New and Experienced climbers over 50 ##24

I just realized I do A LOT of hiking and exploring alone.  Not everyone's cup of tea.  Maybe Nick's... who seems to get off alone a lot.  

So, it never occurred to me to walk around to the backside of Sphinx Rock to see what's there.  Good grief!  I entirely missed the whole point!

Then back on up to Bottle In Front of Me so I could wonder and ask around some more.  Jeremy sent me a message that he would be happy to put up a line on this for me.  So, maybe that's the solution.

Cuz it's a real pretty wall.

Lori Milaswrote:

I just realized I do A LOT of hiking and exploring alone.  Not everyone's cup of tea.  Maybe Nick's... who seems to get off alone a lot.  

So, it never occurred to me to walk around to the backside of Sphinx Rock to see what's there.  Good grief!  I entirely missed the whole point!

Then back on up to Bottle In Front of Me so I could wonder and ask around some more.  Jeremy sent me a message that he would be happy to put up a line on this for me.  So, maybe that's the solution.

Cuz it's a real pretty wall.

The rock is all so smooth there. 

I think those Egyptians plagiarized your rock, Lori!

Any of you using an air fryer regularly? How much can you do with one? Thinking of a friend who isn't able to cook where he lives, besides microwaving.

I know we got lots of foodies on here, including good to great cooks, and a chef or two too, perhaps?

Best, Helen

We have an air fryer/toaster oven combo, mostly use it for quick roasted veggies and occasionally a few pieces of chicken. I basically cook with it as I would cook on a grill. It gets used more than the oven.

Old lady Hwrote:

I think those Egyptians plagiarized your rock, Lori!

Any of you using an air fryer regularly? How much can you do with one? Thinking of a friend who isn't able to cook where he lives, besides microwaving.

I know we got lots of foodies on here, including good to great cooks, and a chef or two too, perhaps?

Best, Helen

CONFLICT!  Tony is a gadget guy, and he was just looking for an opportunity to buy himself an air fryer. It’s been two years that he’s been hinting at it. Well, I had a lapse of good judgment and bought a bread maker last week. In my defense it’s because I wanted to see if I could make an organic gluten-free bread and the only recipe called for a bread maker. That’s all it took for Tony to hop on Amazon and pick himself an air fryer which now further clutters up our kitchen counter. I’m sending my bread maker back just to shame him. But he swears that this is the key to all the cooking  that he wants to do.

If I had some fantasy finding a guy who would be my perfect match – – an athletic rock climber, outdoors, kind of guy – – the universe threw me a curveball. I spend a lot of time every day trying to put stuff away because clutter makes me unhappy. Tony insists upon doing the dishes and the laundry himself, but it somehow doesn’t include putting stuff away. Instead, it means stacking stuff along the counter—and now there’s an air fryer too.  

And I know we’ve talked about what counts as “clean“. He wants to scrub everything with whatever chemical you can buy at Walmart. He wants to take my car to the guys in town who will supposedly clean it and what I know is they  spray the hell out of it and choke me to death. I come in from my daily hikes with my pockets full of little things I found on my walk, sprigs of white sage, little pebbles. That’s not clean to Tony.

Back to the air fryer, so far it’s warmed up fish sticks. I’ll keep you posted on any miracle dishes that he produces.

As for the sphinx rock, man that thing has captivated me! Maybe Andrew was having a bad day yesterday when he suggested blowing the nose off with a cannon.   This is such an incredible place, so no matter how far and wide I roam I find something new every day. Yesterday I got up very close to frontal lobotomy, read the reviews on it, and realized it could be climbed in a single pitch. I guess that goes on “the list”.

Carl. Not all rock here is smooth.  There are some areas probably very much like yours.  We have a wall here I call the Heart Wall that is very textured and full of upper body climbing.  Within the “smooth” rock there’s a range from coarse and “kitty litter “ to silky smooth but I am told that Yosemite granite puts this to shame. A whole other level of smooth. 

Lori Milaswrote:

CONFLICT!  Tony is a gadget guy, and he was just looking for an opportunity to buy himself an air fryer. It’s been two years that he’s been hinting at it. Well, I had a lapse of good judgment and bought a bread maker last week. In my defense it’s because I wanted to see if I could make an organic gluten-free bread and the only recipe called for a bread maker. That’s all it took for Tony to hop on Amazon and pick himself an air fryer which now further clutters up our kitchen counter. I’m sending my bread maker back just to shame him. But he swears that this is the key to all the cooking  that he wants to do.

