New and experienced climbers over 50 #30

Lori. A 12v fridge on it's own is not useful for anything. An RV with a fridge and proper battery bank and charging system is what I was referring to. 

S. Neohwrote:

Are you an artist or a photographer or just someone who just enjoys the soft warm light of Golden Hour?

I find it makes me look better….

@Brad… sounds like you take care of business the right way. When sport climbing started I was dead set against cheating (rap bolting). Then I realized that if the end result was a good climb it’s ok. It’s allowed all this choss to be developed. What I really dislike are climbs that were TRed to death then bolted to be “bold”… 

I have always been curious about the Pinnacles maybe time for a visit- this fall maybe 

I feel so good- now that I have my very own OnX account. Are the maps any good? Maybe I’ll look.

Gotta go- 

Jan Mcwrote:

I would never buy a trailer.  I just can't see driving around at 60 mph when I can get the same functionality in a camper and go 75 or 80.

Whatever works for you...is what works for you.  People have many different ideas about the functionality they want that leads them down different paths.

For me, I car camped in a tent or in the back of my pickup truck until I was 52.  The sleeping was never an issue.  I was plenty comfortable and plenty warm.  My personal functionality issues came down to hating to get up and out of the tent/truck to pee three times a night.  Disliking using the woods or a pit toilet or a NFS bathroom for other functions. And hating being cold in the AM while making breakfast for those alpine starts. Hating the buggy nights before bedtime. 

There is a decision tree that one goes through to decide what solution is the best for them.  For me, owning the 28' Winnebago and towing my Subaru was a great solution for 16 years.  I had a wonderful spacious apartment on wheels, with a full fridge, full kitchen, heat to use when cold, dinette for comfortable seating, comfy queen bed - size great for when the hubbie joined the trips, spacious cabover bed for my climbing partners who came on many of those trips over the years. They used to joke about being seduced into the Dark Side after joining me with the RV. Now the class B van is serving its own purpose for these twilight years. 

The decision tree factors in the living requirements, cost, how it will be used, how much it will be used, how much it will be driven, where it will go, etc. It can be overwhelming when you have come to the conclusion that hotels are not the answer, and car camping is not the answer, and you want something else, but you have no idea where to start.  There is a lot of collective knowledge here and in other threads on MP.

Photo: Ann T.

phylp phylpwrote:

Whatever works for you...is what works for you.  People have many different ideas about the functionality they want that leads them down different paths.

For me, I car camped in a tent or in the back of my pickup truck until I was 52.  The sleeping was never an issue.  I was plenty comfortable and plenty warm.  My personal functionality issues came down to hating to get up and out of the tent/truck to pee three times a night.  Disliking using the woods or a pit toilet or a NFS bathroom for other functions. And hating being cold in the AM while making breakfast for those alpine starts. Hating the buggy nights before bedtime. 

There is a decision tree that one goes through to decide what solution is the best for them.  For me, owning the 28' Winnebago and towing my Subaru was a great solution for 16 years.  I had a wonderful spacious apartment on wheels, with a full fridge, full kitchen, heat to use when cold, dinette for comfortable seating, comfy queen bed - size great for when the hubbie joined the trips, spacious cabover bed for my climbing partners who came on many of those trips over the years. They used to joke about being seduced into the Dark Side after joining me with the RV. Now the class B van is serving its own purpose for these twilight years.

The decision tree factors in the living requirements, cost, how it will be used, how much it will be used, how much it will be driven, where it will go, etc. It can be overwhelming when you have come to the conclusion that hotels are not the answer, and car camping is not the answer, and you want something else, but you have no idea where to start.  There is a lot of collective knowledge here and in other threads on MP.

No kidding.  My brain almost exploded several times when trying to 1) Pick the vehicle and 2) design it.  Fortunately, I had some climbing and caving friends that helped    (TY again, BTW).

Talking about cars, when I was a teenager I was OBSESSED with American muscle cars. I bought a copy of Hot Rod magazine each month and read it from cover to cover.  
Here’s a picture of my first car. I’m not sure any of you would know what it was. For what it was it was fast, beat a Chevy Impala once in a drag from the lights to the next lights.

phylp phylpwrote:

Whatever works for you...is what works for you. <snip great info>There is a lot of collective knowledge here and in other threads on MP.

