New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #39

Lori Milas wrote:

Carl, this explains a lot! But of course we knew that about you.  What about tattoos… have we got some of those?

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As I was making coffee this morning, I wondered does anyone grind their own beans?  To the broader point what are your coffee making rituals if any?

Tony and I almost lead separate lives.  He puts the Dunkin’ Donuts grounds in his Mr. Coffee the night before , runs the water through all the plastic tubing in the morning, dumps some kind of artificial creamer to the brim — and that’s not negotiable.

I’ve tried to explain about phthalates and micro plastics and he does not care.  In fact, I think it just inspires him to do more.

On my side of the kitchen, I use a ceramic coffee cup with Pour over, fresh boiled spring water, and organic French beans. It takes just about as long as Tony’s Mr. coffee. I found my favorite creamer – – I think I’ve tried them all but this one is the keeper for the last 10 years. Once in a while, I would use pure cream and sugar.

I have a grinder, but I have never consistently ground my beans. But this week I read something about how we really should, something about oxidation yada yada and I thought well maybe I could do that.  

On impulse, I recently bought an espresso machine and there it sits— I just realized I don’t know how to use it. It’s definitely not one of those expensive barista types, but I think I could get a cup of espresso out of it if I would just read the manual.  

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The discussion about cadmium and lead is one I know well, add to that arsenic and mercury.  I would definitely throw in Phthalates… because if you ever take a urine or blood test for these endocrine disruptors it will convince you to pay attention.

I think for a lot of people this whole discussion is overwhelming, but I don’t think it needs to be. I was shocked to see the various consumer reports studies on lead and cadmium levels in chocolate, and similar reports by As You Sew and consumer labs – – some of the best organic chocolate is downright toxic. After going through some major angst over this, I just made the decision to eat less chocolate and choose from the acceptable options in the consumer reports lists. I also found a great dark chocolate that is third-party tested so you can eat to your hearts content. That’s really a one and done.

Mercury is a bad guy, and I have personally been hit hard by it so I just make it a point to limit consumption of fish and only use Safe Catch tuna, and never albacore unless I’m stuck with it for a single meal. My favorite fish, orange roughy, is simply out of the question forevermore.

But it’s the arsenic that is so hard to avoid and that has made me the angriest over the years because it’s in Rice products primarily and often at very high levels. It soaks up from ground water. So a lot of the Pea/Rice protein powders are loaded with arsenic. Rice milk. Organic rice products are frequently the highest in arsenic . So once you know, just throttle back on too much rice. There’s some simple cooking directions that reduce it. Just know it and move on.

I think it’s important to know what’s going on and make some prudent decisions – – but I hardly think about it in daily life and I sure don’t feel deprived.  

Absolutely! When I drink coffee, it loses less “nutrients” that way.

However, I’m into my Yerba Mate phase at the moment. Either is healthy overall.

Daniel Shively wrote:

I’ve lurked around since the early days (2000’s) of supertopo (tradmanclimbs, hi Nck lol) so I’m not completely new to this. I do recognize the “landmine” topics too, I guess I just don’t realize why they’re so controversial and triggering to some people. I get your point about succinct and concise communication, but sometimes find it a challenge to convey complex ideas with minimal words. 

Taking a page out of Apogee's book, I'll keep it short.

I looked at that thread, read through it, regretted doing so immediately and then prayed to the Gods that it doesn't spill over here. Now I feel like I need a shower (or at least a good climb!).

No one has answered, but I will as I happened to have heard the joke before.

“What’s the difference between a climbing guide and a large pizza?”

“A large pizza can feed a family of four.”

(Rim shot)

What’s the difference between a climbing guide and a mutual fund?

A mutual fund eventually matures and makes money.

Lori Milas wrote:

As I was making coffee this morning, I wondered does anyone grind their own beans?  To the broader point what are your coffee making rituals if any?

I'm hooked on latte in the morning and, on occasion, espresso after dinner.  Grind the beans using a Breville burr grinder, using a good burr grinder does make a difference.   By far my favorite beans are from Oso Negro in Nelson, BC. Prefer the "Prince of Darkness".  Dawson Taylor in Boise also roasts some fine beans.  

When camping  or traveling where espresso is not available, we use Starbucks Vias, the Italian Roast, but it's a poor second choice.  

My only ritual is using a cup from Mexico, showing "Pedro" sleeping under a cactus.  He's been my early morning companion for years.

what is a Jets game doing floating in a dumpster? 

gray and ugly here..

Idaho Bob wrote:

I'm hooked on latte in the morning and, on occasion, espresso after dinner.  Grind the beans using a Breville burr grinder, using a good burr grinder does make a difference.   By far my favorite beans are from Oso Negro in Nelson, BC. Prefer the "Prince of Darkness".  Dawson Taylor in Boise also roasts some fine beans.  

When camping  or traveling where espresso is not available, we use Starbucks Vias, the Italian Roast, but it's a poor second choice.  

My only ritual is using a cup from Mexico, showing "Pedro" sleeping under a cactus.  He's been my early morning companion for years.

Huh.  I'm really glad I asked this question!  I hope there are more answers.  I have not heard of Oso Negro.  I don't know what kind of grinder I have... I'll check.  It really makes a difference?  