Cut Tony some slack on the air fryer, they are extremely useful. I live in a small apartment with virtually no counter space in the kitchen, and I consider my air fryer/toaster oven combo indispensable. I don't think I have turned on the oven once since I got it, granted I live alone and usually cook small quantities. Consider how much propane you save by making a potato or two in the air fryer (or warming fish sticks) versus heating up a large oven.

Lori Milaswrote:

CONFLICT!  Tony is a gadget guy, and he was just looking for an opportunity to buy himself an air fryer. It’s been two years that he’s been hinting at it. Well, I had a lapse of good judgment and bought a bread maker last week. In my defense it’s because I wanted to see if I could make an organic gluten-free bread and the only recipe called for a bread maker. That’s all it took for Tony to hop on Amazon and pick himself an air fryer which now further clutters up our kitchen counter. I’m sending my bread maker back just to shame him. But he swears that this is the key to all the cooking  that he wants to do.

If I had some fantasy finding a guy who would be my perfect match – – an athletic rock climber, outdoors, kind of guy – – the universe threw me a curveball. I spend a lot of time every day trying to put stuff away because clutter makes me unhappy. Tony insists upon doing the dishes and the laundry himself, but it somehow doesn’t include putting stuff away. Instead, it means stacking stuff along the counter—and now there’s an air fryer too.  

And I know we’ve talked about what counts as “clean“. He wants to scrub everything with whatever chemical you can buy at Walmart. He wants to take my car to the guys in town who will supposedly clean it and what I know is they  spray the hell out of it and choke me to death. I come in from my daily hikes with my pockets full of little things I found on my walk, sprigs of white sage, little pebbles. That’s not clean to Tony.

Back to the air fryer, so far it’s warmed up fish sticks. I’ll keep you posted on any miracle dishes that he produces.

As for the sphinx rock, man that thing has captivated me! Maybe Andrew was having a bad day yesterday when he suggested blowing the nose off with a cannon.   This is such an incredible place, so no matter how far and wide I roam I find something new every day. Yesterday I got up very close to frontal lobotomy, read the reviews on it, and realized it could be climbed in a single pitch. I guess that goes on “the list”.

Carl. Not all rock here is smooth.  There are some areas probably very much like yours.  We have a wall here I call the Heart Wall that is very textured and full of upper body climbing.  Within the “smooth” rock there’s a range from coarse and “kitty litter “ to silky smooth but I am told that Yosemite granite puts this to shame. A whole other level of smooth. 

Bread makers are OK if you are short on time and don't mind the dense, gooey texture and lack of a real crust. But bread in the oven is not really that hard if you have the time.  There are some decent gluten free recipes out there.  Try Serious Eats, the Minimalist Baker, or Bon Appetit to start.

Tim Schafstallwrote:

Bread makers are OK if you are short on time and don't mind the dense, gooey texture and lack of a real crust. But bread in the oven is not really that hard if you have the time.  There are some decent gluten free recipes out there.  Try Serious Eats, the Minimalist Baker, or Bon Appetit to start.

Thank you Sam and Tim.  I spent the morning putting other stuff in our shed so Tony would have wide open space to enjoy his new toy. As for bread making I used to bake it all the time when my kids were young… “by hand”.  I never heard of not kneading your own dough and pounding it down to rise again.  This whole thing sounds suspicious to me.  

I was really just enjoying the polar differences between Tony and me in almost everything.  Who here is more different than alike in their relationship?  

—-

If anyone knows ranunculus you will appreciate the love and skill involved in this little garden.  They won’t last long…very soon they’ll figure it out that they aren’t in Orange County anymore.   

Tim Schafstallwrote:

Bread makers are OK if you are short on time and don't mind the dense, gooey texture and lack of a real crust. But bread in the oven is not really that hard if you have the time.  There are some decent gluten free recipes out there.  Try Serious Eats, the Minimalist Baker, or Bon Appetit to start.

I’ve never done it, but bread in a clay flowerpot looks cool. I HAVE made focaccia which is quite a workout after climbing to knead.
I don’t think anyone needs an air fryer.
I do really like cooking in a Römertopf, which is an unglazed clay pot. You soak it in water before using it and cook it in a non pre heated oven (you put it in a cold oven then turn the oven on). My favourite recipe with that is One Hundred Cloves of Garlic Chicken. The garlic caramelises and you spread the cloves on toasted rye bread squares. So basically it’s a whole chicken, garlic and veggies. I did a two hour indoor bouldering session today. I did well but my knees are complaining. Even though I did ok I felt like a silly old fool and like everyone’s grandfather.
Lori you’re lucky you can hike, I wish I could but my knees are buggered.