Its kind of a conundrum.  Interesting to watch the camping (camper) habits of many especially "over 50" (ha!) climbers.  Seems like a bunch of folks graduate to a trailer for extended trips especially as a basecamp in a spread out climbing area.  I do like the idea of dropping camp then still being able to drive around and come back to a campsite that has obvious (and somewhat secure) occupation.

We have friends who have an Airstream Basecamp which I've been curious about.  I was in the Uintas last summer and drove past a campground and noticed one.  Owner was around so I chatted him up and he gave me a great tour of it.  Nice option for two.  I like the idea of a readymade bed and table under the same roof.  I noticed a pistol on the counter and asked about it...he unloaded it and handed it to me.  Too funny.

We're still tenting (when forced!).  Solo...I'll sleep in my SUV but that's getting old.

Columbine at Alta UT yesterday...we're still a couple weeks out up high for the flower explosion...

Carl Schneiderwrote:

Talking about cars, when I was a teenager I was OBSESSED with American muscle cars. I bought a copy of Hot Rod magazine each month and read it from cover to cover.  
Here’s a picture of my first car. I’m not sure any of you would know what it was. For what it was it was fast, beat a Chevy Impala once in a drag from the lights to the next lights.

Aussie version of a Ford Gran Torino?

philip bonewrote:

Beautiful fairways and a tee box in the shade of those pines? Just need to mow it down a bit.   

Guy Keeseewrote:

I find it makes me look better….

LOL.
Personally, I find the morning Golden Hour to be more flattering for portraiture photography. But getting the subjects to look good early in the day is a challenge.

Carl Schneiderwrote:

Talking about cars, when I was a teenager I was OBSESSED with American muscle cars. I bought a copy of Hot Rod magazine each month and read it from cover to cover.  
Here’s a picture of my first car. I’m not sure any of you would know what it was. For what it was it was fast, beat a Chevy Impala once in a drag from the lights to the next lights.

Why?
Surely there were some Holden models and the Ford Falcon that were just as fast in a straight line.

Full disclosure - I love watching street (Monaco, Singapore, etc) Formula 1 races. Drag and Oval Track races do not really interest me.
Nürburgring and Silverstone (just took place) are A-OK. Glad Lewis (his swan song with Mercedes?) and Lando did as well as they did on home soil.

Watched Reel Rock 10 this afternoon where Alex and Tommy climbed the Fitz Roy, and I saw one of the formations is called Cerro Torre.  Oh wow… I know I saw a formation by that name here, somewhere by Comic Book.  I wonder if it’s that spire I’ve been looking at.  Cool!  I’ll try to find it  tomorrow!

I’m not gonna lie, it’s warm here.  My friend clocked his temperature in Yucca Valley at 117.  Ours here is only 107.  so which is it?

Phylp, so glad you’re posting your thoughts on camping and RVs and particularly your last post talking about decision-making.  I realize I will not be roughing it across the nation as you and others have done your whole lives. Helen and Nick (and all, Carl) thanks for weighing in on refrigeration. I think I have a place to start now with all of this. It would be funny if I wind up with just a Coleman cooler.  

This is for no reason. It was posted by a friend on Facebook and I couldn’t figure out what “maters” was.  Then suddenly it clicked.  I think I’ll keep Zookeene.  I like it a lot!  

reminds me of that major contribution to the English language from our former president.  Covfefe.  

 I just don't like towing. I do it occasionally for work but rather not when I am vacationing. seen the shit show that can happen trying to find parking spots with a tear drop at the crag. With a trailer you always have to plan on how you are going to get turned around and get out of a place before you drive in there. you have to do that with any rig but its much more involved with a trailer. If I did not have a sprinter size van I would have a cab over on a pick up truck.  My current T1n sprinter has 140" wheel base and is very nimble with massive ground clearance.  If I ever got the next generation sprinter it would be the 144inch wheel base. I really like the vans because there is zero set up. all you do is park and step into your house without having to open the door and let bugs or tweakers in. I always park facing out and have everything secured at bedtime so that if it gets weird all I have to do is hop out of bed and into the drivers seat. 

we just did 10 days in the Maritimes

and only paid for one campsite. the rest of the time we boondocked for free. Many times I drive up a dirt road that I would not even have considered investigating if I was towing a trailer. Sometimes you hit paydirt and find a perfect free campsite.

and sometimes you end up backing up for a 1/4 mile before you can even turn around.... 

