New and Experienced Climbers Over 50 #12

Carl Schneiderwrote:

I always use static for TR setups. However most times where I climb you're using what we call 'bollards': huge, steel rings. 

Do you go monolithic off of that HUGE ring?

Not judging, just curious.  If it is as solid as it looks, it is definitely as safe as a huge tree.

Cosmiccragsman AKA Dwainwrote: These were taken yesterday at The Pinnacles near Trona and 30 miles to Ridgecrest.
Episodes of Lost in Space and a few other movies were filmed there.
The Pinnacles is near an area called Great Falls that me, my long time climbing partners Greg Conner, Tom Cowie,
and the Infamous Crazy Luke Stong started developing back in the 70s When I worked for Kerr McGee Chemical Corp as a Lab Chemist/Tech.

The Comet, Neowise.

Dwain is our resident artist.  I love every pic I’ve seen. Just beautiful... 

Cosmiccragsman AKA Dwainwrote: These were taken yesterday at The Pinnacles near Trona and 30 miles to Ridgecrest.
Episodes of Lost in Space and a few other movies were filmed there.
The Pinnacles is near an area called Great Falls that me, my long time climbing partners Greg Conner, Tom Cowie,
and the Infamous Crazy Luke Stong started developing back in the 70s When I worked for Kerr McGee Chemical Corp as a Lab Chemist/Tech.

The Comet, Neowise.

I worked for KM for a little over a year in '81 at the Argus plant (machine repairman). Lived in Trona for 3 months, then moved to Ridgecrest. Wasn't climbing then, but didn't like living in Trona. Memories!

FrankPSwrote:

I worked for KM for a little over a year in '81 at the Argus plant (machine repairman). Lived in Trona for 3 months, then moved to Ridgecrest. Wasn't climbing then, but didn't like living in Trona. Memories!

Then you probably worked with my Dad. He built that big mountain of coal that fed the power plant at Argus.

I worked at the main plant just across the RR tracks.
I worked there from the mid 70s to the end of 82 when there was a BIG layoff of over 500 workers.
I had a chance to go back a year or so later but I had gotten a good job working for the phone company
which I retired from in 92 when I started my window washing business.

ErikaNWwrote: I will also share here that I made the decision to resign my position this past week. There are many factors, but feeling that my safety and health of my family was not being taken into account in the decision making process around Covid was a large part of it. I am teaching out my courses this fall semester, doing everything I can on-line. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can afford to be out of work for a few months (Hopefully not much longer than that). 

I retired a year before Covid hit, but if I was still teaching and my institution decided on in-person classes in the out-of-control environment some states have, I would have retired at that point.  The data we are seeing suggests it might be impossible to keep many young people from extensive off-campus socializing, regardless of information about the risks.

Nice photos Dwain! I'll be out at Joshua Tree tomorrow and I'll have to check it out. Were those shots taken at sunset, or at dawn?

Carl, now THAT's a bolt! Maybe 5/8-inch (16mm) diameter?

Back in the 90's I was the rigging/stunt coordinator for an Adidas commercial at the Alabama Hills (near Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney, CA) where we built a bridge across a little gorge. The action was that the talent would go out on the rickety rope and wooden slat bridge (actually steel cable instead of rope), and the rope would break and the bridge would collapse, sending the intrepid hiker (the famous climber Ron Kauk was the stuntman) into the void. As he fell, the rope caught around his ankle, saving the day. Not an easy one to rig (had to consult an engineer)!

We had to rig it so the bridge could collapse and be raised back up to do it again several times. The granite was a little decomposed, so we used 3/4-inch (19mm) diameter rawl expansion bolts, rated at 35,000 pounds (or 155 kN) sheer strength!

rgoldwrote:

 The data we are seeing suggests it might be impossible to keep many young people from extensive off-campus socializing, regardless of information about the risks.

I'm not even sure we need data. Just remember back to being 18 or 19 and going to college. Someone tells you that you MIGHT get sick if you go to that party. But you might also meet someone beautiful and fun and go home together. One of the reasons my son decided not to go to college back East this semester is that he looked at their anti-Covid plan for the residential students and just decided it was totally unrealistic and that it's going to blow up quick because of non-compliance. Why move back East if you're just going to get sent home 6 weeks later when the school shuts down?

Beautiful photos, Dwain!

Bob Gaineswrote: Nice photos Dwain! I'll be out at Joshua Tree tomorrow and I'll have to check it out. Were those shots taken at sunset, or at dawn?

Carl, now THAT's a bolt! Maybe 5/8-inch (16mm) diameter?

Back in the 90's I was the rigging/stunt coordinator for an Adidas commercial at the Alabama Hills (near Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney, CA) where we built a bridge across a little gorge. The action was that the talent would go out on the rickety rope and wooden slat bridge (actually steel cable instead of rope), and the rope would break and the bridge would collapse, sending the intrepid hiker (the famous climber Ron Kauk was the stuntman) into the void. As he fell, the rope caught around his ankle, saving the day. Not an easy one to rig (had to consult an engineer)!

