Dirtbaggers Data Plan

Wow. It's been some time since I've published anything. Writing is something I enjoy but it gets left by the wayside when life is busy. A new house, a new business, spring cleaning, and warm weather for training have meant that I've neglected the blog.

Most people that have read past posts know I'm a tech nerd. I geek out on Android phones and tablets, and love to play around with website development. I'm not that good at it yet, but it's something I do enjoy.

Like most others, I love my smartphone. I have two well-loved Android phones, an old, retired HTC Evo 4G, and a newer Galaxy S3. Until recently I was a member of a Sprint family plan with 5 phones. My bill every month was approximately $55, which is not unreasonable for a plan with unlimited data. With unlimited data I used my phone everywhere. I streamed music in the car, used Google Maps all the time, and checked my email at any time. Despite the convenience, this reliance on my phone was annoying. It became a crutch at times. I didn't need unlimited data, and I wanted to be less attached to my phone. At the same time I still wanted to have a smartphone. They're indispensable for business as a climbing guide, and having one device that can email, navigate in the backcountry, make emergency calls and take great photos is pretty awesome.

As someone who's a tech nerd and a budget conscious climber, Ting caught my attention last year. Ting is a mobile service provider that uses the Sprint network. They've worked out an agreement with Sprint, and customers who have Sprint smartphones can transfer their service to Ting.

So what's so great about Ting you might ask? Ting's goal is to provide reasonably priced mobile phone plans, offer great customer service and be as transparent as possible at all times. I was immediately curious and also skeptical. Cell phone providers seem slimy. Like cable companies and airlines, cell phone providers feel like they're running a legal racket.

For two months I tracked my minutes and data. After observing my usage for that amount of time I determined I could have a no contract plan with Ting for $23/month plus taxes and fees. I already have a Sprint Android phone, so I would be able to bring that phone with me to Ting, which would save me even more money. Over two years I would be saving approximately $500 and dealing with customer service that was both pleasant and spoke a form of English that I could understand.

Last December I canceled my Sprint service and switched to Ting. For the past six months I've been paying $32/month for service. I've had to deal with customer service three times over that period and each interaction has been unimaginably easy. In a world where customer service is generally horrible Ting has been a breath of fresh air.

The very easy to use Dashboard

Over the course of 6 months I've been able to determine what's good and what's bad about my service with Ting. So, here's what's good:

• Transparency - there are no hidden fees, no contracts, and no fine print with Ting. They are clear about their goal and very happy to have new customers.
• Adjustable plans - You choose your minutes, texts and data. If you go over any of them during the month, they'll bill you at the next level for that month only. There are no contractual obligations and you'll never be billed for more than you use.
• Customer Service - You will get someone on the phone at Ting after one ring. They speak English you can understand and they will walk you through anything you need help with. Email support is just as good, and most things get resolved in a single day.
• Tethering - Sprint allowed unlimited data, but also stated in the contract that you can't tether your phone to other devices. Ting, on the other hand, feels that if you are paying for a set amount of data you should use it however you like. I've been able to turn my phone into an internet access point for my other devices (Nexus 7 and my laptop) while traveling.
• The Dashboard - The user interface with Ting is easy to use. They've developed the dashboard for usability, so that you need to contact customer service as little as possible. You see how many minutes, texts and megabytes you've used each month. You can also set alerts (to turn off minutes or data if you don't want to pay extra) that will email or text you when you get near a specified limit. You can even turn off data to particular devices but not the entire account. Amazingly, you can also cancel your account with a single click from the dashboard. Yes, there is a button right in front of your face that allows you to terminate service. How many times have you wanted to cancel your services with a bank, phone company, or cable company and not done so because you don't want to make an awful, hour long phone call where you get tossed around?

Nothing seems like it's ever all good. Here's the bad:

• Data Roaming - Ting does not have roaming agreements with Verizon or US Cellular or any other CDMA provider. You only have a data connection on Sprint's network. This means the roaming service is not as good in many parts of northern New England. In the southeastern US this doesn't seem to be a problem because Sprint has a larger presence. This means there is no data connection and you can only send phone calls and texts.
• Phones - You have to buy a smartphone at nearly full price. There are no contracts, and therefore the phone is not subsidized. You'll have to pay the full cost. For a good smartphone that's about $450. However, if you are a heavy smartphone user you will likely still save money moving to Ting. If you're a lightweight user there's no doubt, you will save money.

