Yesterday I was so bored I dyed my hair orange. Today I decided to stop being lazy and hung my Rock Rings from my chin up bar. Done 50 chinups so far (doing easy sets of 5). I reckon by the end of the day I'll have done 100 easy.
Randy wrote: ^^^^ Looks like last pitch of Hoodwink?
Oh, it does! But if my file name is to be trusted, it’s Truckin’ Drive.
I have a folder on my computer called “old scanned slides”. I haven’t looked at it in ages but I did the other day. There’s a hodgepodge of subjects in there, including an odd assortment of old climbing photos.
Checking in here. It's been so nice following along on everyone else's journey right now. Randy... your trail pictures look lovely! And seeing pictures of Bob Gaines. How to say this right: I just know 'Bob'... the guy who has taught me climbing, makes sure I'm tethered to a rock if I'm belaying him, and coaches me on footwork on my little climbs. I don't know the guy in that picture climbing upside down!!! Like a little kid who only knows 'mom and dad'... my climbing history is two+ years. This is crazy good for all you veterans who are posting some history and pictures. THANK YOU.
What are you guys making of all the changes and challenges we are facing now? How are your short and long term plans changing?
So... we are at the exact halfway mark of our trip to Joshua Tree, which was to be a home-buying trip. We have spent these last two weeks just trying to adjust to the new normal... even here. There are plenty of houses around here, but with so much up in the air it's really hard to pull the trigger. I was supposed to sell my house in Rocklin, and pay cash for one here. Big loans, fancy financing, all seem a bit dicey right now. My home in Rocklin is going nowhere right now. By law, it cannot even be shown. Someone would have to buy it from a 'virtual tour'.
But taking a walk up Park Avenue yesterday I had the same buzz about Joshua Tree... knowing that just over those hills is a special place. A beloved place. I still feel it, and no amount of shut down changes that. There is an outline on one of the hills that looks like the silhouette of a woman's face... she has comforted me for many years and still does.
So, I'm reassured that regardless... my heart is here, and climbing is in my blood. Maybe that's what I needed to know all along.
We may decide it's best to go back home in April and regroup. Sometimes you just can't force what doesn't want to happen. We're all on a day-to-day need to know basis. Anything can change.
What I'm really contemplating right now is that life may not be 'normal' for a long time... or ever. Tony was used to going to the gym every morning at 5--meeting up with some buddies and getting a good workout. That gym may not reopen. It's hard to imagine Pipeworks reopening... how could they ever assure the public that it's safe? What two places could most easily transmit bugs... but gyms and climbing gyms? So I'm thinking about patching together a home gym in the event that they do not reopen soon. A stationary bike for Tony (he has a bad back and cannot do outdoor stuff much .. yet). I bought a Total Gym about 5 years ago and never used it one time. It's light, it's easy... and I can watch Christy Brinkley doing her thing (or Chuck Norris ) I checked out Peloton, just to see what fancy folks do now... I guess that's where we're going: virtual everything. Pipeworks graciously is posting live streaming workout videos and yoga. I know Sender One is doing the same.
By my house is a beautiful quarry. Up the road is an enormous climbing area... alongside the American River. Further up the road is Donner, Truckee, and 'over yonder' Lovers' Leap and Sugarloaf. I don't know how any of these places can be 'closed' as they were never 'open' in the first place. Practicing social distancing, they can be climbed at some point. I've wanted to get my hands on Sugarloaf for a long time. I hear just getting to it is the hardest part... quite a hike/scramble.
------------------------------ Todd must have felt my vibe yesterday because he sent me a 4 a.m. FB message:
"It's time to be happy to eat, breathe, read, watch TV, drink, listen to music, go for hikes, exercise
Don't be depressed
You are not sick or dead
That is something to celebrate
It beats the hell out of being hooked up to a respiratory in a hospital
You will get there
It's not an easy journey now"
I feel such love for all my friends, for virtual friends, for everyone who reaches out. One thing I've been thinking a lot about is volunteering somewhere... when things settle a bit. Back in Sacramento there's a long street of homeless people. There's plenty here, too. All kinds of opportunities to share some love.
--------------------------
What we need will be here, when we need it.
This week (maybe today) Tony and I are going to take a break and drive to the Colorado River. THAT is a place I have held dear since I was a kid. Water skiing up and down between Parker Dam and the other dam (why was water skiing so effortless when we were 12, and pretty hard on the arms now?)... camping at Castle Rock, laying out on the deck at Foxy's, watching the boats race up and down the river. That's when they had boats and fast ones, too Later, staying at Lake Havasu, jet skiing, celebrating life. I don't THINK there's a law against having a swim somewhere along this river...
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Lastly... yesterday we were in Palm Springs to get groceries. What I saw was beautiful bouganvillas, incredible mountains, reservation land to hike on. What Tony saw was this. We had to stop to inspect and admire this car. I have to just shrug my shoulders here. Don't know what to make of it.
Carl Schneider wrote: Yesterday I was so bored I dyed my hair orange. Today I decided to stop being lazy and hung my Rock Rings from my chin up bar. Done 50 chinups so far (doing easy sets of 5). I reckon by the end of the day I'll have done 100 easy.
Pictures of the orange hair, or it didn't happen. :D
Pictures of the orange hair, or it didn't happen. :D
It doesn't look all that orange is this photo but believe me it is...
