Yeah, I’ve tried crunching numbers on routes—weighting difficulty, hold quality, finish time, and the chance of falling. It’s a good way to spot those sweet spots where the climb feels almost like a win before you even start. But you can’t let the spreadsheet dictate every move. The real payoff comes from reading the wall, feeling the holds, and knowing when your gut says “go” even if the data says hold back. So I use the data as a baseline, then trust my instincts on the route.

I hear you—numbers catch the outliers, but the gut still calls the shots. I keep the model in the backseat and let my instincts be the final line before I bolt up the wall.