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New and Experienced Climbers Over 50 #29
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MM. I'd love to get to the Clifton crags ( the Camden ones as well), been wanting to go there for years. But when I am at Acadia for our usual Memorial Day get-together it is too buggy there, and if I visit the area later in the season ( as I did last summer), I have had no partners. Some day!!! Ward used to make weekend excursions there from western Mass ( about a 5-6 hour drive each way) in the dead of winter--even with below zero temps, to put up new routes. He says that it is a sun trap---maybe, but still....!!! He is a hard man and a dedicated one!!! |
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Clifton is really cool. I wanted to get on that really long upward left to right 5.8 ish thing last summer but Isa talked me out of it. It looks scary as heck but I thought it might me doable? My winter hiking is fine as I usually keep it to 3+ and under with the occasional 4and just a year ago a 5- but that was NH grades ;) its the 4+ and 5 at the lake that killed me this year... and now apparently I can't even climb 5.6 without feeling crippled afterwards.. I do the rubber bands first thing in the morning. |
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Guy, thanks. Wear and tear on medial meniscus and patella; had cleanup last July but just not enough with osteoarthritis and same side had had a new hip a few years ago. I am looking forward to COR this June for a couple of weeks. I did get out today again for a couple of pitches. |
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3 pitches and some scrambling today. BY's Green Card (an underappreciated route), and a couple of laps on a long steep enduro. Monkey flowers and stone crop taking over, swallows darting at me. Signs of spring. |
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When is everyone going to be at COR this year? I know it was mentioned but that was a million posts ago…. Nick - sorry to hear about your shoulders. |
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I'll be there June 10 through 24. I know some other folks who will be there around the same time. |
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Every year this COR meet comes up, and every year I really want to go. I've climbed there a few times in the past, and love the place. But, this year I'm breaking ground on a new house in Wyoming June 2nd. We snagged a spectacular 58 acre parcel ten miles (as the crow flies) from Devils Tower. The LA house is sold, and in the morning I sign a lease on a place in Gillette for the summer while we build. Yikes!! Next year for sure... Check out https://newenergyworks.com/  |
Kristian Solemwrote: You’re only two towns over from me! |
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WOW. Kris. That's a big move and a nice looking residence. |
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Today I climbed twice, an hour of indoor bouldering at 1100 and then TRing in the gym for two hours at 430. I started to feel tired part way through the second session by was still able to do my favourite crimpy grade 21 clean |
Kristian Solemwrote: That looks amazing - and congratulations! I LOVE Wyoming. Husband has never been to DT so we are thinking of a quick mid week trip before the June closure to do the Durrance Route. I know…. Not the best route, but definitely a classic. |
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Couple weeks ago on top  |
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Kris - The pictures of your new home look great. So exciting! The City of Rocks trip will be coming up soon. Can't wait to see old friends, climb on that nice rock, eat pizza, laze around on rest days, do some birdwatching, etc, etc. A while back I made a comment about rarely seeing rattlesnakes here in JT. Yesterday I went out to do a new (for me) route, Diddly Squat, that Bob G had recently posted on MP.com. After walking around the bottom of the rock checking it out for a bit, I went back over to my pack to get some gear when my partner said "Look at that!" Right next to where I had been standing a large rattler crawled along the base of the rock and into a crack. It was 4 or 5 feet long and as fat as my arm. It kept buzzing at us so we packed it up and went to a different route. Diddly Squat looks very nice (all 25 feet of it) so I'll be back to do it some other time. |
philip bonewrote: Great photo, Phil. But as we both know, it just doesn't do it justice. Actually being there is still jaw-dropping even after all these years. The dogwood is in full bloom up here right now. I'll try to remember to take a shot when the sun comes around. |
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It’s hard to take in all these beautiful pictures. How wonderful for all of you! Nick, so sorry about your shoulder. That’s a real bummer.
