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New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #35

Ward Smith · · Wendell MA · Joined Oct 2020 · Points: 26

My 13 year old daughter leading Black and Tan (5.8).  Small Arizona canyon we developed four years ago that nobody knows about.  

Ward Smith · · Wendell MA · Joined Oct 2020 · Points: 26

Petroglyphs around the corner.  We don’t climb near them.

Lori Milas · · Joshua Tree, CA · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 250
dragons wrote:

Do you mind sharing how that happened, Lori? I thought the "Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp" (govt agency, oops, wonder if it's going away) was supposed to help when a company fails.

I'm definitely a little jealous of people who have pensions, but I also never looked for that in a job because I didn't trust pensions (and also because I was clueless). I know they sometimes go wrong. I don't know how people put up with that! If it turns out that you don't get a benefit that you were supposed to, the company effectively robbed you the entire time you worked for them.

My sister was married to a NASA guy, as I recall, and his pension was handled through his company.  He died and the pension went to her.  Apparently she didn't know or didn't bother to keep an eye on it.  The dot.com bubble burst just as she was retiring in 2000.  I just remember her calling me and saying "it's all gone. I have nothing to retire on."  

Watching her work another 10+ years in some crummy jobs really had an impact on me.   But the hard reality is that if my investments and savings were wiped out, I'd be pretty lost.  And this isn't a time of life when I would want to have to suit up and go find a job.  

I've always had in my head "Well, if everything goes to hell I can always sell my house."  In the last 4 years my home has lost close to $150k in value, mostly due to rising interest rates.  This happened to me and half the nation in 2008, when suddenly we were all under water or in foreclosure.  Every fourth house on my block was in foreclosure, the neighborhood had weeds up the walls, brown lawns, bankrupt families.   It was torture to wait it out, and hope your home could get back into the black.  That took 5 years.

BTW... thank you President Obama for rapidly passing a rescue plan that saved our homes and kept businesses solvent.  

So... I'm all for careful, diversified investing, but even so, someone can come along and create chaos in the economy, especially when there was no crisis or dire need to do so... it angers me.  And I don't WANT to wait two years to vote in another dufus. 

---

We haven't talked about diet/nutrition in a long time.  I've been doing the deep dive into Weston A. Price (again).  Anyone else?  

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,375

Ward, careful posting petroglyphs and any location at all. People aren't always so respectful as you are. 

I have no idea which of my friends on here (and you are ALL friends, as far as I'm concerned) said something like, "in what alternate universe should we be funding television and radio.stations?" And something about people have internet these days, etc.

I worked almost 20 years at Boise Public library, starting when it was the only library, right downtown. The pertinent part of public library, or public tv, or public radio, is that crucial word. 

Public.

Because there are indeed people out there without access to services, much more then one would think. No computers. No internet. Libraries have filled this need all along. Public services are a greater good then political maneuvering. 

Unless you are one of the youngsters on here, or perhaps on the other end of our spectrum, you likely grew up with network television, and the totally commercial aspect of children's television. The vast majority of it was minimal content, maximum advertising, largely of really bad for you foods, lol!

That prompted the birth of the Children's Television Workshop. Big bird et al.

But that's programming.

There's also infrastructure, to get that signal out there. There is still a whole lot of big empty spaces out here in the west, and it's still hit and miss what you might get just for phone service or radio. Even along our single freeway across southern Idaho? My trips to COR will have radio drop out entirely.

But beyond that? Why would it matter to have PUBLIC radio?

Most crucial of all?

People.

Public RADIO is one of the very last bits of local reporting out there. Sometimes, that radio station has been the ONLY source for crucial information, including even events like floods. 

So yeah, I'm a radical socialista libertarian anarchist....

Who believes in the importance of taking care of others. 

Them pesky "We the People".

Here's a thought experiment.

Betcha you live within a few miles of someone who does not have easy access to even running water or electricity.

Just because all of us probably have whatever we have? That doesn't mean everyone else has that too.

