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As I wrote this piece, in late July [2017], it was a fiery 95 degrees, with no thunderstorm relief on the western horizon and with a cruel yellow sun blazing down out of an ozone-hazy Front Range sky. I sat in my basement, hiding, where it was 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house, shirt off, sweating as I typed. The dog could barely be bothered to lift his head when his kibble clattered into his bowl at dinner, and the kitties had curled up under the couch one room away where it was coolest and darkest, letting spiders and mosquitoes crawl all over them because it was too much effort to lift a paw and swat.

I know, I get it: It’s 115 degrees where you live and 200-percent humidity, and you’re going out climbing anyway at Yum-Yum Heights in the direct sun with a headband and dual wristbands, and a towel wrapped around your waist where your chalkbag belt usually goes so you can sop up sweat at the kneebar rest on Pinklydink Headwall (5.13c). So, why don’t I, wimpy Colorado boy that I am, with my dry heat and 90-degree temps, shut the hell up and get out for some evening pitches?

I’ll tell you why: Because after 30 years in the sport, I know better.

Climbers have long been infatuated with Sendtember, when the air cools and projects go down. But very little attention has been paid to what leads up to it, the crux of summer, namely the still, hot, muggy, never-ending doldrums of July, when only the very foolish or very motivated bother pushing themselves out climbing.

That’s right, the hippest, new month is “Don’t-Try July,” when your best bet is to do as little as possible so that you’re not a burned-out, exhausted, dehydrated strip of human beef jerky once August rolls around with its crisp mornings that presage the arrival of autumn. And so that you’re still motivated to climb once autumn itself is here and the proper climbing season begins.

So, remember, kids, there can be no Sendtember or Rocktober without Don’t-Try July. Yes, this year’s July will soon be gone, but there will other Julys and, let’s face it, August still sort of sucks.

“So, what is a motivated climber to do instead?” you ask. Good question. A few ideas:

High Life: 5 Alpine Bouldering Destinations

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