New and experienced climbers over 50 #38

Up here in Crook County, Wyoming, the foliage is just starting to turn. And the days are getting shorter fast. It seems like yesterday it was light 'till after 9:00. now it's dark by 8:00. 

At a few spots along the Belle Fourche River the state has added nice platforms to orphaned power poles for big raptors to nest on. This pair of Osprey are sharing some kind of big crawdad or something he pulled out of the river.

So, the new house is almost done, and we expect to move in by the end of October, maybe sooner. We've been shacked up in a puny rental in Gillette for more than a year now and we've gotten through it with flying colors, but it's going to be good to get settled in the new digs.

Helen and I are back from just over a week in the Bas San Laurent ( south side of the St. Lawrence) region of Quebec---beautiful country, so close to us in the Northeast, but culturally and scenically so different. Our trip was a mix of tourism with some climbing, and due to circumstances--and my realities these days, a good bit of the climbing was indoors. But even this had it's own distinct regional flavor.
It seems that in Quebec indoor climbing appears to be somewhat of a 'religious endeavor', as both of the gyms that we visited are located in former churches. And, as with certain religions, the 'creed' there seems to be quite dogmatic, with the 'belay test liturgy' demanding very precise adherence to the local interpretation of that 'gospel'. This was quite challenging for those of us from the more agnostic US, especially as certain of the specific hand 'gestures' required are the reverse of those common in our rituals---making us both feel ( and function) as if we were dyslexic.

Fortunately, the acolytes who were tasked with indoctrinating us in both 'places of worship' were patient and understanding, so, eventually, we were both deemed sufficiently 'converted' to be fully admitted into the sanctuaries. We even had sufficient time and energy remaining after said trials by ordeal to get in a bit of climbing!!!

On a more serious note. We have made the crossing into Canada via the same route many times over the past 30+ years, and never have we encountered so little traffic in either direction, and, most noticeably, NO trucks. It is clear ( and very unfortunate in our opinion) that Trump's policies are having a very significant limiting impact on cross-border commerce and general visitation.

I've been having trouble loading photos to this message, so will try to post a few separately.

The scenes of our Quebec 'devotions'.

We did get outside in Quebec, too!!!!

Alan. Bummer I missed you.  so beautiful up there. 

random plants you  see while traveling in the NEK

Great set by Los Straitjackets at the Kingston NY car show on Saturday.

Groovy psychedelic Karmann Ghia!   

Etienne, as high as possible in the Silver State.

Greg, thank you for your pictures of TNT! So that’s how it goes! I was thinking it must be some kind of lay back and obviously I was wrong. It looks like so much fun!

Rich, I hope I’m not out of line here but your pictures of Los Straitjacket brought back humorous memories of taking my older son to see Slipknot.  He was 16 at the time and had his heart set on seeing this band with his friends. I stood in the back of Sacramento Civic Center to watch so I wouldn’t embarrass my son.  I realized pretty quickly I was going to have to work hard to find something to say that wasn’t critical. When we got back in the car, I simply said “my goodness, they sure have a lot of.ENERGY!”   

I gotta congratulate this group for finding other things to talk about besides what is glaringly in our faces. But this morning, I had an aha moment that I am processing. it has to do with our consumption of media and where we find “truth”.  I have often thought that we are being played by whatever side of an issue we are on… Algorithms are curated so carefully that we get whatever feedback we want and expect. I have been noticing that I see more and more clips of interviews, but not the whole interview—somebody cut it short to support their view.  Speeches are given in the senate, but we are not allowed the responses. News articles that validate one world view. And sometimes the persuasion is subtle—a tone of voice, an eye roll.  So I am working on a new commitment – – And maybe even my best friend would be in.  It is to read something ELSE and compare notes. Seek out quality opposing articles and opinions. To check in with those who disagree and see what they’ve been hearing. To be selective and vet all news and watch for the traps.  The situation with Charlie Kirk was my wake up—that half of America has only seen one half of this man’s story, I have only seen another.   It may not totally change our opinions of the issue or story, but it may help understand someone who sees it entirely differently. BTW, something Kris has been saying for a long time—can we start with your sources?

Lori Milaswrote:

Greg, thank you for your pictures of TNT! So that’s how it goes! I was thinking it must be some kind of lay back and obviously I was wrong. It looks like so much fun!

Rich, I hope I’m not out of line here but your pictures of Los Straitjacket brought back humorous memories of taking my older son to see Slipknot.  He was 16 at the time and had his heart set on seeing this band with his friends. I stood in the back of Sacramento Civic Center to watch so I wouldn’t embarrass my son.  I realized pretty quickly I was going to have to work hard to find something to say that wasn’t critical. When we got back in the car, I simply said “my goodness, they sure have a lot of.ENERGY!”   