Oh, and here in Idaho? Re gas prices? They ALWAYS are headed up this time of year, cuz people wanna start getting out there, so charge more and get it while you can. That's gone on forever. 

Finally nice here, acting a whole bunch like spring! I'm thinking there's gonna be front yard tomatoes this year, plant those in about 3 weeks, and I have some lettuce starts that were just too handsome to not buy. 

First climbing trip is getting closer! Early June, yay!! Hope to see at least a few of you from here, but we'll see who's where and when. Erika, it looks like I'll be adding a few days on earlier to the long booked get together. Which means, I think I may be camping in town, when the horse event is going! One of these days, I'm just gonna sneak down to there huge encampment and say howdy!

Oh geez.

And Tracy's will likely have the annual crop of kittens milling around. NO I can't take home kittens  NO. NO NO NO.

Well....not yet. Maybe next year???

Best, all! Helen

EDIT to add:

Hey! What terrific timing, Pope! Getting Easter squeezed out ...last thing. He sounds like he was a pretty good dude, and, it's pretty exciting and interesting to spectate the jump into the Byzantine, while a new Pope gets selected.

I stopped at a fire station today, just to confirm my guess. Yes, the flag at half staff was for the Pope (and not any fire people). The Pope is, after all, also a head of state. But apparently not many know that anymore.

Brandt Allen · · Joshua Tree, Cal · Joined Jan 2004 · Points: 220
Ward Smith wrote:

My 13 year old daughter leading Black and Tan (5.8).  Small Arizona canyon we developed four years ago that nobody knows about.  

As someone who considers himself an afficionado of 5.8 routes, I think that looks great!

Old lady H · · Boise, ID · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 1,375

Lots of this sort of thing to do. Rebuild infrastructure, shove yards of soil hither and yon. Then planting. Make sure the new irrigation all works, get the timer dialed.

Ahead of going to Almo to visit kitties.

Uh, people.

And that climbing thing.

For the record, and maybe it's just cuz my interactions with rock are with boulders I can literally toss around, but?

ALL of everything everyone has been posting in the climbing category is definitely getting that lust going, lol!

H.

ed esmond · · The Paris of VT... · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 0
Guy Keesee wrote:

Ha ha ha….. to all of you wondering how I “take it” 

I really only have four words to say: Democrat Rule, Joe Biden 

I’ve lived in the depths of hell. As a Californian we have had 20 years of BS to condition me. I welcome the change.

Heck if Trumps deals don’t work out, you all can vote in the coming mid-terms. That is the American way.

Later all 

Do you honestly believe this?

Seriously, explain it to me, like I was a Marjorie Taylor Greene voter, what exactly was wrong with "Democrat Rule, Joe Biden ..."  Be specific, general unsupported slander like "Biden crime family.." doesn't count.  Here's your chance to convince me...

I'll concede things are f'ed up...

But how is a total a-hole, amoral, adderall addicted, adjudicated sex offender, guilty on 34 counts of cheating, reality tv character (who bankrupted 2 casinos) is the best and only solution? 

Seriously?

As a rational human, I cannot accept that self-induced chaos is the best/only solution to any problem. Chaos always exist, there's no need to increase it, if one is  really and honestly trying to solve a problem.

As for your gripe about living in Cali... if it's such a hell-hole, why have you spent 20 years living there?  If it sucked so bad, any rational person would have moved somewhere "better." (I'm guessing northern Idaho is more your style...)

ed "the only  2 ways I can image bankrupting a casino is: being you're totally incompetent or you're stealing from it..." e 

GabeO · · Boston, MA · Joined May 2006 · Points: 302

My wife and seven year old daughter took my parents-in-law to Austin TX for my daughter's sporting break. We're renting a house and mostly hanging out poolside. My wife and i left the munchkin with Nana and PopPop and got out for a half day of climbing at a place called Reimers Ranch. 

