New and Experienced Climbers Over 50 #15

Talking about fishing I like the drinking part of fishing   

Fishing is SO boring!!!

Carl Schneiderwrote:

Talking about fishing I like the drinking part of fishing   

Fishing is SO boring!!!

Oh dear. I sense a fuck poem coming. 

Jan wrote: "I've never been one to hunt big fish like Bob."

One time in Alaska I hiked into a lake loaded with arctic grayling and went float tubing with my wife Yvonne. Grayling are a small but beautiful fish with iridescent coloring and a graceful sailfish-like dorsal fin.

Of any fish that I've ever fished for, they are the most eager to take a fly, often jumping out of the water, then eating the dry fly on the way down!

When I paddled out into the lake I threw my line out to get everything situated, put on my sunglasses, etc. When I pulled on the line there was a fish attached. You know it's going to be really good when you catch one without even trying.

I had a little clicker to count how many fish we caught. Between the two of us, in about 4 hours, we caught and released 126 grayling. So I asked my wife, "What would you rather do, catch 50 graying in a day or one 20-pound rainbow?" She didn't hesitate to answer "50 grayling."

Me, I'd rather catch one 20-pound rainbow. Between the two of us, Yvonne has caught the biggest rainbow, by far, from the old private Conway Pond near Mono Lake. When I went to weigh it in the net it bottomed out my 15 pound scale, so I measured it: 35 inches long with a 23-inch girth. My guesstimate was 23 pounds.

A discussion about language and some climbing. Coincidentally the first climb is called A Quiet Chat. It was a lovely evening on a warmish Autumn day today (32 degrees). 

https://youtu.be/1Jm-vTHC9xs

Very cool, these conversations about fishing.  We don't have a lot of fish here in Joshua Tree, and even fewer good fishing spots in the Park, but I guess it doesn't hurt to bring a pole along just in case.  

But I have been dreaming about the Colorado River, one of those places that half-formed my childhood and teen years.  Sometimes we stayed at Big Bend and I seem to recall the men setting out in rowboats early in the morning to go catch frogs in the long reeds close to Parker Dam and cooking them up for breakfast.  And I also remember sitting on various docks and seeing bluegill, or perhaps perch glistening in the water--and once some kind of water snake.  I'll bet there's some fun fishing there?  

As a teen, during semester finals my friends and I either piled in the car to head for the River, or up to Big Sur... toss of the coin.  There was no money for hotels, so we camped... often in blazing heat, stuck a can of beans and whole chicken on a campfire, and drank a lot through the night--drive back to LA a week later, scorched but happy. Sometimes a night  would end with a jump in the river at 2 a.m.when Fox's closed.  One thing about the River, there was no shortage of partners to dance with, all night long.  I have always wondered why there is no Fox's or Sundance on the American River?  What a wonderful way to pass days and nights....   

 I miss water skiing a lot, and also watching boat races along the river (1968?).  But hopping on a jet ski is next best thing today.  There is a place at Lake Havasu I discovered a decade ago... it's probably the main river dumping into the Lake...looked like a mini-Grand Canyon.  I wonder if I could get Tony on a jet ski and ease on up to see it again.  (Thinking about Easter Vacation)

All that to say, I miss water.  And strangely, I miss the rivers and lakes of No. Cal. but I am planning on spending most of July there.  Throw a raft in the water a mile upriver, and spend the afternoon drifting back down.  

So... you all have found ways to have that balance in life.  So nice to read about.  I'll consider becoming 'one with the trout'...     

This fish was caught in the pool right below the route OLH in Piedra Canyon. Helen knows where it is.

I think my avatar and moniker make it obvious I really like to fish.

Parachute Adamswrote:

This fish was caught in the pool right below the route OLH in Piedra Canyon. Helen knows where it is.

I think my avatar and moniker make it obvious I really like to fish.

Oh! It's beautiful there, too! That's part of it, I think? Beautiful fish!

I grew up on the Columbia. So, salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, all showed up pretty often. 

Lori Milaswrote:

What is everyone climbing these days, or doing (if not climbing?)  Are you training? Laying low?  Busy elsewhere?  What are you planning on climbing this season? Pictures would be great!! 

Been climbing plastic and wood in the gym.  My 22yo climbing partner has convinced me that I need Instagram so I post some climbing vids/pic - https://www.instagram.com/killfatmike/

I am looking forward to some travel and climbing post-vaccine this summer.  I will likely spend a few weeks in the Gunks as I am overdue to visit family and friends NY :)

Bob Gaineswrote:

Me, I'd rather catch one 20-pound rainbow. Between the two of us, Yvonne has caught the biggest rainbow, by far, from the old private Conway Pond near Mono Lake. When I went to weigh it in the net it bottomed out my 15 pound scale, so I measured it: 35 inches long with a 23-inch girth. My guesstimate was 23 pounds.

Imagine all the little rainbows that thing eats to get that big! Did she catch that fly fishing? What weight tippet? 

I'm hearing rumors that my local climbing gym might re-open as soon as next week. I'm not even sure, at  this point, how I feel about that. I bet it'll be exciting to see some of the old gym gang again.

This month is a shit show for me with elderly parent health and moving issues, so it'll probably be a while before I visit the gym anyway. 

Lori, I also grew up water skiing.  Shasta was my favorite place to ski, the water is just so slippery it makes skiing bouys easier.  And in the afternoon, when your skin is torched, you could go stand in the upper Sac and fish to cool down.  The first time we took innertubes up the upper Sac we drove about 10 miles above the lake and figured we could float down to the lake.  About 6 hours later we realized we still had about 8 miles to go and tossed the innertubes and hiked up to the 5 and hitched back to camp.

