smith Rock in 1986, he broke barriers previously thought impossible. John Bachar, Todd Skinner, Ray Jardine, Lynn Hill, Mark Hudon, Tony Yaniro, Alan Watts, and others star in this lively retelling of a period vital to the sports evolution. | Hangdog Days by Jeff Smoot, Paperback | Indigo Chapters