It's a lot of fun!  Nice featured steep limestone. Here's a steep juggy 5.11a:

First outdoor climbing of the season for both of us. We were both pretty rusty, but had a super day, coming home worked, and happy. 

GO

M M · · Maine · Joined Oct 2020 · Points: 2

Texas limestone is on my list to hit someday, that and check out Austin. 

The weather is getting really nice around here 

Colden Dark · · Funny River · Joined Apr 2023 · Points: 0

This statement from an 80 year old resonated with me: 

John Gill · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 27

I've spoken of my roaming over miles of rock in the dotage of approaching old age. The Granite mountains was my favorite place, isolated and serene, I never saw another climber there except when I met John Sherman and his dog Thimble one summer. Like being on another planet. I avoided any kind of guidebook or route descriptions. 

I camped in a meadow below Lankin's dome, and scrambled up all sides except the column-like structure on the side facing the highway. When John met me we went around on the shadowed edge of the first photo, straight to the top. Little flakes skittered from where I lifted my shoes as I soloed above. John had tied Thimble below the main dome, but he got into a bit of trouble and we rescued him. 

If Zen is focus, then these were studies in flow and continuity - not taking one's eyes off the task at hand. Idyllic moments. There is no need to chase numbers after reaching a certain age - that age depending upon the climber. Do what your body and your spirit tell you.

Li Hu · · Different places · Joined Jul 2022 · Points: 55
Guy Keesee wrote:

Oh come on apogee, did you forget the wise citizens of California voted that in?

And WTH with looking at your 401 every 2 days?
Go take a look at where it was about 2021….

Carl you look happy… when did you grow facial hair??

Lori… the hardest muscle to train- is your mind.

Later all 

Honestly, it’s good to hear feedback from you. Not that I agree with half what you say about politics, but it’s better to have all opinions on the table.

It’s tough being a moderate here, cause I’m hated by all sides here.  

On another note, Yoga is really great stuff! I highly recommend Planet Granite gyms (now part of Movement). Getting on the cracks and finally able to get on a 5.11- crack without whimpering THAT much. Lots of tenuous layback moves and fingertip locks. Couple partners want to get me out on “real rock” cause they think I’m ready for it.   

Alan Rubin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 10
John Gill wrote:

I've spoken of my roaming over miles of rock in the dotage of approaching old age. The Granite mountains was my favorite place, isolated and serene, I never saw another climber there except when I met John Sherman and his dog Thimble one summer. Like being on another planet. I avoided any kind of guidebook or route descriptions. 

I camped in a meadow below Lankin's dome, and scrambled up all sides except the column-like structure on the side facing the highway. When John met me we went around on the shadowed edge of the first photo, straight to the top. Little flakes skittered from where I lifted my shoes as I soloed above. John had tied Thimble below the main dome, but he got into a bit of trouble and we rescued him. 

If Zen is focus, then these were studies in flow and continuity - not taking one's eyes off the task at hand. Idyllic moments. There is no need to chase numbers after reaching a certain age - that age depending upon the climber. Do what your body and your spirit tell you.

Is this the Sweetwater Granites, central WY., John? Looks very interesting, though I only pottered around the edges once, with a non-climbing partner, so never did any actual climbs there. 

Lori Milas · · Joshua Tree, CA · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 250
John Gill wrote:

I've spoken of my roaming over miles of rock in the dotage of approaching old age. The Granite mountains was my favorite place, isolated and serene, I never saw another climber there except when I met John Sherman and his dog Thimble one summer. Like being on another planet. I avoided any kind of guidebook or route descriptions. 

I camped in a meadow below Lankin's dome, and scrambled up all sides except the column-like structure on the side facing the highway. When John met me we went around on the shadowed edge of the first photo, straight to the top. Little flakes skittered from where I lifted my shoes as I soloed above. John had tied Thimble below the main dome, but he got into a bit of trouble and we rescued him. 

If Zen is focus, then these were studies in flow and continuity - not taking one's eyes off the task at hand. Idyllic moments. There is no need to chase numbers after reaching a certain age - that age depending upon the climber. Do what your body and your spirit tell you.