I gotta congratulate this group for finding other things to talk about besides what is glaringly in our faces. But this morning, I had an aha moment that I am processing. it has to do with our consumption of media and where we find “truth”.  I have often thought that we are being played by whatever side of an issue we are on… Algorithms are curated so carefully that we get whatever feedback we want and expect. I have been noticing that I see more and more clips of interviews, but not the whole interview—somebody cut it short to support their view.  Speeches are given in the senate, but we are not allowed the responses. News articles that validate one world view. And sometimes the persuasion is subtle—a tone of voice, an eye roll.  So I am working on a new commitment – – And maybe even my best friend would be in.  It is to read something ELSE and compare notes. Seek out quality opposing articles and opinions. To check in with those who disagree and see what they’ve been hearing. To be selective and vet all news and watch for the traps.  The situation with Charlie Kirk was my wake up—that half of America has only seen one half of this man’s story, I have only seen another.   It may not totally change our opinions of the issue or story, but it may help understand someone who sees it entirely differently. BTW, something Kris has been saying for a long time—can we start with your sources?

Lori Milaswrote:

 ELSE and compare notes. Seek out quality opposing articles and opinions. To check in with those who disagree and see what they’ve been hearing. To be selective and vet all news and watch for the traps.  The situation with Charlie Kirk was my wake up—that half of America has only seen one half of this man’s story, I have only seen another.   It may not totally change our opinions of the issue or story, but it may help understand someone who sees it entirely differently. BTW, something Kris has been saying for a long time—can we start with your sources?

I agree that checking sources and confirming things for yourself is a good idea. But Charlie Kirk wasn't camera shy and there's a massive amount of video of him putting forth his opinions. How anyone could be unaware of his stances on various issues is hard for me to understand.

I'm looking for a way to recharge 36 v 4 Ah Li batteries in the field using solar. Car camping, multi-day stays in remote areas where I'd like to put up face (bolts) routes and may need to recharge the batteries for the drill. Anybody have a setup to do this? Recommended solar charger/power bank for this?

Chris, I don't have a van or solar set up on my car. Wouldn't running an inverter off the car battery with car not running drain my car battery?

I think I'm looking for a box I can set out in the sun and plug into it the charger that came with my Bosch drill. But if I knew what I needed I wouldn't be asking!

Jay - It sounds like what you are looking for is a solar generator. I've not researched them but look at the offerings from brands like Jackery, Bluetti or Anker.

The issue will be getting the correctly sized unit.  They are typically spec'd by watt-hours i.e. a Jackery Eplorer 1000 is roughly 1000 Wh of energy.  A 36V, 4Ah batter will require 144 Wh of energy to recharge if fully drained. 1000/144 = 6.9 so you'd get roughly six recharges without any solar input. 

If you want to DIY checkout the YouTube channel by Will Prowse. 

One thing to think about is security of the solar generator. When I was at Smokey Mtn Campground a couple of years ago my neighbor had left their solar generator out charging while they were out for the day. Someone stole everything while they were gone.

Ken, thanks, sounds like what I am or think I am looking for: something I can leave out in the sun during the day that will recharge my batteries that night.

Maybe I should get a solar generator and a Great Pyrenees to guard it!

fossilwrote:

Ken Tubbs,

Maybe when you are all healed up you can come out and do the Christian Brothers Traverse for old times sake. The rock isn’t any better and you get to clip and rappel off of the same mank pull tab bolts you clipped back in 78. Are ya feeling lucky punk, well are ya?

Sounds like fun! Maybe. 

The first bolt I ever drilled was on top of one of those pinnacles. Brian Holcomb (one of my early mentors) and I laughed as I drilled because it look about a minute to drill a hole for a 3/8 x5 inch bolt. It was sort of like drilling into styrofoam.

For those who care to follow the saga of my injury I updated the original thread here: https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/201623993/carotid-artery-dissection-from-mtb-accident The TLDR version is that I've been back to the ER twice this week...

Lori Milaswrote:

I gotta congratulate this group for finding other things to talk about besides what is glaringly in our faces. But this morning, I had an aha moment that I am processing. it has to do with our consumption of media and where we find “truth”.  I have often thought that we are being played by whatever side of an issue we are on… Algorithms are curated so carefully that we get whatever feedback we want and expect. I have been noticing that I see more and more clips of interviews, but not the whole interview—somebody cut it short to support their view.  Speeches are given in the senate, but we are not allowed the responses. News articles that validate one world view. And sometimes the persuasion is subtle—a tone of voice, an eye roll.  So I am working on a new commitment – – And maybe even my best friend would be in.  It is to read something ELSE and compare notes. Seek out quality opposing articles and opinions. To check in with those who disagree and see what they’ve been hearing. To be selective and vet all news and watch for the traps.  The situation with Charlie Kirk was my wake up—that half of America has only seen one half of this man’s story, I have only seen another.   It may not totally change our opinions of the issue or story, but it may help understand someone who sees it entirely differently. BTW, something Kris has been saying for a long time—can we start with your sources?

