New and Experienced Climbers Over 50 #16

Jarrod Webbwrote:

Hey Carl,  free advice is worth what you pay for it, so here it comes. I've had to lay off climbing due to injury before and it's not easy because my social circles are in that community, however I will say that slab climbing if you have any near by is a thing I do more of if I start trashing my arms. I sympathize dude.

Great advice. And like you, all my friends are climbers. I have no other social activities which is what makes it hard. I'll definitely get on some slab! 

Guy Keeseewrote:

Williams FW11 …… room for one.

Lori- you need to surprise Tony. Go here after the Doc in Irvine.
https://www.petersen.org/ 

Good luck with the climbing. 

Carl- rest that sucker- go for a motorcycle ride. I loved the photo- history of your little town- and the bouldering spot close by. Looks good. 

I'd love to go for a motorcycle ride but yesterday is was 3.4 degrees at 230PM. It's also raining almost constantly... I went to that bouldering spot on Sunday... I DID rest, for three weeks. Obviously it needs more

Eric Engbergwrote:

I can't dispute any of this but all these efforts to promote the use of clean energy are only confronting the little elephants.  The daddy elephant is our insatiable appetite for energy - clean, dirty or in between.  We  need to reduce that.  How about no private vehicles?  Period.  But even that is ignoring the grand daddy elephant - overpopulation.  Until that is (drastically) reduced all these little measures won't change things much.   But I bet mother earth has something up her sleeve - I suspect Covid is just a warning shot...

I think the biggest elephant in the room is too many people. It's interesting that due to China's one child policy they are heading the way to each child not only needing to look after two old non working parents, but two grandparents too. So now the Chinese government is encouraging people to have two or three children. There's simply too many people on the planet. 

Also, like you say, the argument should not be only about where we get energy from (cleaner energy) but reducing it. When I was a kid we had no TV, no computers. The only things in the house that were electric was an electric jug, a washing machine, a radio, and electric lights. Oh, and one desk fan. No air-conditioning, no clothes drier, etc. Now people have multiple electric devices in every room. 

Carl. when you take a rest period and then jump back in to hard climbing its a total waste . right back to square one.  just stick to easy climbing.  that way climbing becomes therapy instead of destruction. 

Kristian, thank you for taking the time to write so much about the various green options.  I care. l mean, I REALLY care about the environment, about our air, our precious planet.  And yet, I have finally made the decision to just 'live' as best I can, with the best information we have.  I have a good friend who made it her life's mission to rid herself of plastic.  She coached me for over a year, I watched as she learned to decline anything wrapped or packaged in the market, soaps in containers, etc. I mean, this was a long process for her, and she's still at it, nearly 100% plastic free.  And yet somehow Saran-Wrap crept back in our drawer again.  I won't make an excuse for doing nothing--what we do now is a whale of a lot better than 10 years ago.  It's not enough.  

Likewise, with a car, when the time is right maybe I'll just get 'a car'.  I love my hybrid... had one since 2004.  We also test-drove the new Tesla and were mind-blown.  But we have power outages here.  And there are emergencies where I might need to get somewhere without first charging overnght.  

This car caught my eye and i asked the owner about it.  I thought it might be an old Land Rover.  His description was: "It’s a 2007 Jeep Commander Limited, 5.7 Hemi, 2.5” lift with Rubicon take-off wheels and 255/75 BFG KM2’s. Will pass anything on the road but a gas station. They only made the commander from 2006-2010. It has the third row seat and absolutely no cargo room if you’re using the 3rd row seat, so they lost the market to stuff like the Toyota Sequoia. The Hemi version also gets horrible gas mileage, which hurt their sales also. I killed the MPG even more by lifting it. I get right about 12MPG. I love it. The Limited was the flagship model for Jeep, and it has all the bells and whistles. It practically cooks your dinner. Quadradrive II 4x4 is very awesome (also hurts gas mileage.”

So, I was out climbing yesterday... on a route I wasn't even going to attempt.  As a matter of fact, maybe Bob will clarify this... the picture in MP doesn't look at all like the route we were on, and Randy's book doesn't mention it at all.  In other words, I'm not sure what route we were on.    

Regardless. WOW.  

I did a few laps on Bob's Ninja Turtle, and then over to Todd Gordon's Give a Mouse a Cookie.  This route has some of everything, hard pull moves, balancy moves, thin delicate edging.  Why isn't everyone over there?  

