Climbing Near Harvard

Informant Information
The informant was Josie Nordrum, a 20 year old junior at Dartmouth and a member of the DMC. She was born in San Francisco, CA and raised in Corte Madera, CA. She learned how to climb at Dartmouth from Jay Dumanian two and a half years ago on her DOC freshman trip. Josie’s climbing phobia is exposure to the elements. She loves the feeling of satisfaction after a climb.

Type: Customary

Language: English

Country of Origin: U.S.A

Date Collected: May 15, 2016

Place Collected: Jonathan Belden Daniels Climbing Gym, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Social/ Cultural Context: This is likely in the spirit of Ivy league rivalry between the Harvard and Dartmouth Climbers.

CHRIS SHARMA & DALIA OJEDA Photographed by Boone Speed on April 30, Buttermilk region, Inyo National Forest, Bishop, CA Photographer: Boone Speed Hair: (no hair) Makeup: (no makeup) Prop Stylist: (no prop stylist)

Lore: The DMC frequently climbs are Rumney, an extremely popular climbing area in New Hampshire about 50 minutes from campus. When DMC members see Harvard climbers also at Rumney they take off their clothes and climb naked.

Informant’s Comments: Not all but some DMC members will adhere to this tradition. It’s a way for the Dartmouth climbers to not one-up Harvard but also embrace nature and themselves

Collector’s Comments: This is another example of Dartmouth climbers’ rebelliousness as well as generally fun and outgoing attitude. It shows the DMC’s desire to embrace themselves and their view that nudity is not a complete social taboo.

Tags/Keywords: naked, Harvard, Rumney, climbing, DMC, self-expression, Customary

 

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