New and Experienced climbers over 50 #22

Okay, 2 more random items, then MP will likely kick me out.

It occurs to me that we sort of mirror what happens when we are young, when we get to the other end. 10, 20, 30 and 60, 70, 80 are times when the changes are very fast, then slow down. Then, go from slower changes that pick up speed. 

The other random item?

With pharma kinda problematic for me, yes, down the road when/if my knees give up the ghost, I'll look further into other treatments. 

Has anyone got opinions on acupuncture? That popped up for both knee arthritis and post op pain, as an alternative where side effects aren't much concern. Actual studies, even, not just anecdotes on reddit or something.

H. 

EDIT to Lori, hey, each in our own way are helping to push things in a better and more just direction. That's another thing. We have brains, aren't afraid to use them, and, we have the means.

My EMT son told me about a frequent flyer they had. The guy wasn't exactly doing great generally, but he got a hernia. A painful one. Needed surgery. And....well, easy to guess how this goes. "Non critical" surgery backed up for eternity, dude instead gets ....tada. Opioids. Addicted and down from there. Story doesn't end well, and with a lot of misery involved.   

phylp phylpwrote:

Wendy, my sister had excellent results with PRP (platelet-rich plasma injections) for elbow issues.  I think that is probably the same as you are talking about.  Good luck with your issues!

It's not too late to start your 76 routes goal! for a couple of years now, I've loosely been tracking indoor and outdoor climbing.  since January 1, I've done 122 gym routes over 17 days there this year.  Not sure how many of those are "new".  I usually head straight to the new routes when I go to the gym, but they don't change them a huge amount so I'm not sure how many of those are repeats vs new.

phylp phylp (Can I just call you phylp?  ), thanks for your thoughts on prp. I gather that, even if it doesn't work, it's pretty low risk.

On the route count, I thought about taking photos of the names of every route I did cleanly, lead or TR, but haven't and now have absolutely no idea of the numbers. I generally climb for several hours twice a week and do (successfully) maybe 5 or 6 routes a session, but since routes stay up for several months, half of them are probably repeats.   

OLH been following this thread for a bit.  First person account regarding acupuncture…I had very positive results for treating various pain ailments with a couple of different acupuncturists.

Mental health issues are truly a concern with aging and discussion of such is quite helpful for addressing depression and other concerns.  All that we can do to open ourselves to positive outcomes and positive living each day is the continuous climb that helps move forward.

Metaphors,  similes,  fly fishing, sitting on a rock…we just need to continue to connect and share the journeys we have taken.

rgoldwrote:

I realized at least forty years ago that much as I enjoyed climbing, it couldn't by itself fill up a life.  Maybe if I'd been a lot more single-minded about it, I'd be scratching up some harder things in my dotage, but that just wasn't, and isn't, who I turned out to be, and no regrets about that...

That said, sitting at the top of the crag after a bunch of moderates (some of which aren't feeling so moderate anymore), watching the day wind down in the Hudson Valley is still one of my greatest joys.

Also, the fact that you and Alan are still leading routes in your 70s is something special.  Not everyone is able to do that, even if they still climb.

GO

Wendy - It is certainly NOT too late to go for 76 routes. After two months I had only done eight routes. Besides that, the idea of some certain number of routes is just a target to aim at; it provided a framework to add an interesting twist for me. If I had only done half of my goal, it would still have been a fun process.

No climbing pics, but the guy I started climbing with when I was 15 (the mighty Droid) and another old friend Greg Crawford from Rhode Island came up today to Farley, 10 minutes from my house.  Ella was getting over a cold so I dragged her out with us.  Great times.  We did six routes from 5.5 to 5.10 and they both got more than their money’s worth. They don’t climb too often and they are going to be sore tomorrow!

After college, Droid and I dug quohaugs for a living.  He’s still doing it part time and I’m having some he brought for dinner.

wendy weisswrote:

phylp phylp (Can I just call you phylp?  ), thanks for your thoughts on prp. I gather that, even if it doesn't work, it's pretty low risk.

On the route count, I thought about taking photos of the names of every route I did cleanly, lead or TR, but haven't and now have absolutely no idea of the numbers. I generally climb for several hours twice a week and do (successfully) maybe 5 or 6 routes a session, but since routes stay up for several months, half of them are probably repeats.   