I like cooking in Roman style clay pots. 

I used a bread maker for many years. It had very nice texture and crust. I could set it up with all the ingredients before I went to bed at night, set the timer, and then wake up to the smell of fresh-baked bread when I woke up in the morning. 

I was at a muzzeloader event last weekend  where we played poker with muskets...   the host cooks lunch in dutch ovens and i was super impressed with everything. i was stupid cold out and he has these cast iron pots with special lids that hold a some charcoal and a bit more goes underneath the pot. 40 min later and out pops the corn bread. perfdectly basked. very little charcoal was used. 

Ah, Bread! I'll admit it; I'm spoiled. My spouse has been making amazing bread for us for several years. Four ingredients: Flour, Water, Salt and Yeast, ala Ken Forkish' book of the same name.

Mixed and folded, the risen dough is cooked in the oven to make incredible bread.  Getting back to traditional baking methods pays huge dividends. 

Lori mentioned a Heart Wall in JT?

philip bonewrote:

Lori mentioned a Heart Wall in JT?

I call it a Heart Wall because from a distance the rocks have a heart shape.  I believe it’s around the Hippodrome.
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I took a little hike this morning to see if I could get any closer to Bob’s White Room.  It’s just a fascinating rock from a distance and it looks like the easiest access is from the base of RFYL, just walk around the corner to the right.  But it doesn’t look like the first part is even climbable… (is that even a word?). Maybe the route starts at the midpoint?  I’ll ask Bob to explain himself.   I am this route’s biggest fan and I may never get to climb it.

As Bob said “You just want to climb that beautiful white slab.”  You got it!    Hoist me up to the good part and let me have at it. 

First 15-20 feet… maybe this isn’t part of the route.

Randywrote:

Ah, Bread! I'll admit it; I'm spoiled. My spouse has been making amazing bread for us for several years. Four ingredients: Flour, Water, Salt and Yeast, ala Ken Forkish' book of the same name.

Mixed and folded, the risen dough is cooked in the oven to make incredible bread.  Getting back to traditional baking methods pays huge dividends. 

You guys are killing me.  I love bread, (and pasta) but I never eat it because it makes me fat.   Watch Dave Macleod”s recent video where he ate only McDonalds patties for two months if you want your mind blown.  He lost weight and set personal records on the one arm three finger hang with 16.5 kilos in the  other hand.  Oh, and blood test markers like triglycerides, cholesterol, and CRP all showed all good results.  Is it really the meat in the western diet that is bad, like they tell us, or all the other crap?

Ward, I can’t even conceive of the concept of you being fat!!! I’ll bet that your svelte figure would survive an occasional piece of bread, even a bowl of pasta.

Alan Rubinwrote:

Ward, I can’t even conceive of the concept of you being fat!!! I’ll bet that your svelte figure would survive an occasional piece of bread, even a bowl of pasta.

It is like cocaine to me.  Sure, “occasional” would be fine but can anyone do one line of cocaine?  Paula has a much better handle on carbohydrates than I do, but if I have one slice I want the whole loaf.  Much easier to abstain.  I’m going to a forced family spaghetti supper on Saturday so wish me well.  I’m planning on eating eggs beforehand and having a bowl of meat sauce.

We missed you at the geriatric gym session this morning Al.   Monday and Wednesday and Fridays at 9 if you are interested.  I had a good session and onsighted a couple off 11s and did a 12a after a couple of tries and then they abandoned me just when I was getting started so I had to climb on the Kilter board with the college kids. I know that you are the stamina guy so missed I you. 

Ward Smithwrote:

We missed you at the geriatric gym session this morning Al.   Monday and Wednesday and Fridays at 9 if you are interested.  I had a good session and onsighted a couple off 11s and did a 12a after a couple of tries and then they abandoned me just when I was getting started so I had to climb on the Kilter board with the college kids. I know that you are the stamina guy so missed I you. 

What a beast.
You looked rather lean when I saw you a couple of weeks ago, Ward. I'd bet you will have a great start to Spring climbing.
I am at about my ideal weight but it is a battle not to put more on.  

C Miller wrote:

The White Room (5.9 R) is around on the right side of the crag.

??

Thank you.  This must be the loneliest route in Josh. But I can’t leave it alone so maybe the universe will provide a way to get up to it or maybe even on it.