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Can I tag along this winter?

Original Post
ellery · · CO, TN, DC · Joined May 2012 · Points: 30

Motivated but inexperienced (though not UNexperienced), I'm taking the winter off work to ditch the dilettante ish and get serious. Four months.

Unless anyone has any better ideas -- and yes, I really am soliciting ideas -- I thought I'd roll out to Colorado and find safe, serious climbers to latch on to until April. Like a puppy, except less cute and a better belayer. (Ever seen a dog try and use a grigri? Freakin disaster.)

I'm determined to haul my weight, literally and figuratively, in exchange for some knowhow, patience, and companionship. And not to over-promise, but I've been known to buy beers. For OTHER PEOPLE.

I have some multi-pitch alpine under my belt, but I'm not yet confident in my skills. No ice experience, but I figure I'll take a clinic somewhere next month to reduce the chance that I accidentally lodge a tool in someone's head. (Someone told me that was bad form. A style thing, I guess?)

By way of description beyond that, I'm in my mid-30s and am considered by people who don't know better to be a smart, successful and sane professional with kind of a rad career thing going on. For whatever that's worth.

Thanks in advance for the flames and derision -- God, the internet is the BEST.

-e

matt c. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 155

do you like longs walks on the beach? hand holding?

Michael Catlett · · Middleburg, VA · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 175

Hey sport, what is your goal? Blowing off your job at your age may not be your best option. I too live in the DC area and as urban as it is here, was very successful at becoming a very strong and accomplished alpinist.

You may want to rethink your approach, and make more use of the various climbing clubs here to meet people to learn from and with. Spend winter weekends in NH and ADK taking classes and learning and perfecting the craft of snow, ice and mixed climbing. Use your vacation and the money you earned by sticking with your career to go to even bigger venues like Chamonix where you can have big peak experiences.

Immersion into climbing is a great way to go if you don't mind living like a dirtbag and putting yourself behind in your career goals. Otherwise I suggest you use your brain, some of your earnings, and be more methodical about accumulating knowledge and skill.....in time you will have all you need to climb the peaks of the world and some economic freedom to go along with it.

Whatever you do good luck!

eyesonice2014 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 140

Taking four months off won't hurt your career. Do it! When questioned by future employers just say you needed time off for personal business. Don't go into details. They will not understand. Neither should it be their business. Hey, they can fire you anytime they please, so go take care of your passion. It will be something you will not regret.

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

Are you planning to ditch work completely or do you have the option of doing some kind of consulting work in your field? That would keep a little cash coming in and possibly look a little better on your resume than four months of complete inactivity.

Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65
Michael S. Catlett wrote:Hey sport, what is your goal? Blowing off your job at your age may not be your best option. I too live in the DC area and as urban as it is here, was very successful at becoming a very strong and accomplished alpinist. You may want to rethink your approach, and make more use of the various climbing clubs here to meet people to learn from and with. Spend winter weekends in NH and ADK taking classes and learning and perfecting the craft of snow, ice and mixed climbing. Use your vacation and the money you earned by sticking with your career to go to even bigger venues like Chamonix where you can have big peak experiences. Immersion into climbing is a great way to go if you don't mind living like a dirtbag and putting yourself behind in your career goals. Otherwise I suggest you use your brain, some of your earnings, and be more methodical about accumulating knowledge and skill.....in time you will have all you need to climb the peaks of the world and some economic freedom to go along with it. Whatever you do good luck!
Don't want to hijack this thread but can you share any additional info about your training/climbing while living in the mid-atlantic? I'm in Baltimore and it's a wasteland. Were you active with PATC?
Michael Catlett · · Middleburg, VA · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 175

Mark Ra, send me a private message and I would be glad to help you with some options.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
Mark Ra wrote: Don't want to hijack this thread but can you share any additional info about your training/climbing while living in the mid-atlantic? I'm in Baltimore and it's a wasteland. Were you active with PATC?
Leave. For the love of god get yourself out of there. Seriously. The most important step a resident of Maryland can take toward improving their climbing is to devote all of their energy to finding a way to relocate.
ellery · · CO, TN, DC · Joined May 2012 · Points: 30

Thanks for all your concern, truly. But I'm gone to be fine with work and money. I've already shifted things around and as long as I can return emails a few times a week, most people won't even know I'm gone.

What's more important to me, and this addresses Michael and Mark Felber's comments, is that I suck as a as a dedicated weekend warrior. Maybe it's ADHD or lack of discipline, but I feel like the last six years or so has been a lot of fitful stops and starts. A lot of loose plans and flakey gym climbing buddies. A lot of dreaming but not a lot of doing.

Immersion is the way for me to move forward. Eliminate distractions, don't give myself excuses. Just do it.

Plus, ya know, FOUR MONTHS of climbing and training. I'm just stoked about it.

dan zika · · jax wy · Joined May 2009 · Points: 5

climbing is surely possible year round in front range, climbing in winter means flexibility for sure. Unless your in potero chico, it even snows at j-tree.
Long trips mean makeing connections out west & provides different places to escape the weather.
I have been on a bunch of trips & there are alot of places & people to meet. I live in front range & will climb with you if you like. Ideas think farther south& west for more warmth!!!

Sean Brokaw · · Boulder, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 5

Potrero would be a great place for a beginner climber to spend the winter. There will be people to climb with and good weather. There are climbs of all grades with a lot of them being pretty moderate in nature. Partners are easy to find if you're solo.

Sam Bedell · · Bend, OR · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 442

If alpine is your goal... Live out of your car, start in Ouray and work north, finish in the Canadian Rockies in March. Be open to having a bunch of partners, focus on mileage over difficulty. Do you know how to ski? Or are you stuck on slow shoes? Figure out what you can use for transport in the back country. Can't find a partner for a few days and already caught up on laundry? Head to the Tetons or another accessible range. Hike in for a night or two and solo easy gullies with low avy potential and easy ridges.

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

Your location says DC, but you posted this in the CO forum. Where are you gonna be located this winter? I'm an ex-DC climber and I know what it's like. If you're in CO, I'd be happy to climb. I have a pretty flexible, remote-work tech job and can usually get out midweek with 24 hrs advance notice.

teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

If you are going to be in the Denver area, hit me up. I currently get some big breaks in my work schedule, and I often have mornings off.

My physical skill level is pathetic, but my knowledge is fine: I've been screwing around on cliffs for two decades.

And I won't give you any shit or advice about your career: that's your problem. :-)

Note: year-round rock climbing is completely possible in Denver. There are better places to vacation for rock climbing in the winter, but we'll have climbable days aplenty.

Marc Durant · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 0

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but the best thing I ever did for my ice climbing was live in North Conway, NH. Lots of ice, easy access, cheap rent. By comparison, ice climbing the front range of Colorado makes me want to hang up my tools for good. Spending a month in Ouray would be pretty sweet, though.

ellery · · CO, TN, DC · Joined May 2012 · Points: 30

Thanks, everyone, for their replies -- especially the folks who've reached out individually. Really appreciate all of it.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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