We had to rig it so the bridge could collapse and be raised back up to do it again several times. The granite was a little decomposed, so we used 3/4-inch (19mm) diameter rawl expansion bolts, rated at 35,000 pounds (or 155 kN) sheer strength!

They were taken at dawn, Bob. Now you can see Neowise in the evening just after dusk and around 9 to 9:30pm,in the next couple days.The best viewing time should be this weekend when it is higher in the sky and a little later,  and darker. You can still see it just before dawn but it starts to get close to dawn and not as bright. In the evening it's to the  NW and morning, NE sky

Thanks Dwain!

Gabe and I did the West Ridge of Mt. Washington last Sunday. It was a wonderful day in the mountains with a great partner.

Clouds rolled by through the day keeping the temps down and making for great imagery.

Cover shot for the next issue of AARP

I hadn't climbed this peak since early spring of 1985. Before that it was high school. I recall it being smaller...

A few more pics here https://photos.app.goo.gl/7cLKkwkZf5KNrvU89

Ken

The scamdemic has one purpose- to get Trump out of office. I have never seen so much lying by “officials” “politicians” “media” in my life.

At first a over abundance of caution was justified. When the President stopped travel from China - he was BBQ and touted as racist etc.... but he knew the Communist Chinese were locking down Whuhan (sp) residents from travel EXCEPT they could go International if they wished.  Smells fishy??? 

So you all can fry me if you like, at this point what the hell? I have never seen my country in such bad shape. We usta be strong and fearless- that courage is gone. So go ahead and hide under the blankets, it’s only OK to show your face if you’re goin to “protest” and rip down history. 

A truly sad time for us. 

rgoldwrote:

I retired a year before Covid hit, but if I was still teaching and my institution decided on in-person classes in the out-of-control environment some states have, I would have retired at that point.  The data we are seeing suggests it might be impossible to keep many young people from extensive off-campus socializing, regardless of information about the risks.

That's what's happened in Boulder. In North Boulder, where I live, wearing masks seems to be a point of pride. But on The Hill (CU) there have been big indoor parties followed by spikes. I'd like to see a barbed wire fence around the hill and the students could party there to their hearts' content, but armed guard towers would keep them from leaving.   

No idea how I'd have handled it when I was their age. Probably not parties, but, unlike now, it wouldn't have kept me from demonstrations.    

Guy Keeseewrote: The scamdemic has one purpose- to get Trump out of office. I

You seem like a really nice person so I have no interest in blasting you. But a simple question: Covid deaths worldwide are approximately 573,000. In the US it's approximately 137,000 dead. Just so I understand, you're saying that 436,000 people who aren't even in the US died as a "scam" to get Trump out of office? Plus 137,000 in the US? That seems odd. 

If you guys (no pun intended) wish to stay as online friends, maybe it's best to keep pandemic politics off of this thread? Just sayin'.

Lori Milaswrote: Dallas wrote:  
Lori will laugh at this, but it got all the way up to 78f and we were dying....

I am laughing.  Here in Rocklin (Sacramento) it was 106 today and the air conditioner broke in the house. It is currently 95 degrees INSIDE as we speak at 11:08 pm and Tony is too stubborn to go to a hotel. We are downstairs with each a personal fan and bucket of ice next to sleeping sofas.  I was out climbing and didn’t have sunscreen so I am cooked like a lobster and sleepless .  I wish we were in Joshua Tree where it is cool.    

But if rgold’s metric is any good things must be ok because nothing is on eBay (yet) and I am planning the next outing.

Very interesting pictures Dallas.  Following this conversation.  

What the hell is wrong with MP platform now?  It was one thing losing the emojis, another entirely that it eats whole paragraphs.  I wanted all of Guy’s dissertation.

Lori

We have been living here since June 1986. Never saw 106 degrees. A lot of high 90s and very humid,

We also went climbing this morning and baked in the sun and also the shade. I had to take my shirt off since I was sweating like a succulent pig and was sticking to me. Jean took a picture of my back and laughed at the sweat rolling off of me. We did a couple of climbs and then said screw this.

I have lost about 10 pounds so far and need to lose another 10 before our trip out west in late August. Also, I am now as old as my wife today,

John

Somehow we’ve managed thru close to 13,000 posts to stay really civil and friendly—only a couple times nearly went off the rails.  I’m sure it’s hard to be the lone opposition voice on this really difficult topic (Guy).
Glad you posted. 

Buck Rogerswrote:

Do you go monolithic off of that HUGE ring?

Not judging, just curious.  If it is as solid as it looks, it is definitely as safe as a huge tree.

They're obviously very handy. At our local crag almost all routes have these then there's one route with carrot bolts. 

Oldtradguywrote:

Also, I am now as old as my wife today,

John

Happy birthday. I think. 

Carl Schneiderwrote:

Happy birthday. I think. 

Carl

Thanks. It is today July 14.

John