Nick Goldsmithwrote:

 and sometimes you end up backing up for a 1/4 mile before you can even turn around.... 

Went up to a local crag and the road was blocked so we used MP to guide us to the crag, and we ended up a dirt road in my new Crosstrek, looked sketchy and remote. Passed two hikers who were shocked to see us. I putted 5mph past them up the steep incline. Single lane was barely wide enough for my car. Suddenly, a 700 pound rock blocked our way. We couldn’t budge it. Backing up was out of the question.

So, I decided to ride up the side of the road. The Suby displayed a 24 degree slant. Made it past that and three miles later, we finally got to a paved road which eventually led us to the crag.

Happiness!

Anticipating a ride out the same way, I refused to climb a boulder. That and my painful shoulder.

Well, we took a longer route out hoping to find paved roads all the way out and ended up at a dead end 20 miles away. Begrudgingly, started back to the dirt road.

But, we saw a few others without dust. I finally stopped and asked how they’d gotten up. One of them replied staring at my Crosstrek layered with a thick coat of dust that he’d come up via a diversion…   

In retrospect, that was all the adventure I’d gotten that day.   

So, yes, I can relate to not being able to back up.

Kristian Solemwrote:

Aussie version of a Ford Gran Torino?

No. Ford TC Cortina. Had a 1.6 litre six cylinder engine paired with a Ford Toploader four speed gearbox. The gearbox was bullet proof, you could knock it back into first while going 70 Ks an hour and the diff would lockup no worries at all, mate!

I think I recall you posting a pic of your Stingray here once. 

Lori Milaswrote:

Watched Reel Rock 10 this afternoon where Alex and Tommy climbed the Fitz Roy, and I saw one of the formations is called Cerro Torre.  Oh wow… I know I saw a formation by that name here, somewhere by Comic Book.  I wonder if it’s that spire I’ve been looking at.  Cool!  I’ll try to find it  tomorrow!

I’m not gonna lie, it’s warm here.  My friend clocked his temperature in Yucca Valley at 117.  Ours here is only 107.  so which is it?

Phylp, so glad you’re posting your thoughts on camping and RVs and particularly your last post talking about decision-making.  I realize I will not be roughing it across the nation as you and others have done your whole lives. Helen and Nick (and all, Carl) thanks for weighing in on refrigeration. I think I have a place to start now with all of this. It would be funny if I wind up with just a Coleman cooler.  

This is for no reason. It was posted by a friend on Facebook and I couldn’t figure out what “maters” was.  Then suddenly it clicked.  I think I’ll keep Zookeene.  I like it a lot!  

reminds me of that major contribution to the English language from our former president.  Covfefe.  

M-aaaaaaa-ters. Toe-maaaaaaters.
Tomatoes. Maybe. 

Lori Milaswrote:

This is for no reason. It was posted by a friend on Facebook and I couldn’t figure out what “maters” was.  Then suddenly it clicked.  I think I’ll keep Zookeene.  I like it a lot!  

It’s a trap setup for Vegans! Don’t turn off the main road!

Have you ever seen “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”?

Ever hear the phrase “I like eating vegetarians” referring generally to beef?

Put the two together and the obvious conclusion is “It’s a trap” … for Vegans.

Yes, 'maters and 'taters are just what you'd think. Decades ago, some enterprising scamm....uh, entreprenuer, was marketing tomato plants grafted onto spud plants. Yes....Tatermaters.   

Another concrete day today, slabs mainly: back patio, west fence line, garage, and my house back door area.

Jan, I'm guessing you are somewhere in this part, too?

Helen

Edit to add, next is rough framing, so it will quickly be looking like something....then still take months to be done. Meanwhile? I have 2 long stretches of wood fence to build.