Mainly it just feels like some of the hard work of past outings is starting to pay off.  It still takes time to figure out where I'm going, to read the rock, to make the right movement choices... so I lose precious energy every time I mess up a move.  I found myself stuck at an unlikely spot where the only way I could maintain my balance was to face left... but the route was moving right.  

There are moves on this route that require brut strength.  I have a little of that, but not enough.  There comes a point where I am just worn out from pulling... even with a rest.  

The exciting part though is, bellying up to an impossible looking route, and handling any of it, tells me that I can do more than I think.  There's still room to move and improve.  

Watching Bob move up that same route is such a learning experience.  I see how he uses his energy, how he manages cruxes where I fall... where he rests and where he moves, is the best learning experience.  You all have said "climb with someone better than you".  Well, that wouldn't be hard for me to do since almost anyone here would be 'better'.  But receiving coaching from such a great climber, and great teacher, is any climber's dream. I have constant gratitude for this great privilege. 

My favorite part of this route: launching out on thin edges, with nothing but vista ahead.  

A current dilemma: how to ration out energy.  My first hour out always feels awkward... it takes time to get things firing right.  Then, when I'm mentally in the game, ready for 'hard', I may be too tired to do the actual climb.   

Lori Milaswrote:

Oh man! I’m trying to get the hang of this car thing... have looked up every car that has been posted here so far and WOW!  There’s a string of lots in Palm Springs that have very special cars and we do stop and gaze... I’m partial to the Bentleys but Tony loves Lamborghini.  $336,000. Probably the base model.   

I’ll hold the Peterson for a day when we’re free to roam. I’ve been wanting to take him to the PS Air Museum too... love pretending I was gunnery dude in a ball turret in WW2.  

When can we talk about climbing?   

BTW... we stopped to look at the Bronco Sport yesterday.  Very sweet little car. 

While coming back to Vegas yesterday an asshole in a neon orange Lamborghini pulls up to within 3 feet of my back bumper, pulls out to the left to pass me, passes me and then pulls in front of me about 3 ft in front and screams on down  the freeway  and does the same thing to many of the cars in front of me. 

I was doing about 73mph and he was out of sight in less than 2 minutes He definitely was doing over 100mph!

Cosmiccragsman AKA Dwainwrote:

While coming back to Vegas yesterday an asshole in a neon orange Lamborghini pulls up to within 3 feet of my back bumper, pulls out to the left to pass me, passes me and then pulls in front of me about 3 ft in front and screams on down  the freeway  and does the same thing to many of the cars in front of me. 

I was doing about 73mph and he was out of sight in less than 2 minutes He definitely was doing over 100mph!

I backed off at 119mph. ;-)

Cosmiccragsman AKA Dwainwrote:

While coming back to Vegas yesterday an asshole in a neon orange Lamborghini pulls up to within 3 feet of my back bumper, pulls out to the left to pass me, passes me and then pulls in front of me about 3 ft in front and screams on down  the freeway  and does the same thing to many of the cars in front of me. 

I was doing about 73mph and he was out of sight in less than 2 minutes He definitely was doing over 100mph!

At least he didn't pass you on the right    I once saw a bumper sticker on a box truck:  <---------El Paso:El Cruncho-------->

Tim Schafstallwrote:

At least he didn't pass you on the right    I once saw a bumper sticker on a box truck:  <---------El Paso:El Cruncho-------->

I always stay in the right lane except to pass.

Thinking of a Gunks visit next week, Mon-Wed or so.  Any Gunks locals want to climb ?

T

You know why jeeps have seven slots in the grill? First vehicle to operate on all seven continents.

I think the Model T may have been the first. It was on Antarctica before the Jeep was thought of.

Mark Frumkinwrote:

I think the Model T may have been the first. It was on Antarctica before the Jeep was thought of.

A fun topic to research. Here's what I've found so far:

From Wiki "Transport in Antarctica"

"Mawson Station started using classic Volkswagen Beetles, the first production cars to be used in Antarctica. The first of these was named "Antarctica 1"

Consensus is that Jeep is the first to hit all seven, but I'll have to dig some more for something definitive... 

I guess Shackleton had a one-off motor car with him on an expedition predating his famous one.

https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/first-car-in-antarctica-shackleton.php

Those guys had to be just plain nuts.