One of the things I began doing last year, as I became a homeowner, was looking at the total cost of ownership. How much you'll spend over the life of a product or service paints a more accurate picture than what you'll pay from month to month. So, even if you have to pay for a full-priced smartphone you're still going to save money with Ting. Just do the calculations to see for yourself.

If, after hearing this, you're interested in Ting, head over to Ting.com and check them out. If you want to sign up, here's a referral code that will get you $25 credit ($25 credit for me too!) towards a new account: https://z96d2opoc1.ting.com/

Answering the Question "Why?"

If you're reading this there's a good chance you're a climber. For nearly all of us, as climbers, in the beginning there's just "climbing". Somebody offers you a toprope, you take a gym class or a guided trip, you go with some friends to boulders and scramble around or you just see cliffs and become intrigued.

If we take a step back it's easy to see how simple climbing is at first. You build an anchor that will hold the rope at the top of the cliff. You tie in with a figure eight knot and climb. Your partner belays. You switch roles. The movement is really enjoyable and the thrill of it all is amazing.

At some point though, climbing also becomes anchor building, knot tying, protection placing, route finding, stance management, being a good and thoughtful communicator and many more things. However, there are numerous different ways to build anchors, so many different knots we can tie, multiple different types of protection we can place, route finding is really difficult at times, anchor stances get really messy , and we burn through climbing partners if we're not thoughtful and considerate climbers. How do we make the right decisions though? We do this using logic and reasoning, based upon our past experiences and knowledge that we currently have about the gear we're using or the route we're climbing.

Before I was a guide, I was a climber and I did all of the things other climbers did and still do. I built anchors, climbed, belayed and rappelled. I navigated the murky waters of climbing "self-sufficiency" unharmed. I remember toproping off of anchors built entirely of runners chained together, and I clearly remember belaying off my waist at the top of the cliff many times. I didn't know that there were different, better ways of doing things.

In 2003, after climbing a lot on my own for 5 years, I took an AMGA Rock Instructor Course in North Conway, New Hampshire. This 10-day course changed my life. Among other things, the RIC helped me make decisions about which knot to tie, which friction hitch to use, how to protect traverses, and how to make sure I was always able to communicate with my climbing partner. While the course is focused on new guides/instructors it is also one of the best courses any multi-pitch climber looking for additional skills can take. 

Gone are the days when I would have to use prusik hitches to ascend the rope past an overhang I couldn't climb. I no longer yell my head off trying to communicate with partners I can't see. I don't rappel off some crappy little tree because I know there's usually a good anchor somewhere nearby and I definitely don't junk up existing anchors with additional material. Now I choose the right belay device for the task at hand, build anchors carefully and pick the right knots for specific situations.

Josh Cantor at a good stance where he can communicate
with his partner while lowering using a Grigri. The brake
strand is redirected for optimal control.

Back in 2003 I would have told you that the Rock Instructor Course showed me new, better techniques to use while climbing and guiding. Now, I know that the RIC actually helped teach me how to think critically about every situation I encounter as a climber. This ability to think critically about everything we do is the most important thing we do as climbers. 

Since 2003 I've worked with more budding instructors and climbers looking for skills than I can count. Like a 3-year old, I'm constantly asking each person I work with "Why?". Why are you belaying here? Why are we tying two ropes together with a flat overhand vs. a  flemish bend vs. a grapevine knot? Why should we be careful using sewn runners for personal anchoring? There are so many "why's" we need to answer - and a reason for everything we do as climbers.

Chris Bowen anchored to 2 equalized bolts during a day
of multipitch climbing and descent transitions.

This year I've already worked approximately twenty days with people looking for answers to the question "Why?". I'm glad so many people want to know as much as possible about the really dangerous pastime they love. However, I'm also concerned. The climbing population has exploded, and for every person that comes to me looking for skills and help with their climbing "logic" there are tens of others coming straight from a climbing gym with scant knowledge about climbing and very little awareness of the risks associated with hitting hard, rocky ground from a long way up.

As climbers we should leave as little to chance as possible. Mistakes in the climbing world frequently result in serious injury or death. There can be no haphazard decisions; everything we do should be deliberate. So, if you're not thinking wisely about every single decision you make as a climber maybe you should reconsider how "safe" you actually are out there. It's never too late to learn new things, and self assessment and debriefing is critical if we're going to make the best decisions at all times.