The Fun Scale: Understanding Types of "Fun" | REI Co-op Journal

But it wasn’t until June 2001, while bushwhacking through thickets of Alaskan devil’s club—home to hungry grizzly bears—that I learned of the Fun Scale. Fun, it turns out, is quantifiable. The bushwhacking came about because my friend Peter had invited me to join him on a low-key outing: a boat ride across a gorgeous bay to climb a small, mellow mountain. It sounded like the perfect finish to my trip, as I’d spent the previous month climbing in the Alaska Range. My climbing partner, Scott, and I had had a terrific trip. Though we were often terrified while actually climbing, we loved it later. I tried to keep up with Peter as branches whacked me in the face. “You know that there are three types of fun,” Peter said, bushwacking onward. “Hey, bear!” I responded. We were trying to return to his sailboat—home to a cooler of cold beers. Peter kept going, and described the Fun Scale. Here it is: Type 1 fun is enjoyable while it’s happening. Also known as, simply, fun. Good food, 5.8 hand cra

But it wasn’t until June 2001, while bushwhacking through thickets of Alaskan devil’s club—home to hungry grizzly bears—that I learned of the Fun Scale. Fun, it turns out, is quantifiable. The bushwhacking came about because my friend Peter had invited me to join him on a low-key outing: a boat ride across a gorgeous bay to climb a small, mellow mountain. It sounded like the perfect finish to my trip, as I’d spent the previous month climbing in the Alaska Range. My climbing partner, Scott, and I had had a terrific trip. Though we were often terrified while actually climbing, we loved it later.