New and Experienced climbers over 50 #23

I’m so chuffed I started a conversation about tights. 

Carl, great to see your photos of Arapiles and your nod to 1980s sartorial trends. I made several trips there in the early 80s and really enjoyed both the climbing and the peculiar lifestyle that had evolved in isolation, like Galapagos finches. By 1983, tights were the thing amongst Aussie climbers but hadn’t yet caught on in UK or the USA. Mike Law deserves a hat-tip for trend-setting. When Wolfgang Gullich arrived (late 1984 I think) to take on Martin Scheel’s project that eventually became Punks In The Gym he was not appropriately attired. We took him to Danskin in Melbourne to kit him out with the very pair pictured above.

Kiwi Jeff, an early tights adopter, on Tjurinaga Wall, spring 1984:

phylp phylpwrote:

So. Many. Choices.

I will be in CT for a wedding mid-Feb. Will get this done by then and can hopefully carve out time to meet in Glastonbury gym.

I’ll come and take the pictures. It would be great to meet Phyl and to see Soon in tights!!! (Hope it won’t be the week you will be away Soon).
Back in the 80’s a group from this region created a company (WAGS—-Westchester Alpine Group) that made and sold suitably garish tights that were popular for a while in certain circles. Hopefully no photos exist of me wearing them as I didn’t ‘model’ them nearly as well as Kris nor on such impressive climbs.

Alan Rubinwrote:

I’ll come and take the pictures. It would be great to meet Phyl and to see Soon in tights!!! (Hope it won’t be the week you will be away Soon).
Back in the 80’s a group from this region created a company (WAGS—-Westchester Alpine Group) that made and sold suitably garish tights that were popular for a while in certain circles. Hopefully no photos exist of me wearing them as I didn’t ‘model’ them nearly as well as Kris nor on such impressive climbs.

Oh yeah, I hope I will not be away that fateful weekend on a college visit with my kid.  Maybe I can combine the two activities if we take two cars!  She will def not want to be part of this circus show.
Kris is right, better crush when wearing loud tights.  Well, I can't promise that but will do my best not to embarass anyone.  Luckily, gym crowds are rather forgiving (here anyways) and G-bury is not a place I frequent.  :) 

MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HANUKKAH EVERYONE!

Kristian Solemwrote:

It's called Pitfall. An old Laeger route, 11+, that no one notices despite that fact that it's in your face as you walk into real hidden valley. Up on the right.

I remember Pitfall.  I had a heck of a time just getting started on that route.  I think maybe we did that the day that we took the Mercedes women out into the desert.

And Merry Christmas.

Jan Mcwrote:

I remember Pitfall.  I had a heck of a time just getting started on that route.  I think maybe we did that the day that we took the Mercedes women out into the desert.

And Merry Christmas.

Ah yes, the Mercedes women... that whole scene was bizarre. They were three, as I recall?

Kristian Solemwrote:

Ah yes, the Mercedes women... that whole scene was bizarre. They were three, as I recall?

And only two of us...  Circles in circles in circles!

Happy Holidays to all the over 50 climbers!

Thanks Bob!

I went to the gym with Paula today for the new cave set. Saw the legendary Al Rubin as well.   We did a bunch of overhanging routes up to 11 (not sure as no ratings yet), haven’t been climbing in the cave at all so it was a lot of fun. Mostly jug hauling out the roof but I’ll probably be sore in the abs tomorrow. 

Yesterday was 50s and raining so we lost most of the snow but we got a heavy dusting overnight. Only 3 this morning and 12 at the “heat” of the day.   Happy Festivus! 

Happy Holidays everyone and a great New Year.

Alan

Happy Holidays everyone!  Tony is making lasagna for tonight.  If anyone is in the neighborhood….  

Chag Semeach!

rgoldwrote:

Chag Semeach!

Had to look that up. (I'm sadly lacking in the heritage department.) Happy holidays to the whole campfire crowd.

Merry Christmas or whatever else is special to you all.  

got my tree up yesterday

my morning ski turned into a 10hr epic... the storm did a real bad number on our trails.

serious black knight bridge security here. thow shalt not pass. 

the kids came out and helps for an hour or so but i kept at it.

ran out of gas 3 times... after the last time I had to post hole around the blowdowns to get home alive... 

Completely spent. fell through the ice into a stream and soaked my feet..  got home to the tiny house and Hugies water was frozen solid. My boots (the ones I am wearing now) were frozen to the floor and still wet from yesterday. the woodstove in the tiny is a cheap chinese knock off of a potbelly stove and won't hold a fire much longer than 1.5hrs...  my legs and hands are cramping up now...  going to go back up the hill to the tiny and crank that stove.. probobly have to start it from scratch again... this shit is getting old. hope to move in here shortly.... waiting for the polly to stop off gassing... still have to tile a hearth and instal a woodstove and the glass door on the tub shower and all the interior doors and an office desk and  curtains and shelveing and builtins... 

Omigod, Nick, that is daunting. But it should be lovely and very cozy when done. (Assuming such projects are ever "done.") Makes me think of a book we've had for years about hand-built houses -- I think called something like The Wood Butcher's Art.   

Gosh Nick, not to diminish the anguish of your day but from a great distance and where I personally don’t have to get my toes cold, your day sounds AMAZING. And epic. And a most memorable Christmas Eve day. You’ve put so much work into your new home and it is so beautiful— and those pictures are Hallmark cards. I hope you have an amazing Christmas Eve and Christmas day and I hope you will be framing  those pictures.  Know if we were just a little closer Tony and I would trudge through a little snow and bring you a hot dish of lasagna.

Nick's tales of needing to start a fire while cold and wet seem oddly congruent with our Aussie friend reading Jack London   

I’m priming for Kwanza…. Happy whatevers to what you guys celebrate.