I love this, John! I wonder if that’s what some of us are doing – – roaming and doing what our body and spirit tell us. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to not “going to work“. Some days it’s very disorienting. But it seems like my new job is to cut loose and wander.

There is so much to explore out there, but I have my hands full here at home, and I still have 800,000 acres to explore in my backyard. I noticed a new lizard with a turquoise tail a few days ago. There is a new yarrow bloom happening right now.  Last week I was watching the sun come up over a buttress and a pair of ravens flew by at just the angle that caused the sun to reflect off their wings. They looked like silver spurs shooting across the desert.

This picture showed up on my Instagram and totally captured my fantasy. Do we have ledges here because if so, I’d love to climb one.  This must be Yosemite—“Ahwahnee Guano Ledge”.  ONLY 5.12.  Helen, you up for this?  


Some passersby by stopped and took some pictures of me climbing Bogota, and was sweet enough to text them to me last night. I know Brandt knows this route.

 

What’s cool about your description John is maybe it redefines my motives for climbing.. Roaming and climbing is such a perfect way to be curious. I really want to crawl through that hole. I really want to figure out how to get through the crux on the route to the left.  I’ve been thinking about a completely different route to the right and want to explore it.  But also, where do the snakes hang out? When do the tarantulas do their sojourn? Why are there no blue bells this year?

John, what are you doing these days? Can you get out at all? Are you fairly recovered from your cancer? So glad you’ve been sharing all you do.

—-

Colden.  Beautifully said.  I’m gonna keep that.  

M1 H1 · · Boulder ish · Joined Dec 2024 · Points: 0
Lori Milas wrote:

This picture showed up on my Instagram and totally captured my fantasy. Do we have ledges here because if so, I’d love to climb one.  This must be Yosemite—“Ahwahnee Guano Ledge”.  ONLY 5.12.  Helen, you up for this?  


This is a picture taken from Guano ledge on the leaning tower in Yosemite.  The feature youre looking at being climbed is not “a ledge”.  Awahnee ledge and guano ledge are just relatively flat spots right next to eachother on this wall to bivvy on. 

Brian in SLC · · Sandy, UT · Joined Oct 2003 · Points: 22,793
Alan Rubin wrote:

Is this the Sweetwater Granites, central WY., John? Looks very interesting, though I only pottered around the edges once, with a non-climbing partner, so never did any actual climbs there. 

I've climbed out there a few times.  NIce area.  Not in the summer though.

Sweetwater Rocks

ErikaNW · · Golden, CO · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 410
Old lady H wrote:

Ward, careful posting petroglyphs and any location at all. People aren't always so respectful as you are. 

I have no idea which of my friends on here (and you are ALL friends, as far as I'm concerned) said something like, "in what alternate universe should we be funding television and radio.stations?" And something about people have internet these days, etc.

I worked almost 20 years at Boise Public library, starting when it was the only library, right downtown. The pertinent part of public library, or public tv, or public radio, is that crucial word. 

Public.

Because there are indeed people out there without access to services, much more then one would think. No computers. No internet. Libraries have filled this need all along. Public services are a greater good then political maneuvering. 

Unless you are one of the youngsters on here, or perhaps on the other end of our spectrum, you likely grew up with network television, and the totally commercial aspect of children's television. The vast majority of it was minimal content, maximum advertising, largely of really bad for you foods, lol!

That prompted the birth of the Children's Television Workshop. Big bird et al.

But that's programming.

There's also infrastructure, to get that signal out there. There is still a whole lot of big empty spaces out here in the west, and it's still hit and miss what you might get just for phone service or radio. Even along our single freeway across southern Idaho? My trips to COR will have radio drop out entirely.

But beyond that? Why would it matter to have PUBLIC radio?

Most crucial of all?

People.

Public RADIO is one of the very last bits of local reporting out there. Sometimes, that radio station has been the ONLY source for crucial information, including even events like floods. 

