New and experienced climbers over 50 #37

Norm Larsonwrote:

Lori, yes the key is don’t stop.
Many of my peers and early partners quit climbing to have families or got over involved in their careers and quit climbing always assuming that they would pick it up again. Most didn’t like how much of their skill they lost in the intervening years/decades and gave it up for good when they realized how much work it would take to get comfortable climbing again. I’ve stayed with climbing for my whole life (I’m 70 now) and while they have retirement and grandchildren I am still just a happy mediocre climber but I am still a happy persistent climber.

the classic thing you hear is of people that work hard, save a lot of money for retirement, retire and drop dead. 

Thank you, Norm! I am a bit envious of you and so many others who had a lifetime to acquire strength and technique and who have had so much fun along the way. I did have a business and four kids and a huge home and I don’t regret it, but I can’t say it was fun. But it felt like a lot of temerity to come here now at this age and think I could climb.

Apparently, others here had great role models in aging. I can honestly say I don’t have a single girlfriend who is not on antidepressants and sleep aids. I think they just had a picture of “old” and are sort of following it.  

So I’m busy putting pieces together and not just dietary. It must be particularly hard to give up climbing for a good spell and never be able to get the juice back.  It is heartening to see the studies that say you can add muscle back on, improve your balance and increase your endurance, even at 70 and beyond.

I was thinking this morning about all the aspects of an active life I’ve had to learn in a fast hurry.  Things like navigation and bugs and heat and shade and recovery. This morning I wanted to go do reconnaissance on a couple routes I have been wanting climb. The problem is I’m pretty cowardly about the last part of the scramble so rehearsing gives me a little more confidence. This Is all still so brand new.

How about that Ayatollah (11bc)  (not for me. This one’s for fossil) 

it’s a Pet Sounds kind of day.   

I haven’t taken any time off from climbing for years.  However, if I take a couple of weeks off from hiking I definitely notice it.  When I was younger I could take months off with no apparent degradation in my fitness.

Jim Uwrote:

How did that work out for both the viet cong and taliban Mr Biden?

did stuff FOR you....like putting people to into camps if they didn't take a shot?

Haven't cared what a Brit or any of their affiliate states (penal colony or otherwise) thought since 1776.

I had the distinct pleasure of working with AUS SOF when they were assigned to us in Afghanistan 2005-2006 (attended ANZAK sunrise ceremony with them, still have the invite) 

But you Sir,  sound like a clown

Well, I don't think it is becoming to any of us to get into a name calling contest, but looking from the outside, between the two I think you are putting the clown moniker on the wrong person.. Honestly, when I read your post I was not impressed by your clarity or quality of thought. 

First line: Some kind of attempt at an insult and referral back to Biden - not really clear what you are actually trying to say

Second line: Haven't military personnel always had to take various shots to  help avoid disease to maintain unit readiness? Look at the ships that were hit by covid. Considering the information at the time, it was perfectly reasonable in a military context to insist personnel be vaccinated and quarantining has always been a valuable tool used against pandemics. Why should the covid response be any different?

Third line: Some ignorant jingoism 

Fourth: first clearly enunciated and reasonable thought

Fifth: Dunning-Kruger?? 

M Spraguewrote:

No, I didn't know that was your intent. Hyperbolic, sure. It is not a rare attitude and we have seen so many absurdities. Thanks for the clarification.

De nada, 

Yet another idiot appears, and once again the ignore option is made use of.

I’m went bouldering yesterday with my friend who is struggling with coming back to climbing. I’m trying to balance trying pretty hard with not getting hurt because staying fit is way easier for old people than getting fit again 

Buttermilks?

Jim Uwrote:

I had the distinct pleasure of working with AUS SOF when they were assigned to us in Afghanistan 2005-2006 (attended ANZAK sunrise ceremony with them, still have the invite) 

Where were you in Afghan in 2006???

I was co-located with some Aussie SOFs at TK in AUG/SEP of 2006 when I was with 3rd Group!

They were some CRAZY ARSE Basterds, for sure, but so fun to hang with!

M Spraguewrote:

Well, I don't think it is becoming to any of us to get into a name calling contest, but looking from the outside, between the two I think you are putting the clown moniker on the wrong person.. Honestly, when I read your post I was not impressed by your clarity or quality of thought. 

First line: Some kind of attempt at an insult and referral back to Biden - not really clear what you are actually trying to say

Second line: Haven't military personnel always had to take various shots to  help avoid disease to maintain unit readiness? Look at the ships that were hit by covid. Considering the information at the time, it was perfectly reasonable in a military context to insist personnel be vaccinated and quarantining has always been a valuable tool used against pandemics. Why should the covid response be any different?

Third line: Some ignorant jingoism 

Fourth: first clearly enunciated and reasonable thought

Fifth: Dunning-Kruger?? 

Line one:  clearly to subtle.  When discussing gun control it was former president Biden who said something to the extent of you can’t take a gov’t out with some AR-15… you need F16s and some nukes….. well sure does look like both the Vietcong and taliban fought us to a standstill…. Never defeated in the battlefield but still withdrew in defeat.  And yes I’m a GWOT vet with 3 rotation to OEF saying that.

second line:  complete conflation.  I’m not talking about nor did I mention military vaccinations (my shot record is longer than most after 25yrs) I’m glad I retired before COVID became an issue.  I was referring to the AUS government’s handling of people who choose not to get shot…. I thought freedom of choice and bodily autonomy was a thing?