Coffee (and iron) have always been my 'power herbs'.  I used to try to wean from my one daily cup now and then... but then thought, WHY?  It's too good for me.  I love it.  And just like chocolate, it turns out to be good for you.  :-) 

Bad girl signing in here -- this time it's about coffee. For years I ground the beans -- from our local Brewing Market until the day I got to the cash register and it was $30 for two bags and after that supermarket or online, any brand but Starbucks. Then, two summers ago, when our kitchen floor was being refinished and I couldn't use the kitchen, I started buying cans of La Colombe flavored latte. I thought I'd go back to brewing my own coffee by winter. Didn't happen. The Virtuoso and Cuisinart are gathering dust and the bags of beans are probably tasteless by now.    

I used to laugh at the people who drank coffee all the time.  Now I am one of them, especially when I am trying to cut weight.  It gives me a no- calorie treat.

Buck Rogers wrote:

I looked at the first post on that thread, immediately decided I had no interest in clicking on the video, and departed.

@Buck: your query to Al "what have you climbed in the Valley" prompted me to look at my Valley guidebook and take a trip down memory lane. 150 routes - not a lot I'm sure compared to many but so many good memories of the people I was with.  As to the routes, some are etched clearly in my memory, others I cannot even remember, others were repeated often over the years. The quality of so many were so high. Great place to go but my vague recollection is... not a lot of great routes under 5.8? Maybe I just didn't do them. I've never done Snake Dike and never had an interest in it...

Wow… fast moving topics this morning!

Daniel I was going to admonish you for not providing a link- but on second thought- it’s not needed. My thoughts on guided alpine climbing is this: If you need a guide to get you “up” you didn’t really “climb” it. You might as well be a piece of freight, you paid professional freight haulers to deliver a package to a difficult location. I know professionals who deliver freight- to them it’s a job and all they wish is for the job to be over so they can go climbing with friends. Enough of that topic.

Carl….. really? Allow me to quote one of the lines from one of my favorite movies. “So tell me,  what does all that shit on your face do for you?”

Lori…. Sorry you’re feeling poorly. Have you ever considered that one needs a certain amount of “toxic” elements to attain that healthy glow we all seek? /s

Camp 4 daze…. I showed up in 74/75. The Stoneman riot was history. A unwritten truce was in effect. It was like this. You climbers stay over there, don’t cause trouble for the Visitors and we will leave you alone. The truce held till 79 or so.
I was fortunate to be a climber and I learned a thing or three about the sport. The most valuable lesson I learned was from “The Bird” - “never turn around easily- you will regret it later” 

Nick…… good for you for having the life vest on. You probably won’t need it but one never knows.

OLH …. Nice move to “set you up” - do you have tenants? Tinder account? Monster 4X4? Have fun, you’ve earned it.

Getting ready to head back into the Sierra- this is the time.

Later all 

Buck Rogers wrote:

 West Point has guide-level climbing instructors on staff...

How do you know that you are talking with an AMGA guide?

They’ll tell you.

I'm reading 'Turn to Stone' by Emily Weinstein. It's a very enjoyable read, much better that I expected it to be.

You would especially enjoy it Lori.

Idaho Bob wrote:

I'm hooked on latte in the morning and, on occasion, espresso after dinner.  Grind the beans using a Breville burr grinder, using a good burr grinder does make a difference.   By far my favorite beans are from Oso Negro in Nelson, BC. Prefer the "Prince of Darkness".  Dawson Taylor in Boise also roasts some fine beans.  

When camping  or traveling where espresso is not available, we use Starbucks Vias, the Italian Roast, but it's a poor second choice.  

My only ritual is using a cup from Mexico, showing "Pedro" sleeping under a cactus.  He's been my early morning companion for years.

It's not difficult to roast coffee beans; I used to do it. If you like coffee a lot, it's worth a try.

A pleasant day with old friends. 

1. Ward Smith wrote:

I used to laugh at the people who drank coffee all the time.  Now I am one of them, especially when I am trying to cut weight.  It gives me a no- calorie treat.

It’s about the healthiest thing you can put in your body. Too bad I can’t stand the smell/flavor.

Not sure where you came up with coffee being the healthyiest thing you can put your body.. I will take water and spinach please. Coffee makes me feel like shit..

Lots of activity in this thread all of a sudden!

Daniel: I was kind of following that thread, but lost interest. I'll go back and take another look. I think guiding ethics is a subcategory of professional ethics. Not everyone is going to maintain a high ethical standard, so you're going to find some professionals doing things that seem questionable (unprofessional) to you. In the legal profession, we have ambulance chasers. As long as these questionable things are legal, they will "get away" with it. This is the way of the world. I do feel that having an ethical code beyond "do what is legal" is important, but clearly not everyone does.

Lori: I grind the beans and do a pour over with a Hario ceramic dripper and a paper filter. I used to love a dark roast, but now I tend to buy lighter roasts. Note: I actually grind the beans using an ancient Krups electric grinder, and I grind enough for 2-3 days at a time; I can't tell the difference between fresh-ground and a-few-days-old-ground. Someone else mentioned VIA packets. That's what I use when I can't make fresh coffee. I will dump them in cold water to get my caffeine fix. FWIW I don't think coffee is healthy, and I sometimes think about quitting.

I'm still training for my lofty and far-off Henderson Ridge goal. Today I managed about 700 feet of elevation gain weighted with a ~20 lb pack for two hours of hiking. It was a nice day. Here I was hiking up towards Sky Top -

Lori Milas wrote:

Carl, this explains a lot! But of course we knew that about you.  What about tattoos… have we got some of those?

Yeah I have a lot of tattts, all rubbish.  My most recent ones are stars on my fingers.