New and Experienced Climbers over 50 #40

Kevinmurray wrote:

Unless the water is at least 82 degrees I am not going into it.

Two rules for me...

1) under 102° f,  there better be waves...

2) no waves, water must be 102 or above...

Winter has arrived to the Eastside of the Sierra Nevada. We are forever grateful that our love of climbing rocks inspired two kids from western Pennsylvania to end up in this incredible place. 

Nice.. Its scary dry at the lake . really only about 3 climbs actually in. There should be dozens... 

The climbs that are in are funky with lots of powder snow covered rock in between the steeps... 

Reed follows P1

the view from the belay

P2 was actually really fun and a bit technicle.. 

end of the day. The Willoughby Gap

Got some nice snow here overnight.
I went snowshoeing, but most of the action seemed to be cross country skiing.

dragons wrote:

Got some nice snow here overnight.
I went snowshoeing, but most of the action seemed to be cross country skiing.

I imagine the skiing was as good as it gets there,

Is it normal to make sure that your cats food and water bowls are full when you leave the house in the case that you might fall to your death climbing or get wrapped around a tree back country skiing..

asking for a friend.. 

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

Is it normal to make sure that your cats food and water bowls are full when you leave the house in the case that you might fall to your death climbing or get wrapped around a tree back country skiing..

asking for a friend.. 

Grim truth here. Since Denise and I usually climb and ski together we have discussed this often and have friends who would care for Etienne in the event of our untimely demise. Our love for Etienne and each other also keeps us balanced and focused on the avy situation. On our tour yesterday it was clear that our primary objective was dangerously wind loaded and had an ice layer at the new snow interface. We both love pushing ourselves up in the mountains but had no trouble pivoting to a safe and sunny aspect for our descent. 

A smallish avalanche that was is clue about the situation on north facing slopes. We didn’t take a photo but the next big feature had slid to the old snow surface and ran for 1500 vertical feet and left a debris field that was 10 feet deep. 

Have fun out there and always remain vigilant. 

Every time I go on a solo jaunt out to the stone or into the mountains, I let a relative know I’m out there, when I should return, and that my pup is awaiting me in the house. I’m sure he greatly appreciates that.

Happy holidays, everyone! Looks like there is ice across the nation and Nick is doing this ridiculous thing with his watering hole. I have to put a sweater on just to look at the pictures. And where is Hugi?

it’s a beautiful morning here and a brisk 40° and I’m taking a gratitude walk today. Gratitude because it seems to be getting a little easier. So there’s a rock/Boulder I pass when I hike this trail and I thought I’d go explore it a little more. I think I should climb it but it’s pretty hard to even get to it. It has a patina face that would really be a challenge, but there is also a 5.10 something route on the side.

this is my resting rock.

When talking about leaving notice behind in case you go missing, gosh, I haven’t encountered any human in miles but this is one of the most comfortable places I’ve ever been. I’ve given up trying to tell Tony where I am because in his view all 800,000 acres ² of Joshua Tree are “rocks”.    But I do have pretty good cell service and Garman and I think we mostly decided if anything would happen e.g. an emergency blood sugar or snake bite I better be able to take care of myself. Three years ago, I couldn’t have said that, but now I feel much more competent.

My trail.

I was thinking about why I would want to mention my recent foray into podcasts but now I am seeing that it has to do with wanting to engage with the world again and see what’s happening out there. “Climbers Over 50” still have intellects and an itch to learn. While I have spent about 100% of the last six years living in the desert and becoming almost feral outdoors I suddenly got the urge to exercise my brain in a new way. So besides health podcasts, I started listening to long great episodes on Acquired on exceptional businesses. Those podcasts wind up being about international marketing, history, technology, artisan and craftsmanship… So I’ve probably finished listening to 10 hours on Google and at least six on Nvidia, currently listening to the 4-hour episode on Rolex and Swiss watchmaking,and I can’t get enough. So now we are planning a road trip to explore the Google campus and and Nvidia the following day and then some vinyards and go skiing. This has changed my whole world outlook for the absolute best.

Synchronicity: I said I haven’t seen anyone in miles this whole season. No sooner did I write those words than I bumped into an amazing climber named Zach out on my lonely trail. He was one of the Guides when I climbed run for your life, but I remember him climbing Runaway directly next to my route, and I recall just being astonished. He looked like a spider crawling up that face. He has been in Wyoming since and now back in Josh. And honestly, if I were being totally real with myself, that’s all I wanna do. I wanna learn to be Velcro. 

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

It's the best feeling. Like smooth velvet.. Usually sleep really well after.

