New and Experienced Climbers Over 50 #19

Lori Milaswrote:

More from Sugarloaf because who doesn’t enjoy a good chimney?  

It turns out I may be in the area in a week and might attempt the hike, depending on the bum knee. Todd I’ll give you notice but I think this trip will be so iffy and we might want to wait until I am a little more certain of my hiking ability. 

That photo is terrific!

Oh god. This is funny.  Thank you Randy, Helen and S.Neoh. (Do you think we are at the point in our relationship where we could call you by a first name?   )

There are certain trade-offs you make in each relationship. With Tony it’s that he’s sweet enough to endure my movies, but he doesn’t go seeking them out. In his 35 years of marriage and truck driving he claims to have seen exactly 2 movies, and they are his favorites—one is “Quigley Down Under” which he periodically recites the best lines from memory. (I would say there are no best lines.). It has taken me this long to believe he’s telling the truth about this. He is.

I read Dr Zhivago when I was pregnant and later watched the movie. It stands as my all-time favorite. But the list grows and every time I order a new movie from Prime I get the same response: “You’re going to PAY for this?”    This is his purgatory.  

Here’s what a good sport he is:  now he actually requests me to order another climbing movie, which makes no sense to him except people are foolishly risking their lives to… climb And he really liked Dierdre when she stayed with us, so he’s willing to watch her kid over and over.  He keeps saying “All it would take is one bird to fly at him and he’s toast”. 

I shall suggest Drive My Car as our next movie, while he begs “Just shoot me!”   

Helen… thanks for the moral support. That’s all I really want to do… just take a walk.  

Idaho Bobwrote:

I was solo at Red Rock and hooked up with Maik (Germany), Alex (France) and John (Jackson Hole) via Mountain Project.

Maik was a graduate student, he stayed with Sheree and I at our B&B.  We keep in touch, he's now teaching and a new dad.  When the pandemic is over we plan to meet in Germany and climb at Frankenjura.

 All were making their first visit to Red Rock and wanting to climb trad.  I took them to Peaches to check them out. I led Maik and John and Alex teamed up.  Fun time for all, luckily I had enough cold Coronas in the truck.  Next day we did Birdland.  Their total age added together was less than mine. 

Bob, will you still be around Red Rock in two weeks? I will be out with the whole family. I would love for you to meet the crew! 

Got up to Isa's farm and got to do it all over again ... 

Blue Bessie got er done. sat. evening ski on the lake

got our butts kicked today breaking trail . Bernie was no help. 

Lori:  have Tony watch watch Lost Highway, Eraserhead, and Mulholland Drive by David Lynch…. Twice each.  Then I’ll come over for meatballs, lsd, and we can watch them all again.  He will never be the same.

Oh, and you can call Randy, Randy.  I still call him Mr. Vogel out of respect.

It’s so funny, all you peeps hooking up for a clamber and here I am miles away..

Anyhoo, I decided today I’m doing a month long April trip to The Gramps/Araps..

There’s no reason not to.  

Carl. roadtrips are the best!

Carl, Have a great trip, but haven’t the Victoria Parks authorities closed most of the cliffs in the amazing Grampians area because of Aboriginal complaints ( and parts of Arapiles as well)? A warning of what we are potentially facing ( and has come into effect in places) over here.

Alicia Sokolowskiwrote:

Bob, will you still be around Red Rock in two weeks? I will be out with the whole family. I would love for you to meet the crew! 

That would be nice, but I'll be in EPC.  From your pictures it looks like you had quite the ice storm.

Lori Milaswrote:
There are certain trade-offs you make in each relationship. With Tony it’s that he’s sweet enough to endure my movies, but he doesn’t go seeking them out. In his 35 years of marriage and truck driving he claims to have seen exactly 2 movies, and they are his favorites—one is “Quigley Down Under” which he periodically recites the best lines from memory. (I would say there are no best lines.). It has taken me this long to believe he’s telling the truth about this. He is.

Lori, if Tony like Aussie movies he might like Kenney, the story of a guy in the "shit" business (porta potties) and his troubles finding a girl friend.  Super funny.

Another great Aussie independent film is Rabbit Proof Fence, the true story of young sisters of mixed parents who were removed from their home and sent to a state school, then escaped and followed the Rabbit Proof Fence (western Australia) home.  The sisters, now over 90, appear at the end.  

