New and Experienced Climbers Over 50 #13

Lori Milaswrote:

My mum hated getting older because all her friends only talked about their doctors--every phone conversation started with which doctor they had seen today, and what new ailment they had.  

Kinda sums this thead series up and why I don't participate.

Idaho Bobwrote:

For inspiration, look at Fred Beckey, he never gave up.  Look at "Life of a Dirtbag" if you haven't already seen it.  As we age I think there are two options to continuing an active life.  One is to accept that our level of performance will decline and focus on having fun:  5.7 instead of 5.10, for example, and doing that climbing in a new and interesting location (Mexico, Europe) where the climbing is enriched by tradition and culture and the opportunity to make new friends. The other option is to find other sports, like Robbins did.  Maybe even consider taking up golf (no, not yet!).  

I've watched Dirtbag. Beckey is an inspiration but I can't really think of him as a role model. He sacrificed a lot of other things for his singular focus on climbing. I'm never going to do that.

Greg Oplandwrote:

While I'm sure anyone could make a case that taking it easy on the exercise would lead you a later life where your knees work better, your hips aren't shot, and you don't have a bunch of little aches and pains (that, frankly, I earned!). I'd rather be dead. There are amazing things out there to SEE and DO and being fit is one of the gateways to that life.

Exactly, Greg.  Well, I'm chasing song lyrics now... but 'it's better to burn out than to fade away' comes to mind.  But then that was borrowed from Cobain, who left that in his final suicide note... so hard to know what to make of those words.  

Let's just say, Neil Young wrote plenty about this.  I vote for going for broke.  

Lori Milaswrote:

Exactly, Greg.  Well, I'm chasing song lyrics now... but 'it's better to burn out than to fade away' comes to mind.  But then that was borrowed from Cobain, who left that in his final suicide note... so hard to know what to make of those words.  

Let's just say, Neil Young wrote plenty about this.  I vote for going for broke.  

My friends and I always say it's better to flame out than to rust out.  Live now, it's a long sleep.

Mr Arroz, knower of Royal Robbins, that Beckey tribute movie actually made me cry. My mate laughed at me for it but yeah, I cried.

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

Mr Arroz, knower of Royal Robbins, that Beckey tribute movie actually made me cry. My mate laughed at me for it but yeah, I cried.

Don't overstate the Robbins thing. I was just a kid who liked to look at the cutting edge Jansport packs and big puffy down jackets and collapsable fishing poles. I had NO IDEA who he was at that point other than a guy with a cool store.

I loved the Beckey movie, too. He was one-of-a-kind. 

Here's my Fred Beckey story:  One January weekend in 1982 (or 3?), my love and I decided on the spur of the moment to drive to Reno and get married.  His best friend was to be our witness and he was working Saturday night, so on Sunday AM, we drove to Royal Gorge for a day of cross-country skiing.  After we were done, we drove into Reno and went to City Hall and had a lovely 10 minute ceremony there, in our ski clothes.  We had booked a cheap hotel in South Lake Tahoe for the night, so we drove there.  We were starving and we went to Caesar's Casino to the All you can eat Buffet for dinner.  My husband came back to the table from the buffet line, and announced that Fred Beckey was sitting by himself at a table, reading one of his own large format climbing books. And indeed, there he was. Apparently our choice of a wedding dinner venue met dirtbag standards.  

As a P.S. - the next morning, we went to one of the casinos for the cheap breakfast and I won $100 in one of those giant slot machines.  I think that paid for most of the wedding costs.

My Becky Story, 1978.  I had graduated early from high school and my friend and I drove across the country to Yosemite.  We were getting ready to do After Six when Becky comes charging up the hill with a much younger, beautiful blond girl (just like the stories.)  He throws his rope down in front of us, blasts up the first pitch, and by the time i lead up to the anchor they were both out of sight. Never saw them again!

Jim Tittwrote:

Kinda sums this thead series up and why I don't participate.

Hi, Jim! I've always read everything you posted, everytime, starting from day one of my participation on MP! Even back when bearbreeder was on here and a certain physics professor would be speaking in tongues. Er, math. Equationish type stuff. ;-)

...............

Re Beckey, joking based on that great film, I am sorta becoming Beckey, in a minor way. I've heard the comment from more than one person that they wouldn't want to be the one to 'kill' OLH, lol!

It was 75ish here yesterday! Going down 10+ degrees per day, with the highs 40 or lower starting Sunday. Teens overnight. Snow in the forecast all week. Sheesh.