Old lady Hwrote:

This caught my eye at my mechanics recently! An extended Toyota Land Cruiser, very beautifully restored. Not sure what he was still planning on doing. It would be a great dirtbag mobile, if it wasn't so pretty!

In terms of electric? There's more than fossil fuel powering the electric grid. As much as it's progressed so far? I think we'll easily see considerable improvements coming. No, it isn't there yet, but purchasing now at least is a vote for it going toward more efficiency and sustainability.

And, sadly, yes, a great deal of what we do and consume in the U.S. is...well, pretty piggishly at the expense of other places. We out consume pretty much everyone, and don't even have the best standard of living to show for it. My two cents, anyway.

Best, Helen

Cool looking car. Big though. I guess you get used to driving big cars, but I generally like smaller, zippier cars. 

Not zippy, but bullet proof is the Land rover series 3. Simple petrol engine, four speed (stick shift) if I remember rightly, would go anywhere, you can wash it out with a hose.

First vehicle I learnt to drive in the army. In fact, (here's a story) first bush trip was acting as a driver for an American SAM (Redeye) detachment FROM Hawaii. I was about 23 and it was in around the city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. The American sergeant in charge of the SAM was an Iron-pumping short guy with short hair from somewhere in the middle of America who liked to dig. Even when we were on a farmer's property with specific orders NOT to dig, he dug. He also wore extremely large and volumness white Y fronts. Huge they were. Like my grandmother's underwear. Massive. 

He was in charge of two young guys. One was from somewhere where they grew corn. The other guys called him 'king cock Kudron' or something like that. They listened to Bon Jovi on their Walkmans constantly and often misplaced their M16s. 

All three were absolutely horrified when I responded to their question of 'where you gonna sleep man?' with 'just there' and pointed to a nice flat dry spot on the ground. 

'There?' they said 'but aren't you worried about the spiders and bugs and stuff, man?' 'they'll leave me alone' I said. 

They then decided to take the Red Eye SAM  and associated stores out of the vehicle so they could sleep in (and on) the Land rover. They did that every night. Taking all the stores out, and putting them back in the morning rather than sleeping on the ground. 

We found out later, after the exercise, back at the barracks, that they couldn't drink either.

Here's a piccy of me a few years later on HMAS Westralia sailing to Nagasaki. I drove that ship (literally, wheel in hand) through typhoons in the South China Sea and through seas as calm as the bathwater and green with bioluminescence, air balmy and still... 

Carl, too funny. 

Kris, they weren't crazy, they were tough. Almost as tough as the Fabulous Thunderbirds. 

Carl you and I have something in common. I learned to drive in a Land Rover too. No syncros between 1st and 2nd, and the clutch spring seemed to be 50% of my body weight at the time, so double clutching + heel and toe, at 15. I'm a little self-righteous about it.

Todd, is that second one going to be another one of your project’s that has the potential to roll on top of you?

Victor Kwrote:

Carl you and I have something in common. I learned to drive in a Land Rover too. No syncros between 1st and 2nd, and the clutch spring seemed to be 50% of my body weight at the time, so double clutching + heel and toe, at 15. I'm a little self-righteous about it.

As you should be. Some peeps can't drive a manual at all! Cindy had to get me go move my car out of the driveway the other morning as she can't drive a manual. Not even just a few feet! 

Unless you are taking lots of road trips and/or driving on sketchy dirt roads, my criteria for a vehicle are: 1. Reliability, 2. Low Maintenance Costs, 3. Excellent Mileage, 4. Capacity for Camping & Climbing etc. equipment, 5.Comfort and 6. Cost.

Land Rover brand scores very badly on everything but 4. Jeep, as a brand is pretty low in those first three categories and 5. as well. 

At my age, I don't want my transportation to be my new hobby. 

When we were driving hundreds of miles every weekend to climb, the balance of these factors weighed somewhat differently. But, nowadays, we are not interested in buying a vehicle for the rare occasion, rather than the everyday. And, unlike many, we have always been less inclined to tote the entire world along with us. 

Thinking about personal consumption of resources should be a large factor into making a large purchase like a vehicle.

------------

P.S., For many years we only had manual transmission vehicles. Both our daughters learned to drive with a stick shift, a skill that will allow you to drive most anywhere you travel.