New and Experienced climbers over 50 ##24

I have the day off tomorrow but I can't decide if it is more important to go for a long hike in all this green, or plant my garden so that it will get green.

Jan Mcwrote:

I have the day off tomorrow but I can't decide if it is more important to go for a long hike in all this green, or plant my garden so that it will get green.

Let us know what you decided, Jan. If you plant your garden, I hope you’ll give us a sketch. Every season here I have decided I am never planting again – – especially here. But I’m pretty desperate for a real tomato. I have whiskey barrels ready to go and a couple of raised beds. 

Back in the 60s we used to drive through Malibu Canyon on our way to the beach and there was a field of tomatoes. We would just pull the car off to the side of the road and pick a handfull and we kept salt packets in the car, so you just eat them like apples. I have never tasted a tomato even close since. If you do plant today, Jan, I’d like to know your secret (manure? Special food? Soil blend?)  because I am going to plant some tomatoes too.

On some of those same trips to Malibu or sometimes to the Colorado river, we would always swing by this little hole in the wall in Burbank called Pecos Bills. I believe there were three things on the menu along the lines of barbecue beef and barbecue pork and beans, which were so messy, you just had to cover yourself in napkins. There was a 50-50 chance Pecos bills would be closed with a sign. “gone fishing” on their window.  That place just closed for good after 76 years of great food. 

Darrell, I had to look up mono to see where it was and now it all makes sense. So sorry that you’re dealing with this and I hope Tuesday flooding magically passes you by.  I hope you’ll keep us posted.

Darrell- sorry to learn about your damage. Prayers to you and Family.
This winter is one for the books. 

When I look at the records, it looks like each of the big winters since 1970 is a little bigger than the previous big winter. There will be a few dry years, 1990-91 for example (84" Sierra snow fall) followed two seasons later, 1992-93, with almost 450". This year, so far, is 496", and Sierra Snow Lab has declared it an all time record for Tahoe area.

Hang tight, Darrell!   

It just seems like somebody oughta talk about climbing.      I understand Darrell is preoccupied right now... but boy would I love to hear some stories.  You all have so many.  Anyone? 

I took this pic at Donner last year as I sat across the road watching these guys climb hard.  I have never been on this main wall... I'll bet Phylp has!?!  But there is a bunny slope off to the right that I have climbed several times.  Just a wild guess, but I bet it's under snow right now.  

this is another bucket list item for me... probably also under some major snow right now.  I believe some here have also climbed this one.  (Sugarloaf)

I was driving to Lover's Leap and saw this off to the left.  Whoa!  What is that?  Can we climb it?  Totally lost all interest in the Leap after that (but climbed there anyway). 

The Leap

The bunny slope

I planted today.  Dug the dirt up in my raised bed then put a couple bags of steer manure on it and turned it over again.  I would prefer to add some chicken manure also but it has not been available the last couple years.  I did plant some tomatoes although there are not a lot of choices available yet.  I also planted my basil for the year.  I do three basil plants in a 24" planter sitting in a water basin.  I keep the basin full (as a moat) for the first month or so to keep the bugs out of the basil.  Each year I start over with a new bag and a half of planter mix in the pot.  I will get more basil than I know what to do with by the end of summer.  I also planted a pot with Italian oregano since mine had died and last year I could only find Greek oregano which I don't like as well.  

On Friday I will venture to a different nursery to find more tomatoes and some chilis to finish my planting.  I did get my second raised bed prepped today so I am ready to go as soon as I can find plants to plant. 

It was a beautiful day and I did have regrets about not going for a long hike.

It was fabulous in the desert cities today for Desert X - sunny hot and windy AF!

For Jan- we saw 7 of the installations and M and I were in agreement on our ratings: 2, 3, 4, 4, 8, 9, and 10 (on a scale of 1-10). This is the one we loved:

Phyl, now they just need to provide shelter for the homeless in there!

This is the Thai orange peppers that I got many years ago, the only seeds I'm starting myself this year. Tomorrow's list includes getting a full size plant light, so I can get light almost on top of these as soon as I bump them up into next containers. Here, we're months away drom hot crops going in outside. 