Third line:  you forgot xenophobic and nationalistic 

Fifth line:  in reference to what exactly….

Jim Uwrote:

I thought freedom of choice and bodily autonomy was a thing?

I know an awful lot of women who ask the same thing about Republican policies towards their bodies.

Jim Uwrote:

Line one:  clearly to subtle.  When discussing gun control it was former president Biden who said something to the extent of you can’t take a gov’t out with some AR-15… you need F16s and some nukes….. well sure does look like both the Vietcong and taliban fought us to a standstill…. Never defeated in the battlefield but still withdrew in defeat.  And yes I’m a GWOT vet with 3 rotation to OEF saying that.

According to both history books and a personal source (my father who served two tours in Vietnam) the Vietcong weren't alone. The NVA played a big role, sometimes pretending to be Vietcong but other times in straight up conventional battles with NVA regulars fighting US troops. And they had a lot more than assault rifles and pistols. Field artillery, tanks, surface to air missile systems and even fighter jets. Which is why the US lost close to 10,000 aircraft during the war. They also had a pipeline of weapons and financial aid from China and Russia. 

Buck Rogerswrote:

Where were you in Afghan in 2006???

I was co-located with some Aussie SOFs at TK in AUG/SEP of 2006 when I was with 3rd Group!

They were some CRAZY ARSE Basterds, for sure, but so fun to hang with!

I was in 7th grp.  GRP S-6 so my ass was stuck at CJSOTF-A J6 most of the time.  did send a bunch of time out at TK when we put in the Tiger Shark

Jim, please tell us about these “camps” that Americans were sent to if they refused the COVID shot. 

BTW it’s ANZAC not ANZAK. Australian, New Zealand army Corps. I did many ANZAC Catafalque Party drill ceremonies. ‘Rest on your arms reversed’. It was nice using SLR rifles, not as cool with the Steyr rifle. I was in the army for ten years, two years as a recruit instructor (like what you’d call a drill sergeant maybe) which turned me into a bit of a psycho. Never went to a conflict and I’m glad about that. 

Here’s my indoor climbing trip report I sent to a mate last night. I know it’ll not make much sense to you but it’ll give you a taste of my indoor climbing exploits here. Currently I’m still trying to climb two evenings after work (4 to 6) and go climb on both Sat and Sun. It’s been cold and rainy here do most of it’s indoor roped climbing (very small gym) or at one of the four bouldering gyms.
BTW when I say ‘cold’ it’s been about 2 degrees C in the mornings, not cold by your standards but cold enough to freeze the nuts off a polar bear by my standards.

………

We did some interesting routes tonight at VR. The cool 18 on the overhanging back wall, cool long moves to quite ok holds but pumpy in areas. Then the 20 overhanging route on the RH side, small holds to start that make my finger joints creak, then a cool interesting L corner, back on to the face with pumpy moves from half way, hard RH high sloper gaston that’s hard to hold before a biggish move to the LH finish. Then we for some reason decided to try a couple of 22s. One was very interesting, balancey all the way. I think I had two sits but it’s maybe do-able. Then a 22 on the RH back wall that’s cruisy until it’s not. I called down to Zibo a bit over half way and told him the bad news is what we thought was the crux (real small crimps on the overhang) wasn’t. The next but was. I failed on that but was amused. I like it when one fails with a laugh. But Zibo has a cool beta idea, high gripping feet. Then we tried the scariest 17 in the gym on the bouldering side, several quite concerning bits. 17 for moves, 20 for worryinducingicity.  Cool sesh.

Jim Uwrote:

I was in 7th grp.  GRP S-6 so my ass was stuck at CJSOTF-A J6 most of the time.  did send a bunch of time out at TK when we put in the Tiger Shark

Too cool! Then you must have been at Camp Vance when the Tajma-sh!tter was built!  

I was one of the first guys to operate on Dwyer after he was hit during the left seat/right seat ride.

Small world.

Mark E Dixonwrote:

Buttermilks?

Nope Shaver Lake Area

Frank Steinwrote:

Jim, please tell us about these “camps” that Americans were sent to if they refused the COVID shot. 

He is talking about Australia if you care to read his post carefully. They did have mandatory quarantine for people coming into the country., which is arguably OK, but also for unvaccinated Australians crossing state borders (Imagine this in the US).  I used to think that Australia, New Zealand, and Canada were wonderful countries, and that I might like to move there, but they went full authoritarian during COVID and have lost all my respect.   

Kenai-Nikiski low tide beach ride today. Sunny, no wind, 60 degrees. Tourists in puffy jackets, AK groms in trunks swimming in the tide pools. Everyone has their own normal.

Kenai boulders, lots of barnacles

Mt. Redoubt across Cook Inlet

Spinning towards Mt Spurr through the ground fog. No hills on the beach!

Ward Smithwrote:

He is talking about Australia if you care to read his post carefully. They did have mandatory quarantine for people coming into the country., which is arguably OK, but also for unvaccinated Australians crossing state borders (Imagine this in the US).  I used to think that Australia, New Zealand, and Canada were wonderful countries, and that I might like to move there, but they went full authoritarian during COVID and have lost all my respect.   

My mistake then. I do remember certain sectors of the American conspiracy community claiming that FEMA was hearding the unvaccinated into concentration camps in Louisiana.