I hated skiing on the Colorado, all those minerals make the water NOT slippery.  Had I been about 3 inches taller and weighed another 40 pounds I might have been a professional water skiier.  But at 5'3" and 115 pounds I just didn't weigh enough to keep a ski in the water at 36 miles per hour.  I was world class at 31 miles per hour and not even a started when being pulled at regulation speed.  I haven't skied in about 15 years but the last time I went it was great.  When we put the boat in, that warm alive water smell mixed with boat smells was just so wonderful and nostalgic.  Made me smile!

Lori Milaswrote:

What is everyone climbing these days, or doing (if not climbing?)  Are you training? Laying low?  Busy elsewhere?  What are you planning on climbing this season? Pictures would be great!! 

Starting to pack up everything to move the family from CT to MA.  Moving sucks.

No fishing stories, I'm a lousy fishing person.  

No climbing.  I don't think climbing gyms are worth the risk, and it's too hard to get outside in this weather (and with a family who needs my time).  

Only moderately interesting thing I'm doing is maple sugaring.  Every year in March I zip out to my family's cabin for a few hours to tap a dozen or so sugar maples and make a few gallons of maple syrup.

Here's a photo of the sugar shack:

Here's a link to a couple of videos.  One from just inside the door of the sugar shack, looking out over one of the collection buckets and over our pond.  The second video shows the operation inside the shack, with the raw sap being siphoned into the pre-heater, then flowing into the boiling pan (syrup, when it's done, comes out the final channel).  Then stepping outside to see the steam rising from the shack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QINVOywn258&list=PLSdiW4PbLOEu6N9u4z_3Tbf286CRyQrV2&index=1

Cheers,

GO

wendy weisswrote:

It's interesting what attracts men. When I lived in Somerville, MA I thought the easiest way to meet men would be to lift the hood of your car and stare in at the engine.

When did you move out west?  I lived in Somerville from 93 to 2008, before moving to Denver.  I absolutely loved it there, but Somervillans are a unique breed, for sure.  

Slightly car related:  I once put my blinker on to pull into a parking spot in Davis Square.  Car behind me did not want to go around me to let me back into the spot.  He eventually got out of his car and started banging on my window and cursing at me in an excellent Boston accent.  Good times. 

GO

I just can't wait until I get my Fckn shots!

GabeOwrote:

When did you move out west?  I lived in Somerville from 93 to 2008, before moving to Denver.  I absolutely loved it there, but Somervillans are a unique breed, for sure.  

Slightly car related:  I once put my blinker on to pull into a parking spot in Davis Square.  Car behind me did not want to go around me to let me back into the spot.  He eventually got out of his car and started banging on my window and cursing at me in an excellent Boston accent.  Good times. 

GO

We moved to CO in '75. In Somerville, we lived above a bar at the corner of Somerville Ave and Lowell St. When we visited Cambridge-Somerville briefly in 2008, the bar had been replaced by condos. Harvard Square was almost unrecognizable. But your Davis Square story tells me that some things hadn't changed.

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

I just can't wait until I get my Fckn shots!

I was fortunate and got my early through a client of mine who had excess allotments. It's such a relief. 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

I just can't wait until I get my Fckn shots!

I'm sure it's partly more supply, but apparently there are LOTS of people not getting vacced here.

I was quite startled but pleased to discover that my anticipated slot (64 no health issues) has gone from a very vague May (at best, hedged with "late summer") to later this month!!! I'm on the statewide list that's supposed to be used for appointments, so we'll see. I'm trying to not be too skeptical.

H.

I just realized I’m experiencing a little burnout, not sure what to do about it.  I had pretty extensive dental surgery last week, that second COVID shot laid me out... it’s cold... maybe this is like when you’re very ready for spring break?
And yet I really, sincerely want to climb RFYL this season, or at least make a stab at it. I have so much work to do.
Every time I go out I learn something more that makes the day worth it. Today it was how to lean off a crack that had no edge, and how to take tiny steps up a wide smear.
Sometimes I think this is goofy. How does all this effort amount to anything? But... it’s one of the few things that once acquired, it belongs to me.

Humming Burning Sky while climbing today... 

I am almost 59.. VT just jumped the 16 and older with  high risk medical conditions ahead of us old folks. all the fat kids that don't even want the shot went to the front of the line.... 

Jan Mcwrote:

Lori, I also grew up water skiing.  Shasta was my favorite place to ski, the water is just so slippery it makes skiing bouys easier.  And in the afternoon, when your skin is torched, you could go stand in the upper Sac and fish to cool down.  The first time we took innertubes up the upper Sac we drove about 10 miles above the lake and figured we could float down to the lake.  About 6 hours later we realized we still had about 8 miles to go and tossed the innertubes and hiked up to the 5 and hitched back to camp.

I hated skiing on the Colorado, all those minerals make the water NOT slippery.  Had I been about 3 inches taller and weighed another 40 pounds I might have been a professional water skiier.  But at 5'3" and 115 pounds I just didn't weigh enough to keep a ski in the water at 36 miles per hour.  I was world class at 31 miles per hour and not even a started when being pulled at regulation speed.  I haven't skied in about 15 years but the last time I went it was great.  When we put the boat in, that warm alive water smell mixed with boat smells was just so wonderful and nostalgic.  Made me smile!

Wow, Jan... I loved it too, and at 14-15 we talked about my training to be competitive.  I felt fearless and free on water, not so much on snow!    Being 30 pounds heavier now, and body just different, getting back on a ski was really hard on my arms. Surprised!

I climb with someone here who is about the same height and weight as you and he is aggressive and SO strong. He is just a positive can-do guy. High reaches and high steps pose no problem to him... he just bellies up to the rock and GOES.