Outside climbing....maybe? Someday?? Sigh. Someone posted a pic on FB of them climbing at CITY OF ROCKS on this date.   Not this year. 

I'll be consoling myself with 3.14 ala mode tomorrow.

Maybe for breakfast.

H.

Hey, anybody see National Geographic Live: Improbable Ascent, or know much about it? Worth going to? 

I shouldn't really post here because I still have 9 months on the clock before I join your esteemed club but thought this was interesting from a late 50s getting back into shape perspective from one of the greats.

Onions started but looks like a while before I’ll be planting in the garden.

Its dumping hard here. going powder sking at our private mountain this afternoon 15 min away.. Hoping someone pack out the skin track.  throwback tuesday photo of the day

Myself on the FA of Dirty deeds 2012 ish

Neil Bwrote:

I shouldn't really post here because I still have 9 months on the clock before I join your esteemed club but thought this was interesting from a late 50s getting back into shape perspective from one of the greats.

Well, you happen to be in luck because we have a limited number of honorary memberships, especially for youngsters who contribute great content. So consider yourself in.

—-

Tony sweetly mentioned last night that I appear to be falling apart and maybe the gym would help. Some thing about my ass not being situated were it supposed to be anymore. The thing is I know he’s right. I have Stacy Simms book roar still on my Desk and her motto is “lift heavy shit.“ I was a regular gym member for years but I never enjoyed it. I knew that the missing piece for me was strength training so I dutifully showed up 3 days a week to do a half hour of weights. Then when I started going to the climbing gym twice a week the heavy shit I was lifting was me and I developed an impressive set of muscles . So I stopped by the gym this morning and it’s the first time in my life that I’m not sure hi really have it in me. It’s not that I can’t lift, but I don’t know if I will consistently show up and try. This is a new fork in the road for me.

Somehow I have a hunch that the photo wasn’t taken today Nick.

Just bored. Jonseing to climb something and it just keeps dumping snow..   We have a great backcountry ski area 15 min up the hill from us and  we hit that up today for 4 runs but I would like to climb tomorrow but it looks like another dump tonight...   I don't have a low avi danger, short drive low commitment  soloing spot sussed out here.  my old place I had a nice 40ft tall road cut  for days like this to feed the rat. My closest spot here is willoughby which is not low commitment soloing and the easier stuff really sucks and is dangerous when its snowy.  Don't know why its bold.. me at the Lake

Isa following Cocaine

My friend Alden running up Mindbender. It's always nice to follow Alden on hard stuff because he doesn't put much gear in and he gets the rope up there ;) 

Alden on P2 of the Prom in serious conditions.  

Post limits suck. 

That shot is P2 of Fire and Ice 10c? one of many great routes Isa and I put up @ holts before the chopping... 

What route is the ‘rock’ photo above?

Some interesting changes at Portrero Chico:

Just inside the gate, new search and rescue vehicle and sign asking climbers to register

First year I didn't carry a garbage bag to clean up the roadside after climbing.  Hardly any trash, big volunteer effort (mostly locals) on the weekend!

Ariel's son Hervy built his resturant, "Jacalito" from 100% recycled materials, very green.  Next to Ariel's Chalet, opposite Mota Wall.  Good tacos, cold cervesa and killer marg's.

Similar to the rules at Huasteca.  Police car at the gate most of the time, no more weekend roadside parties.  No more loud music up in the canyon after dark. 

I believe these are the soon-to-be poppies.  

But what is this up on that hill?  Something exciting it appears.

I decided 4 whiskey barrels and 4 tomato plants for now. If I decide later I can plant in the ground… but this is doable.  

Another cool new discovery at my local boulder field.  May have to buy a second pad.

Had a first here, for me anyway. My local NPR station was interrupted for an avalanche warning. Usually the emergency broadcast system thingy is thunderstorms, blizzards, high wind, that sort of thing, sent out by NOAA. Never heard an avy broadcast! It was for pretty much the southern end of just about all our ranges, too. Sun Valley area already has had quite a few. It rained in Boise all day long, too, we get moisture from these bigass west coast storms here, too, just...the sponge is wrung out some by the time it gets here.

Crazy winter!

Best, Helen