New and experienced climbers over 50 #37

Frank Stein wrote:

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.

No worries, thanks for being reasonable. Yes there was such talk about FEMA camps here.  Unfortunately the political posts get us all heated up, me included.

My lifetime route count for Sonora Pass climbing went over 1,400 today.

Total number of routes led in good style (redpoint or better) except as to the very few climbs which only exist as topropes and those toproped clean or free soloed.

Congratulations Brad!

^^^

I got a little careless though and changed into shorts one climb too early (it's only a scrape - from banging my knee on very sharp knobs while high-stepping):

Merely a flesh wound....

Jay Goodwin wrote:

Congratulations Brad!

Thanks, man.

I've still got high hopes of breaking 1,000 routes at Joshua Tree, but I "ain't getting any younger," and broken holds resulting in badly bruised heels don't speed that process at all (thanks again for the understanding and help that day). 

we climbed after work at a spot 10 min from my house. Just one 5,9 sport climb that Isa led and then we did a few laps. no camera. work is kicking my butt. these days.  laying hardwood floor at the moment.  yesterday received 1k square ft of flooring and carried it inside . the started installing. lots of bending over and kneeling. I was stiff as a board climbing. 

This is what Isa was doing when I stopped on my way home from work and talked her into going climbing. 

Ward Smith wrote:

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.   

Well. That’s rather a generalisation. Certainly Melbourne had long and strict lockdowns for extended periods, as did many countries, but other states were less restricted. I can’t recall exactly but here in SA our lockdowns were for only a week or so. Also, it may be slightly unfair to say you’ve lost all respect for an entire country based on the actions of State Premiers at one time during a global pandemic. Mr Andrew’s is no longer in parliament and is generally disliked.
That would be like me saying I’ve lost all respect for America as a country based on what your current leader is doing.
This thread here is a classic example that good people can exist in a country despite there being many who are not so good. 

@ Jim U: Thank you for calling me 'Sir'. But really, that's too formal, call me Carl! 

BTW Jim I looked up the alleged Covid camps as I couldn't recall them although we did place people visiting Australia into hotels. Here in Adelaide Tom's Court hotel was used. Just up the road from where I worked. Look it up. Hardly a camp, quite nice really. No-one wants to be restricted but to enable people to quarantine after coming off a flight where someone may have been contaminated it was arguably not a massive abuse of human rights. At the time I was deployed from my own dept to work for the Communicable Disease Control Branch to carry out Covid tracking etc

No such thing as the Covid camps as far as I can recall, and I see it's been debunked (see below) but don't let my knowledge as an Australian citizen get in the way of a good story.

When I was in the army I was twice nominated for instructor of the year when a recruit instructor. I was student of merit on the Subject One for Sergeant course at Kapooka, our recruit training battalion. I received the bombardier of the year award soon after. I was student of merit on the Sub 2 for Corporal course. Came second on my initial employment training course. Sat and passed the Sub 1 for Warrant Officer exception test, student of merit on the Sub 3 for Sergeant course. First bombardier in history in Aust to be in charge of a Surface to Air Missile firing at sea.

Not bad for a clown.  

https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/unvaccinated-camps-are-a-covid-conspiracy/

But I digress. This is a Climbing Forum, not a Responding to Being Called a Clown Forum

Jim U wrote:

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

Boo! Lighten up Francis 

Hey Carl! I love your posts, especially your climbing/camping trip reports and your poetry. I also appreciate your etic perspective from down there. It gives us a sense of how we look from the outside. Cheers!

Ok, sorry in advance, but I think we all need to hear this

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

This is what Isa was doing when I stopped on my way home from work and talked her into going climbing. 

If you don't have one already you have to get Isa a nice scythe, Nick. It is the new old thing. It is my savior when I can't climb. I love that I can go out early in the morning when it is still cool and wet (best time for scything) and it is nice and quiet and meditative. It is remarkably like climbing in some ways in that is all about using your body mechanics efficiently and fine motor control. Lots of little subtleties to learn including the peening and sharpening. No buying or burning fuel or breathing fumes My blood pressure drops right down to optimum when I use it regularly too. It took a season to really get it all down, but  I can now move right along. In tall grass I find I am actually faster than with a regular mower or lawn tractor as I am not constantly stopping to clear out clogs or having to go over and over it.

