This may seem like a silly question, but how does one make climbing friends in a new place?
I have moved more times than I know how to count. Depending on what I'm doing, some areas are easier to link up with other climbers than others. It's particularly tricky if there are no climbing gyms around. So what would you do? If you move to a new place, how do you make climbing friends? Where do you start?
Assuming there is a local climbing community, be it from a local gym or local outdoor crag or both, my MO has always just been to show up. And keep showing up. And keep showing up. While showing up, I do a lot of smiling, and head nodding until a local recognizes me and thinks, "jesus he climbs a lot, he must be new in town." Eventually, conversation will start somewhere and once I get a name, I never forget it and everytime I see that person, I use their name. Initially they won't remember my name because I am the new guy, but they will know it soon.
Meanwhile, while at the cliff or the gym, I'm careful to display my competency. I'm not spraying beta or being a mansplainer, but I display that I am a safe belayer and a good climber. That I can be trusted. People observe those sorts of things. Eventually that person whose name I know will need a belay. Or I'll ask them for a belay.
When I am trusted with belaying, I offer the most awesome vibes/belay possible. We'll have so much fun together that we'll exchange contact information and stay in touch. They know my name now and can't possibly forget it. They'll invite me places and introduce me to their friends. We'll rock climb and be best friends forever. 😀