So yeah, I'm a radical socialista libertarian anarchist....

Who believes in the importance of taking care of others. 

Them pesky "We the People".

Here's a thought experiment.

Betcha you live within a few miles of someone who does not have easy access to even running water or electricity.

Just because all of us probably have whatever we have? That doesn't mean everyone else has that too.

Oh, and here in Idaho? Re gas prices? They ALWAYS are headed up this time of year, cuz people wanna start getting out there, so charge more and get it while you can. That's gone on forever. 

Finally nice here, acting a whole bunch like spring! I'm thinking there's gonna be front yard tomatoes this year, plant those in about 3 weeks, and I have some lettuce starts that were just too handsome to not buy. 

First climbing trip is getting closer! Early June, yay!! Hope to see at least a few of you from here, but we'll see who's where and when. Erika, it looks like I'll be adding a few days on earlier to the long booked get together. Which means, I think I may be camping in town, when the horse event is going! One of these days, I'm just gonna sneak down to there huge encampment and say howdy!

Oh geez.

And Tracy's will likely have the annual crop of kittens milling around. NO I can't take home kittens  NO. NO NO NO.

Well....not yet. Maybe next year???

Best, all! Helen

EDIT to add:

Hey! What terrific timing, Pope! Getting Easter squeezed out ...last thing. He sounds like he was a pretty good dude, and, it's pretty exciting and interesting to spectate the jump into the Byzantine, while a new Pope gets selected.

I stopped at a fire station today, just to confirm my guess. Yes, the flag at half staff was for the Pope (and not any fire people). The Pope is, after all, also a head of state. But apparently not many know that anymore.

Thank you for this perspective Helen! I totally agree with you.

We are booked June 2-11 in COR (site 12). Not sure if we will be there the entire time. Hope to see some of you!

WF WF51 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2020 · Points: 0
Li Hu wrote:

Honestly, it’s good to hear feedback from you. Not that I agree with half what you say about politics, but it’s better to have all opinions on the table.

It’s tough being a moderate here, cause I’m hated by all sides here.  

On another note, Yoga is really great stuff! I highly recommend Planet Granite gyms (now part of Movement). Getting on the cracks and finally able to get on a 5.11- crack without whimpering THAT much. Lots of tenuous layback moves and fingertip locks. Couple partners want to get me out on “real rock” cause they think I’m ready for it.   

Hated? I don't think so, I like reading your posts. Please keep it going.

Tim Schafstall · · Newark, DE · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 1,358
ErikaNW wrote:

Thank you for this perspective Helen! I totally agree with you.

We are booked June 2-11 in COR (site 12). Not sure if we will be there the entire time. Hope to see some of you!

We arrive 9 June. Smokey Mt site 22 (I think). There thru 19th or so.

bryans · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 547
RKM wrote:

Seriously Bob?  I’m surprised and disappointed in you - that you would arrogantly paint with such a broad brush against more than half of the US population and a high percent of readers of this thread.  I totally am proud of and support President Trump - and more importantly his administration and DOGE that have exposed the complete corruption, fraud, abuse and waste of our hard earned tax dollars.  Pretty profound and hellacious statement that WE all should ‘crawl back into our hole’.

Kim Miller

I'm 49.5. First post here after lurking on this thread for years. Yes, crawl back in your foxhole and nurture your grievances. I'd explain why, but experience - and reading a few books back in 2016 about con artists of decades past - has made me painfully aware that Trump supporters (like any victims of con artists) will go to their graves supporting Trump "even if he shot someone on 5th Avenue." 

(Edit to add: I appreciate my post is pages late and adds nothing of concrete value, but I do think it's appropriate to register dissent. I'm also not going to defend the Democratic party, as it is deeply flawed and I really do understand why a person would flirt with voting for Trump the same way they might flirt with the idea of cheating on their spouse - it's transgressive and exciting to be bad! - but a mature rational person moves on from that idea)

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