Get her a big sledge hammer too!

fossil wrote:

Ok, sorry in advance, but I think we all need to hear this

Taking lessons from Hitler again... absolutely pathetic.  I never thought I'd see the day where the politicians would be so scared of one man. We elected a bunch of weak bootlickers that are scared to do their jobs. People like Noem, Hegseth, Johnson etc are the result of weak and scared Republicans that are willing to let democracy slip away because they are scared of the oranges man and his cult. My own  Sen. Susan Collins has been spineless from the beginning.  

M Sprague wrote:

If you don't have one already you have to get Isa a nice scythe, Nick. It is the new old thing. It is my savior when I can't climb. I love that I can go out early in the morning when it is still cool and wet (best time for scything) and it is nice and quiet and meditative. It is remarkably like climbing in some ways in that is all about using your body mechanics efficiently and fine motor control. Lots of little subtleties to learn including the peening and sharpening. No buying or burning fuel or breathing fumes My blood pressure drops right down to optimum when I use it regularly too. It took a season to really get it all down, but  I can now move right along. In tall grass I find I am actually faster than with a regular mower or lawn tractor as I am not constantly stopping to clear out clogs or having to go over and over it.

I'm in the same boat when I can be, the workout and sounds of nature can't be beat. In my case it's using a hand plow in the winter over the snowblower as much as possible or hand nailing over a nail gun. Of course my tinnitus thanks me too!

Here's a shout out to Dragons who's out there "getting after it" this morning on Yum Yum Yab Yum!  I'm stuck at work in clinic but she is out there swapping leads on my favourite route that I have led so far in the Gunks!

Hopefully the weather holds for you and it is a great day, Dragons!

Also hoping that the weather holds for Sunday and that I can get back out there climbing with Dragons again!  Hoping to get on either Gelsa/Eowyn/King of P or Minty/Tipsy Trees/Southern Pillars.  All routes that I have not yet done but would like to before I start on all the .5's!

Any advice from the resident Gunkophiles on good first .5 leads in the Gunks?  I led Rusty Trifle and thought that the first pitch did have one or two Gunks .5 moves on the traverse that were not greatly protected but was otherwise fine and well within my limit for leading.

Looking for well protected .5's to get on!

Cherokee Nunes wrote:

Get her a big sledge hammer too!

Something tells me they already have one or two

Buck Rogers wrote:

Here's a shout out to Dragons who's out there "getting after it" this morning on Yum Yum Yab Yum!  I'm stuck at work in clinic but she is out there swapping leads on my favourite route that I have led so far in the Gunks!

Hopefully the weather holds for you and it is a great day, Dragons!

Also hoping that the weather holds for Sunday and that I can get back out there climbing with Dragons again!  Hoping to get on either Gelsa/Eowyn/King of P or Minty/Tipsy Trees/Southern Pillars.  All routes that I have not yet done but would like to before I start on all the .5's!

Any advice from the resident Gunkophiles on good first .5 leads in the Gunks?  I led Rusty Trifle and thought that the first pitch did have one or two Gunks .5 moves on the traverse that were not greatly protected but was otherwise fine and well within my limit for leading.

Looking for well protected .5's to get on!

Yab Yum.  One of my favorite Tibetan images. And if there’s a route with this name, it should be a wonderful journey!   

Buck, Of the .4s you listed, in my opinion Gelsa is the best, or at least the most memorable. Yes, it is a bit loose and definitely intimidating for the grade, but those are some of the factors that make it special.

As for the .5s, Jackie is always one of my favorites---the first pitch has some interesting technical moves capped by a juggy overhang. The second pitch is nicely exposed, though I prefer to finish up the Classic corner, if it isn't occupied--even nicer climbing and no harder. Dennis is a good introduction to the grade---adjacent to Belly Roll, so in familiar territory for you. I was going to recommend several other .5s, but looking at the most recent guidebook, they are now all rated 5.6!!!!

If you have another mid-week Gunks trip planned, let me know and I might try to come down and join you. Also you, and Dragons, too, if she is interested, still have an open invitation to come to check out our climbs up here.