New and Experienced climbers over 50 #23

Ward Smithwrote:

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, Ward.  And to Paula and the 'little' one too.  Hope she has been good all year!
Hope to check out the 'new' Cave at Hadley (with grades posted) Jan 7.  Perhaps we can catch up then.

If those storm downed trees are Hallmark, that would be the twisted dark humour division. They got cards for everything else....

Good luck with the house work, Nick! It's looking good! I've got sorta half done stuff all over the place, but everything functions, well, except the shower, so it's easy to procrastinate a decade or two.

Happy various assorted holidays! However, for me as a northern hemisphere climber? The slow return of the sun is significant. Not all of us can just hop on ice any old time (Idaho ice is sparse and fickle), 

As it happens, the Jewish and Gregorian calendar arrangement this year puts the last evening of Hanukkah tomorrow. All 9 candles lit. A very quiet, modest holiday, especially in the midst of the seasonal madness swirling around Christmas. 

Back when we still celebrated Christmas in our household, and were associated with a megachurch here, I brought a whole little shuttle van of churchgoers to a jaw dropped silence. They were all chatting about last minute shopping stress. I mentioned that we had stopped exchanging presents. Decided to spend that money on others. You could see the wheels turning. What would that be like???

It's settled into that lovely holiday quiet now though. That only happens when no one is going to work, school, or out to spend money.

I wish all of us peace for the season, and the coming year. 

The big news today. Catcat went outside! 

For maybe 15 seconds. Then shot back through the cat door at about 93mph. 

H.

Merry Christmas everyone.
We have opposite weather here.  31 today but up to 41 in a couple of days. And we’re not acclimatised as the start to summer was so cool.  

Same to you Carl, altho it is already Boxing Day for you!

More than half of the US was/is being affected by a "bomb cyclone". Even being very close to the ocean, our temps did not get above -5 yesterday. I doubt it will reach 0 today. Even with very bright skies and warm rays form the Sun, albeit compromised by a stiff breeze and an occasional gust. I braved the elements a bit at noon but beat a hasty retreat to a warm house and a hot bowl of soup not long after. The wind was just too much 'in your face' to be comfortable.

On the other hand, 41 is too hot!  I had not realized Adelaide gets that warm!

Another warm Christmas here (expecting some much needed rain this week however). Went for a nice hike today.

Feeling tired, lazy and fat.  Went for a long ride today, here's a snippet.

Filmed at some old buildings at Port Adelaide. It was a hot ride home. Climbing tomorrow I think...

https://youtu.be/XeNZsForynw

Decided to head back to Araps. Decided I need to live every inch of my life that’s available to be. 

S. Neohwrote:

Same to you Carl, altho it is already Boxing Day for you!

On the other hand, 41 is too hot!  I had not realized Adelaide gets that warm!

Yeah, even up in the Adelaide hills where I live it can get hot. Generally it’s ok though. Our climate here is pretty good.  

Carl Schneiderwrote:

Decided to head back to Araps. Decided I need to live every inch of my life that’s available to be. 

I’m with you on this Carl. Sometimes when it’s quiet and I’m alone I can almost feel time going by … tick, tick, tick….
best to spend what’s remaining doing what you love while you can, I figure. 

Going to be 70 in a few weeks. It’s just a number I know but numbers mean something. I wonder what 80 feels like? I know a few people who are 80. Some still get out and go climbing but not many. The people on this form who are that old are a inspiration to me in many ways. So I wish to say thank you.

Time to go to physical therapy- hit those boring ass exercises, boring boring but effective. Two + years out from surgery my muscles are starting to work again!! It feels good to walk upright and not have the legs go numb.

Two weeks ago I was able to TR a 5.10 with no falls, hangs - to me it was like I climbed El Cap free!

So I too am going to go climbing- Bishop, Arizona, Yosemite and hopefully Idaho this summer. Going to enjoy myself, every minute, every day, until I can’t.

Later 

Guy - Great post!  Can't tell you how much I relate to your words! 

Good to hear your fitness is improving. For me it's a constant battle to just maintain where I am these days. 

Travelling to different climbing areas has long been one of my favorite parts of climbing. I will be starting a thread for another June get-together at City of Rocks. Hopefully you can get in on this.

Brandt Allenwrote:

Travelling to different climbing areas has long been one of my favorite parts of climbing.

Right on!  Same here.  And it gets me motivated to do somethng resembling training and watching my weight :)

Even for 'repeat' destinations, I seek out new sectors/crags within it to climb at.  As little of same olde, same olde, as possible.

Guy...  wonderful post!  