But my all time favorite is the Blues Brothers.  Watch it every year.

I think John Sayles' movies are among the best. For a more and less realistic bit of nostalgia, pair The Return of the Secaucus Seven with The Big Chill.

wendy weisswrote:

I think John Sayles' movies are among the best. For a more and less realistic bit of nostalgia, pair The Return of the Secaucus Seven with The Big Chill.

So many great John Sayles films. Perhaps the best being Lone Star.

Randy, Matewan gets my vote.

Just posting this for old-person inspiration: Kelly Slater is just days from turning 50 and being able to finally join this group. But, also, he just WON the Pipeline Masters event, which is probably the single most prestigious surfing competition in the world. A lot of older surfers doing really incredible things these days. Kelly, G-Mac, Laird,... But what Kelly did really takes the cake.

Andrew Ricewrote:

Just posting this for old-person inspiration: Kelly Slater is just days from turning 50 and being able to finally join this group. But, also, he just WON the Pipeline Masters event, which is probably the single most prestigious surfing competition in the world. A lot of older surfers doing really incredible things these days. Kelly, G-Mac, Laird,... But what Kelly did really takes the cake.

Odd you should post this now, Senor... I just re-watched Andy Irons: Kissed by God, of which I'm sure you know there was quite a bit of rivalry between Irons and Slater.  It's pretty thrilling to watch Slater surf--and he just seemed like a grounded genuine person.  

I was enchanted by Irons' wife, Lyndie, too, and have kept an eye on her on Instagram and through her the current surf crowd in Hawaii.  

As I was hobbling around RHV Loop this morning I was wondering 'why aren't we surfing? Does anyone get injured surfing?"    

Lori Milaswrote:

Odd you should post this now, Senor... I just re-watched Andy Irons: Kissed by God, of which I'm sure you know there was quite a bit of rivalry between Irons and Slater.  It's pretty thrilling to watch Slater surf--and he just seemed like a grounded genuine person.  

I was enchanted by Irons' wife, Lyndie, too, and have kept an eye on her on Instagram and through her the current surf crowd in Hawaii.  

As I was hobbling around RHV Loop this morning I was wondering 'why aren't we surfing? Does anyone get injured surfing?"    

I'm not sure how grounded or not Kelly is. After all, he's an ELEVEN time world champion and a ruthless competitor. Grounded isn't always the best recipe for that kind of achievement. And he's been famous since he was a teen. But, man, he sure can surf and he sure knows how to stay fit and flexible at an age when most men are just playing golf. 

Alan Rubinwrote:

Carl, Have a great trip, but haven’t the Victoria Parks authorities closed most of the cliffs in the amazing Grampians area because of Aboriginal complaints ( and parts of Arapiles as well)? A warning of what we are potentially facing ( and has come into effect in places) over here.

Parts are closed.  There’s a new ‘management plan’ that allows climbing in some areas.  Taipan Wall is going to open in the future, not that I can climb there, way way way too hard, but it’s an iconic place and arguably one of the best walls on the planet.  

Idaho Bobwrote:

Lori, if Tony like Aussie movies he might like Kenney, the story of a guy in the "shit" business (porta potties) and his troubles finding a girl friend.  Super funny.

Another great Aussie independent film is Rabbit Proof Fence, the true story of young sisters of mixed parents who were removed from their home and sent to a state school, then escaped and followed the Rabbit Proof Fence (western Australia) home.  The sisters, now over 90, appear at the end.  

But my all time favorite is the Blues Brothers.  Watch it every year.

What about The Castle? Best Australian movie ever!

Lori Milaswrote:

Odd you should post this now, Senor... I just re-watched Andy Irons: Kissed by God, of which I'm sure you know there was quite a bit of rivalry between Irons and Slater.  It's pretty thrilling to watch Slater surf--and he just seemed like a grounded genuine person.  

I was enchanted by Irons' wife, Lyndie, too, and have kept an eye on her on Instagram and through her the current surf crowd in Hawaii.  

As I was hobbling around RHV Loop this morning I was wondering 'why aren't we surfing? Does anyone get injured surfing?"    

If ‘eaten’ counts as ‘injured’, yes.  

I always thought The Man from Snowy River ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084296/ ) was the best Aussie movie.  I'm pretty sure Tony would like it!