We are having a little drama at my house and I just need to leave it here. I’ve been really struggling with some kind of upper respiratory thing since January. It hasn’t exactly felt like an illness, but sometimes it does. So I’ve had three doctor appointments lately and their assumption is that I have pollen allergies (despite allergy testing being clear for all the major pollens).! Except I feel so much better when I’m out hiking and IN the pollen. Now I have been prescribed Flonase, Claritin, saline nasal washes, an antibiotic “just in case” and Albuterol “ just in case“. Yesterday I stayed in the house all day just trying to breathe and was worn out from the struggle by the end of the day. We have two large air purifiers and two humidifiers going full time. Last night, I was frantically looking for clues in my house. I realized I had two large “nontoxic“ workout mats rolled out in my living room, and they have been there for the last four months. I rolled them up and took them out to the garage. Immediately I felt 50% better. and the same with this morning, but when Tony rolled down the hallway, I smelled his aftershave before I saw him I thought oh no, this is not good, I cannot be allergic to Tony! It’s been kind of a gag between us – – California hippie girl and smooth Chicago dude. His identity is wrapped up in all the stuff he puts on his body, the fabric sheets in the dryer, the dishwasher soap, all the cleaning sprays etc. I persuaded Tony to get rid of the Christmas tree in his car some months ago, but everything else remains. I think he would be frustrated and hateful if he had to get rid of all that. He’s not in any mood to change. So I’m trying to tackle this scientifically. I’m out taking a long hike this morning in the pollen that is supposedly causing all this. I feel pretty good here. I have a childhood history of severe asthma and it feels like it’s all come back. But outside I’m feeling pretty good So I thought I’d come have this discussion with the SPHINX.  |
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Yeah, photos don't do it justice up here either. The dogwoods are exploding, but there's no way to take a shot that captures the full effect:    |
David Hwrote: So you just sort of wore your knee out- Nice! Over the years I have had 4 surgeries, all to put the parts back together. I’m curious to know when it’s decided to replace stuff. Right now my hip is very painful - for no reason. Feeling better today though, yesterday I went to Pick your Part (a huge self service auto dismantling place) because they had some Corolla’s that had just hit the yard - yes I am crazy. Anyway all the walking seems to help the hip. I’m going to treat the hip like it was a frozen shoulder- work it out - and see what happens. Lori…. Sounds bad. Have you had the air in your home analyzed? The carpet, pressboard, paint all have residual chemicals in them. Checked for Mold, Fungus and left over Meth making chemicals? If you feel better being outside- stay outside. Three weeks camping at COR should fix you, getting dirty is good for your soul. I bet Carl could attest to that- he seems pretty up beat now. Nick- that climbing In Maine looks like fun! So this is the best season? Later all, happy climbing EDIT: |
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I like your plan for your hip, Guy! Just keep moving it. I believe that a body in motion stays in motion so you’re on the right track. I covered all the indoor air issues I can except the obvious. I don’t want to be a pain in the ass. I’ll do what I can without starting World War III. I’ve been out wandering now three hours with no meds and I feel fine. All I can do is document what’s going on and try to find some solutions. I might head for the beach for a few days. I headed over to Watergate wall again because there’s so much more than I ever saw before. And I am really smitten by these two routes over on the right side , neither of which I can climb. There’s more hope for the one on the right, which is beautiful and if ever there was a need for crimping, this is it.  
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Lori- I don’t think you understood what I’m getting at. Professional monitoring for health and safety. Not using some cheap gizmo. Out gassing is real and it affects people differently. Some friends of mine did a complete home renovation- Floors, paint, kitchen- everything. They went away in 5th wheel for 2 months while the work was done. Come home and the wife starts having issues after 4 weeks home. Feeling bad, weakness, constant congestion etc. |
Guy Keeseewrote: Guy, we are on EXACTLY the same page. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to go that far with this house. Where I lived in Rocklin at my old house, I found I was getting sick with 'something'... no idea what. Just wipeout fatigue, depression, shakes... everything. I would go stay in a hotel for a week, feel better, come back and get immediately unwell again. So, upon a referral, I found a husband/wife team from Berkeley who tested commercial buildings for environmental toxins. They also would do residential gigs, but didn't want to make the trip to my house. They finally agreed to come, after some begging. On went the gas masks and the calibrated equipment and I followed them around as they tested every room in my house. At the conclusion they said the levels of formaldehyde they found in my house were serious enough that they personally would not stay in my house without a gasmask, for longer than 2 hours. They advised me to get out. I received a 12 page OSHA report, detailing levels of off-gassing from every piece of furniture and flooring. This was a relatively new home! The remediation recommendations were to get rid of all my wood furniture and carpet, and ventilate the house constantly. I did all of that. I got to be an expert on VOC point, mold, etc. Within a few weeks I was recovered. I was going to say that I'll let this ride until I first get rid of the obvious chemicals, soaps, perfumes etc. But, what the heck. It couldn't hurt to dig a little deeper. I just contacted the mold guys... and will see what else needs to be done. Thank you, Guy! ------- I've been thinking about Kris all day. I am SO happy for you, Kris. I browsed your website link, and love all the offerings. This is indeed a happy-endings story. Please keep us posted as work progresses. |