I think the Wm Hoff’s quote was “the cold embraces you like a old friend”

Built a cold plunge, everyday 2-5 mins especially after runs

Lori, Hugi  is pretty much on strike all winter once it gets really cold. He spends the entire day in the bed under the covers and only ventures into the living room at night to sit on the couch next to the wood stove.  Isa is often staying at her daughters in Maine or galivanting around the globe, My sister is a dairy farmer who has no spare time for silly adventure woes. I am left to my own devices a lot. When Isa is around I let her know when I am down safe but the rest of the time its what it is..   I am way more concerned with my back country skiing than the climbing. even saunaing alone is a bad idea. slip on the ice and hit your head on the way in the water.... Not gud.  Anyways today I got out to Mt Wishicouldtellya with my 78yr old friend John.

there's a lot of trees up there to miss. 

tonight's sauna was 16f warmer than last time. Much more pleasant. no fresh ice in between rounds.

It's quite a workout chopping that hole and getting all the chunks out. 

Just dropping in some more falconry photos. I was visiting family in vt and a cousin is an amateur photographer. What a difference a good photographer makes! So much better than my crappy iPhone pics.

Hey Sam, Is that a Redtail? 

I’ve always been enthralled by raptors. 

Many years ago, when there were very few mating pairs of peregrines left in California (due to egg shell thinning from DDT poisoning) I got a job on a National Geographic film about peregrines as a rigger (along with Jim Bridwell). We flew in a Navy helicopter out to San Nicolas island off the coast of southern California. The peregrine’s nest was on the side of a big sea cliff, and the program was for a biologist to rappel down and replace the eggs with live chicks they’d hatched in their lab. There was no rock to anchor to on top, so we sledge-hammered a row of long metal stakes into the dirt and tied ‘em off. 

Unfortunately, the biologist was a clumsy rappeller, and he knocked off a rock that landed into the nest, crushing one of the eggs. The other egg had already hatched, and the chick was unscathed. So the biologist decided to leave things as they were and call it good.

Before the shoot, the Director told me to wear “a thick coat,” and I found out why when the adult falcon swooped down and attacked me with its sharp talons. Afterward, I felt bad about the whole affair, and the segment never aired, since it wasn’t really a happy ending. The peregrine falcon recovery program itself proved very successful, and by the late 90’s there were many mating pairs in California, and peregrines were taken off the endangered species list In 1999.

These shots are from a cooper’s hawk that used to hang out in my backyard at Joshua Tree. I think it only had one good leg, but it was quite adept at hunting small birds.

I too love watching raptors. From a bit of a distance. I was bombed once by a Goshawk. A memorable wildlife encounter. Glad I wasn't a squirrel that day or I wouldn't be writing this.

Phew,  winter finally arrived for real in Wyoming the day after Christmas after a very dismal warm and wet start.. Rain on Christmas at 10.000 feet in the Tetons, unheard of around these parts. Amazing how a few good days of serious dumpage helps.

I helped with peregrine banding in New Hampshire at a new site that had never been visited before.  I rapped in first, and there were loose rocks above the nest, so I sent the chicks up in a basket to be banded while I waited.  The peregrine dive bombed me constantly.  Probably didn’t take that long,  but it was super stressful and seemed to take forever!

Yep, he’s a juvenile Redtail (I named him Nearis Green).  Those cooper’s pics are awesome! My favorite aspect of the peregrine recovery in the USA has gotta be the species’ discovery of the artificial cliffs (aka skyscrapers) with purpose built balconies for nesting.in amidst the most urbanized landscape, wildness can still be found!

Hi All…. Looks like winter wonderland outside!

I went climbing in the sunshine yesterday.

Nick don’t know how you do that ice water plunge n soak that’s crazy!

I’m looking forward to 2026. Ready or knot here it comes.

Later all 

Love all the raptor stuff! 

Peregrines nest in downtown Boise, nothing unusual about that, these days. The really fun part? They'd be up screaming their heads off, just about the same time as the downtown farmers market opening, in mid April! I always loved hearing them!

My house has some pasture nearby, a canal, and trees along the canal. The locals include red tail hawks, Cooper's, Sharpies, and kestrels.There used to be a screech owl, too, but haven't heard it for quite awhile.

It's been unseasonably warm this December....but windy and wet. Then went directly to sunny. But cold. Not much fun to be outside.

H.

I was doing a first ascent on  a remote cliff. started up P2 and started getting dive bombed  while drilling the 2nd bolt.  I was hand drilling 3/8ths X3" so it took awhile. as soon as I got that bolts in and tightened up we bailed. Came back and finished  p2 and 3 in August. they let you know when they want you to leave. 

Hey what became of The Fossil? We're looking for the bodies on another thread.