Wendy my dear, call me Phyl.  The phylp dates back to rc.com (Phyl P.), carried over to supertopo, and then to Mountain Project.  A few years ago I went to edit my profile on MP and the system insisted I put in a last name.  So I doubled down on the phylp.

Ward, I'll raise your quohog bid with some cakes:

Now that my guest is gone, I'm back on my diet.  We stopped into our favorite bakery the other day and my husband got a cupcake. I used all my willpower to abstain but now, 5 days later,  I'm still daydreaming of cakes.

Brandt Allenwrote:

Wendy - It is certainly NOT too late to go for 76 routes. After two months I had only done eight routes. Besides that, the idea of some certain number of routes is just a target to aim at; it provided a framework to add an interesting twist for me. If I had only done half of my goal, it would still have been a fun process.

+1 on the approach and thought process here.
We are saturated with gyms here.  With one membership, I get to bounce among nearly 10 gyms here, always looking for new routes.  Yesterday, I popped into one during 'lunch' and knocked off 8 of their 11 new lead routes.  Maybe I should keep track.  I wear out my gym lead rope about 4 times as fast as I wear out my outdoor rope so the indoor route count is much higher, skewed by essentially only 240 outdoor climbing days a year here in NE.  Ward would disagree but he is an alien :) 

Never heard of a quohaugs but I do like mussels. I’m waiting to go climbing on a Saturday at 1230 and found half a can of 9% beer in the fridge. So, I thought, why not?  Just because it’s only 1115, there’s no reason not to.  

What does "New York CHeesecake" beer taste like?  Is it a double IPA?

S. Neohwrote:

What does "New York CHeesecake" beer taste like?  Is it a double IPA?

It literally takes like a New York cheesecake I’m led to believe. Lemon and vanilla. Very strong, 9%.

Carl Schneiderwrote:

Never heard of a quohaugs but I do like mussels. I’m waiting to go climbing on a Saturday at 1230 and found half a can of 9% beer in the fridge. So, I thought, why not?  Just because it’s only 1115, there’s no reason not to.  

Clams is what quahogs are and I can understand how that beer ended up halfway gone in the fridge!

Some easy leading at Vertical Reality, South Australia’s only roped climbing gym this morning, fuelled only by a mocha pot coffee, 1 banana and a ‘Voost’ energy tablet (Guarana, caffeine etc).
Felt good and strong.
Cool vibe today.
Also TRd a number of routes up to grade 20ish (5.10c)…

https://youtu.be/oILxeTF-Zoc

I posted on the SoCal section but I maybe this will also be good here

does anyone know of a room or apartment etc for rent for one person near Jtree for Nov and Dec? I could take it weekly or monthly. Airbnb and booking.com only have rooms over $100 per night

I am 67 and will also be seeking climbing partners once I get there

thx

richard aikenwrote:

I posted on the SoCal section but I maybe this will also be good here

does anyone know of a room or apartment etc for rent for one person near Jtree for Nov and Dec? I could take it weekly or monthly. Airbnb and booking.com only have rooms over $100 per night

I am 67 and will also be seeking climbing partners once I get there

thx

Right here my man…. Less than a hunski for sure

Http://www.rent29.com

thx

I finally got some answers on this picture I took some years ago.  I never could get an ID on the route.  Seth just saw it and responded "“The Shawnshank Redemption” 10+ Dave Mayville, Shawn Snyder, chili dog, and Seth zaharias."  Not sure why it's not in any guidebook or MP.  Is Dave Mayville the blond shirtless older dude who saunters up that 13a with the roof?   

^ Pretty rock .... harness on with perhaps a piece of gear on the left gear loop... no rope on climber, camouflaged rope, camera trick, rope photoshoped out?

Snyder routes never get positive reviews

Hi Lori,

I think Seth got that wrong. That route is listed and drawn in the topo on page 183 of Randy Vogel's 1992 Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Guide. It's called "Ignorant Photons from Pluto" 5.11a (TR). * Listed as a toprope although I believe it's been led since then and also is a little harder (more like 11+).