What is a Climbing Pyramid?

I was first introduced to the concept of Climbing Pyramids by my friend Barlow Malin in Salt Lake City.  The purpose of them is to provide a framework for achieving a climbing goal for the season (usually in the form of a redpoint grade).  The idea is that if you have a goal of climbing a 5.13a, you should first build up a base by climbing a couple of 5.12ds, several 5.12cs, numerous 5.12bs, etc.  The pyramid is just a chart where you fill in the routes of each grade as you climb them, and gradually build up to sending your goal.  If you have done all the grades on the lower levels, then you should be well prepared to climb the routes on the higher levels. 

It is also a fun way to track your progress on harder routes, and feel like you are accomplishing something when you go climbing.  So, in a sense, it elevates the importance of climbing in your life, so when you want to go climbing and your conscience says "well, you really should finish that assignment for EE572", you can answer back "well, I would love to, but I also need to get that last 5.12b on my pyramid filled in, and this weather window looks like it may not hold.

I made my first Climbing Pyramid this past summer, and enjoyed it thoroughly.  My goal had been to climb a 5.12c, since I read somewhere that that is where "hard" sport climbing begins.  I managed to completely  fill in my pyramid and send an awesome 5.12c called Niagro at Lions Head, Ontario, and just in time, because the next day I blew a tendon climbing some piece of crap drilled 5.12a (Gateway to the Vertical World, also at Lions Head), and couldn't climb for 2.5 months.  So now I am back on track, and starting a new pyramid, since I have lost all the strength that I gained from completing my last one.