That's the one thing that has always annoyed me here. Temps in the 70s are something you only get to wave at, for a few days, in between hot or cold. It moves fast! We could be great at any time...or not, the next day. It's so nice to not have any thing like a schedule anymore, so I can get outside (and not mow the grass) whenever it is vaguely cooperative.

My project now, is to get health insurance set up. My City of Boise stuff finally runs out end of the year. Technically I'm poor enough to qualify for the health exchange stuff. It just comes down to picking how much I want to pay, to get less huge deductibles. How they consider "affordable" affordable is beyond me. I can get $6000 deductible for "free" (actually a tax credit, sorted out next year), or pay $600ish per month to get it down to $1200. That's about the best I get, or somewhere in between. It's not health insurance at all at this point. Just disaster insurance, and expensive. Just for the years from now until Medicare sign up. 

I can always choose to do it differently, too. But, I'd rather burn through my kids inheritance for fun stuff, than have some dumbass medical bill eat the whole works, lol!

For now, it's balancing my hatred of paying so much for so little. I think the deciding factor will be if any of the plans wave deductibles for accidents. I'm just ridiculously healthy, with zero issues, except arthritis. But arthritis treatment, for me, is go climbing or hiking or walking or rowing...and don't gain weight, lol!

Got out again yesterday, but it was a mission to unstick a stuck cam. It was awkward to get to, but my climber got it out, yay! Not sure, but I think it might be one Steve Price sent me. Or Fritz. Either way, I'm glad it's back!

Best, Helen

Jim Tittwrote:

Kinda sums this thead series up and why I don't participate.

Like OLH, I'm a big fan.  If you wanted to take this thread in a new direction, I would be all ears.  The over-50 crowd is a helluva big tent.  There's more than enough room to tell a lot of different kinds of stories.

Cheers,

GO

Cherokee Nuneswrote:

Wow Moonarie looks amazing. Had to check out the geology after peeking at Carl's link up there (the explanation of the formations left me wanting). Wilpena Pound is a syncline, as I suspected looking at the image Lori shared. Here's a different view I saw on Wikipedia  

The rock looks amazing. The wilderness aspect of it calls like a siren. Have fun Mr. Schneider. Please post some pics when you get back?

Yeah, TBH I thought it was a meteor crater until yesterday! 

Carl, it looks WONDERFUL!! Have a great time, eh?

Lori Milaswrote:

Exactly, Greg.  Well, I'm chasing song lyrics now... but 'it's better to burn out than to fade away' comes to mind.  But then that was borrowed from Cobain, who left that in his final suicide note... so hard to know what to make of those words.  

Let's just say, Neil Young wrote plenty about this.  I vote for going for broke.  

Neil Young first 1979

Highlander (movie) 1986 

before Cobain.

Carl Schneiderwrote:

I'm getting nervous...Two days and I'll be here...

   

https://zenandtheartofclimbing.com/moonarie-south-australia/

Super Carl, have fun! Share pics?

We got out at Rumney today. Didn't do much (didn't have so much time, and the place is too crowded during the week, these days). But it was something.

Greg Oplandwrote:

While I'm sure anyone could make a case that taking it easy on the exercise would lead you a later life where your knees work better, your hips aren't shot, and you don't have a bunch of little aches and pains (that, frankly, I earned!). I'd rather be dead. There are amazing things out there to SEE and DO and being fit is one of the gateways to that life.

Fit is kind of a moving target.  Lots of variables.  But the one thing I do know is that there are amazing things out there to see and do.  

I like this: 

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

Dallas Rwrote:

Fit is kind of a moving target.  Lots of variables.  But the one thing I do know is that there are amazing things out there to see and do.  

I like this: 

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

My version?

Be as alive as possible...until I'm not. :-)

Dallas Rwrote:

Fit is kind of a moving target.  Lots of variables.  But the one thing I do know is that there are amazing things out there to see and do.  

I like this: 

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

Is That Hunter S. Thompson I've heard it before. 

I did some sports leading today; an 11, 15, 16 and a 23. Had a couple of sits on the 16 and 23. I'd done the 23 before but I'd forgotten that. I was happy with my head space and I read the routes quite well. Abseiled off the chains rather than lowering and it's been about a year since I did that esp off a sports route. Made a change from top roping and good prep for my trip... 

dragonswrote:

Super Carl, have fun! Share pics?

Certainly if I can. Coverage is pretty shitty out there... 

On my way, been traveling for 4 hours another 1.5 to go. 36 degrees already... 

Carl Schneiderwrote:

On my way, been traveling for 4 hours another 1.5 to go. 36 degrees already... 

36! The high here today! Oh wait....

So happy for your road trip, kid!! I've got snow. Wahoo.