Trouble is I thought I'd be isolating at home, but I've been selected for a role as a contact tracer with the health department...
You know, it's funny. Since I started climbing 8 years ago I really haven't trained at all. A few pushups and chinups here and there, a kettlebell workout or two, I've probably trained on average once every three to six months; all I've really done is climbed; normally four times a week; indoor and outdoor bouldering, outdoor sports climbing, indoor and outdoor top roping and trad climbing.
So now that I can't climb at the moment due to The Virus I did 100 chinups yesterday (throughout the day from 9 to 4), in very easy sets of 5. No set was at all hard (of course). This morning, I was expecting to be slightly sore in my lats (which I am) but also I'm VERY sore in my upper abs; right at the top of my rub cage, due I imaging to lifting my knees up slightly (I hung Metolius Rock Rings on a chin up bar so needed to lift my knees so me feet didn't touch the floor).
It's interesting to me that when you mix things up a bit you get quite valuable feedback on what exactly you're working. Was always the same when i used to lift weights. If I stopped for a little bit and then did, say, bench presses I'd het feedback the next day by way of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and feel it not only in my pecs but also my lats. Anyway, tomorrow I'll lift my game and do sets of 7, with a view to sets of ten...
Establishing a problem by yourself like that is very cool, with no spotter. We're you slightly worried at all when you got that last move?
Very cool...
Yes, nice video Todd! And good music is so important ;)
Carl, I was also thinking, gee, why not just top rope this (mainly because of the landing which looks a bit rough). I wonder how risky it is doing this alone. I know plenty of people do it, and I guess it's close enough to the road if you broke something...?
I noticed that there were two pads stacked on top of each other. What's the rationale for that? I'm not a boulderer. I have a Metolius pad that I've rarely used. It's really firm and I always wonder what would happen if I actually fell on it in an uncontrolled way.
Another comment: why do boulderers never seem to want to wear helmets?
dragons wrote: Another comment: why do boulderers never seem to want to wear helmets?
I'm not a boulderer but the simple answer would be that helmets in climbing are primarily a protection from objects (rocks, dropped gear, etc) falling onto you from above. That's not really a threat on a boulder.
Yes, nice video Todd! And good music is so important ;)
Carl, I was also thinking, gee, why not just top rope this (mainly because of the landing which looks a bit rough). I wonder how risky it is doing this alone. I know plenty of people do it, and I guess it's close enough to the road if you broke something...?
I noticed that there were two pads stacked on top of each other. What's the rationale for that? I'm not a boulderer. I have a Metolius pad that I've rarely used. It's really firm and I always wonder what would happen if I actually fell on it in an uncontrolled way.
Another comment: why do boulderers never seem to want to wear helmets?
No comments about boulders and helmets but put those pads to use, bouldering (much better then the gym in my opinion) will get you a good climbing workout, improve your climbing technique and improve your focus/head for leading. Excellent way to climb.
I'm not a boulderer but the simple answer would be that helmets in climbing are primarily a protection from objects (rocks, dropped gear, etc) falling onto you from above. That's not really a threat on a boulder.
Guess I disagree. The reason that I wear a helmet is to protect my skull (and thereby my brain) from impact. Impact can happen when I fall to the ground in an awkward way. [Edit: or smash against the wall in a fall, or fall upside against the wall etc.]
"COVID-19: At REI, we encourage you to get outside responsibly. Stay local, avoid recreational travel"
Well, I know one person on this thread that is not acting very responsible by traveling, driving when not necessary, and climbing.. They may think they are safe, but accidents do happen no matter how safe they think they are.
Cosmiccragsman AKA Dwain wrote: "COVID-19: At REI, we encourage you to get outside responsibly. Stay local, avoid recreational travel"
Well, I know one person on this thread that is not acting very responsible by traveling, driving when not necessary, and climbing.. They may think they are safe, but accidents do happen no matter how safe they think they are.
Todd said it was him a couple weeks before lockdown?
No comments about boulders and helmets but put those pads to use, bouldering (much better then the gym in my opinion) will get you a good climbing workout, improve your climbing technique and improve your focus/head for leading. Excellent way to climb.
In general, I like to climb routes (trad or sport). When the weather is good, mostly I go out with my regular trad partner.
I got the pad prior to hooking up with my current partner. At that point, I did use the pad, but I think what I was doing was probably a bit dangerous. Not sure what the result would've been if I'd fallen.
I did use the pad to do a little bouldering last year. It feels kind of risky doing that without a spotter (although I do wear a helmet). I have glass ankles - I tend to roll and sprain them, and then it takes months to recover. Bouldering close to the ground is fun, though!
Guess I disagree. The reason that I wear a helmet is to protect my skull (and thereby my brain) from impact. Impact can happen when I fall to the ground in an awkward way. [Edit: or smash against the wall in a fall, or fall upside against the wall etc.]
I wasn't explaining to you why YOU wear a helmet, though. Traditionally, helmets in climbing were there as hard hats, to protect against falling rocks and stuff. That's just a fact and why until very recently they were all hard plastic shells with no crumple zones (unlike a bike helmet). I'm with you in why I wear a helmet. Plus I wear a BD Vector that DOES crumple on impact if I ever hit my head hard into wall.
Hey Dwain, I appreciate your point and I have not left the house to do anything other than work (thankfully still working) for two weeks. The climbing was on march 2.
I am totally jonesing to get back out there, though!
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