I think USA needs to tone down the rhetoric, every word on the right is “radical left” every word on the left is “MAGA conservatives”.

When people meet, like Tyler met his roommate then fell in love with him, he’s the type we should be concerned about. He grew up shooting long range for game with very conservative values. Dropped out of University after one period. Hypothetically speaking, he was likely shocked that the left isn’t as far as he’d been led to believe growing up.

I went through a similar shock.

People are different, but really not that much different. The left and right media make people  look like they should be at war.

And the same thing goes for international affairs.

It’s a really big mess in North America. All sides.

I hope we all make peace for the entire world? There’s so much to look forward to in all our futures…

Emil Briggswrote:

I agree that checking sources and confirming things for yourself is a good idea. But Charlie Kirk wasn't camera shy and there's a massive amount of video of him putting forth his opinions. How anyone could be unaware of his stances on various issues is hard for me to understand.

I‘d never heard of him.

While the “ignorance is bliss” approach is largely frowned upon, I‘ve somehow become a relatively happy, productive citizen adopting it. For me, that means NOT comparing notes with the other “side”, or consuming much media at all.

I rarely watch/read the news, don’t listen to political podcasts, or spend time on the major social media outlets. Fifty years ago, most of that stuff didn’t even exist. Are we really better off scrutinizing more sources than the past, individually or collectively?

There’s an infinite amount of knowledge to be acquired, and most of it isn’t political. And a lot of rock, too. As a group of older climbers, surely we understand time is precious…how much news is “enough”?

Jay you need a lot of power to charge 36v batteries. I tried plugging my Makita 18v charger into my 800w inverter that simply plugged into a car power source. Blew the 30 amp fuse in the invertor instantly.  I ended up hard wiring a 1500w inverter to my auxiliary battery bank. I have 200w solar panels and 200 amp hrs of battery. I wouldn't want any less than 200 amp hrs system to run a 1500w inverter. And it needs to be hard wired to the battery bank with 4g cable. 

Permabetawrote:

I‘d never heard of him.

While the “ignorance is bliss” approach is largely frowned upon, I‘ve somehow become a relatively happy, productive citizen adopting it. For me, that means NOT comparing notes with the other “side”, or consuming much media at all.

I rarely watch/read the news, don’t listen to political podcasts, or spend time on the major social media outlets. Fifty years ago, most of that stuff didn’t even exist. Are we really better off scrutinizing more sources than the past, individually or collectively?

There’s an infinite amount of knowledge to be acquired, and most of it isn’t political. And a lot of rock, too. As a group of older climbers, surely we understand time is precious…how much news is “enough”?

Believe me I understand the attraction of "ignorance is bliss", but if too many people in a democracy subscribe to it that democracy will fail. 

Permabetawrote:

I‘d never heard of him.

While the “ignorance is bliss” approach is largely frowned upon, I‘ve somehow become a relatively happy, productive citizen adopting it. For me, that means NOT comparing notes with the other “side”, or consuming much media at all.

I rarely watch/read the news, don’t listen to political podcasts, or spend time on the major social media outlets. Fifty years ago, most of that stuff didn’t even exist. Are we really better off scrutinizing more sources than the past, individually or collectively?

There’s an infinite amount of knowledge to be acquired, and most of it isn’t political. And a lot of rock, too. As a group of older climbers, surely we understand time is precious…how much news is “enough”?

Sticking your head in the sand and saying " I don't do politics" is exactly what so many in Russia do. Look at the results. We obviously don't want to completely flood a climbing/campfire thread with it or go off the rails with incivility, but we do need to practice analyzing and thinking through things clearly and practice critical constructive discussion without melting into an emotional freak-out. We are in crisis and if we don't all work hard at getting back to some civic sanity rather than covering our eyes and ears and indulging in the make believe, things will get a lot worse, with more violence from instable individuals and a sick and incompetent government attacking its own population..

It would be nice if we actually participated more in our governance so we didn't have to discuss it as much in our other spheres of interaction, but very few do. Go to a local town government  meeting and it is almost all old people, some very well meaning and still effective, but quite a few obviously past their prime and no longer sharp enough to be up to the task, Many positions are unfilled due to lack of candidates. What you end up with is a few retirees trying to keep things running with the help of a few trained technocrats, which leaves room for those with strong personal/business agendas and money to run roughshod over communities (often developer types who want the rules relaxed for them so they can develop every square inch) 

Good politics starts small with individuals taking responsibility and being willing to talk and work things through and not be stuck in their own little heads in a fantasy world under a blanket. It requires your time and effort. Don't want to put that time and effort in; it is not going to work out.