I was on to a similar train of thought yesterday.  I was remembering how many years ago when I also went through a period of not being well, I discovered that just taking long walks every day was not keeping my body fit or strong.  At that time I had not heard about the necessity for both aerobic and strength training.  I just knew I was growing weaker and more slack and quickly losing muscle mass.  And then my doctor sent me for some lab work including a Human Growth Hormone level, and told me my HGH was in the tank.  So, he prescribed an HGH peptide injection (CJC1295). What I discovered though was that I could make my own HGH by lifting weights.  So, I got a gym membership and started to lift, a little at a time.  

So... I find myself back in the same circumstances once again and I decided yesterday to start lifting again... even if it was just light weights for a few minutes a day.  Something has to instruct the body that decay is no longer acceptable, and that we need to resume building muscle, not losing it.  (I remember same doctor saying "We have to find a way to get your body out of a catabolic state, and into an anabolic state.")  

I'm surprised how much I DON'T want to do any strength training right now.  How much I would rather stroll around the neighborhood than to pick up a weight and lift it.  But last night I gave it my best... dusted off the old dumbbells and did some curls and triceps, for 20-30 minutes.  Definitely not to a full sweat.   What I forgot was that even that small amount of lifting would have immediate and serious effect on my blood glucose that night.  Sure enough, around midnight all my insulin alarms went off warning of very low blood sugar... I slept through them but Tony shook me awake, and I had one of the most frightening low blood sugar episodes of my life.  I was so out of it, feeling like imminent death, I sweat through all my clothes, and sheets... and just guzzled whatever sugar I had nearby.  It took over an hour to get upright again and I'm pretty wiped out from it today. 

Still it was a great object lesson that indeed even small amounts of strength training are powerful and have big impact on the body.  It's the only way I can think of to turn my own health situation around.  One of the best benefits of climbing.... gosh you get aerobic, anaerobic and strength training all in one package, while having fun.

How come I'm seeing so many pictures of serpents out this time of year in the Park and nearby?  I thought this was their sleepy time.  

phylp phylpwrote:

The "retro neon" zigzaggy one is actually pretty cool!

These are awesome!  I like the "fruity" one.  

Edited to add: I would be down to a trip to Glastonbury to meet whomever of you can make it there, if I can get away that weekend.  Please keep in touch.

GO

Guy Keeseewrote:

I’m with you on this Carl. Sometimes when it’s quiet and I’m alone I can almost feel time going by … tick, tick, tick….
best to spend what’s remaining doing what you love while you can, I figure. 

Going to be 70 in a few weeks. It’s just a number I know but numbers mean something. I wonder what 80 feels like? I know a few people who are 80. Some still get out and go climbing but not many. The people on this form who are that old are a inspiration to me in many ways. So I wish to say thank you.

Time to go to physical therapy- hit those boring ass exercises, boring boring but effective. Two + years out from surgery my muscles are starting to work again!! It feels good to walk upright and not have the legs go numb.

Two weeks ago I was able to TR a 5.10 with no falls, hangs - to me it was like I climbed El Cap free!

So I too am going to go climbing- Bishop, Arizona, Yosemite and hopefully Idaho this summer. Going to enjoy myself, every minute, every day, until I can’t.

Later 

I'm not 80 yet, just 79.25.  Strength is still good, thanks to the weight gym.  Not so fast anymore, but endurance is good thanks to lots of biking.  But I am more cautious and I do feel a need to regain some more "go for it".  Keith Hadley and I are headed to Potrero Chico in February and we've got 2 empty beds in our casita in case any of you youngsters want to join us.  We stay at Ariels, up in the canyon opposite Mota Wall, where it is quieter at night than down the road.  

GabeOwrote:

These are awesome!  I like the "fruity" one.  

Edited to add: I would be down to a trip to Glastonbury to meet whomever of you can make it there, if I can get away that weekend.  Please keep in touch.

GO

I’ve already realized my tight schedule won’t allow me to get to the gym on that trip - too many relatives to see. But I have found another fabric I like - actually more tasteful than the ones above. So eventually I’ll make a pair of tights and ship them. It’s on the “fun stuff to do when I’m too tired to work out” list. 

phylp phylpwrote:

I’ve already realized my tight schedule won’t allow me to get to the gym on that trip - too many relatives to see. But I have found another fabric I like - actually more tasteful than the ones above. 

Oh, Phyl, that is unfortunate that I can't show your craft to you in person.  Bummer.  You will have to be content with photos or a short video.  And first hand account from Alan & ??.
I am very intrigued now since I do not know what is coming!  Tasteful, loud, rude, ugly, just bring it on! 

Oh Phyl, Just skip the wedding and relative thing and do what’s really important, meeting us in G-bury to watch Soon strut his stuff in your tights!!!

Alan Rubinwrote:

Oh Phyl, Just skip the wedding and relative thing and do what’s really important, meeting us in G-bury to watch Soon strut his stuff in your tights!!!

Er, there wll be no strutting one way or the other. 

Did someone mention Lycra?

Black tights are good for the well dressed climber..