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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 16, 2008 - 03:23pm PT
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Anybody know what I mean?
After returning from Yosemite, the world just seems kinda grey...and I can't get exited about anything. I just wanna be back up there...
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Jonny D
Social climber
Lost Angelez, Kalifornia
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Oct 16, 2008 - 03:25pm PT
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i remember being high on endorfin for a while after a wall. when that wears off, it's worst than heroin...
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Jonny D
Social climber
Lost Angelez, Kalifornia
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Oct 16, 2008 - 03:26pm PT
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not that i would now anything about that
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GhoulweJ
Trad climber
Sacramento, CA
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Oct 16, 2008 - 03:26pm PT
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Same problem here.
I have been back a couple of weeks and still have not engaged... A bit depressed.
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nature
climber
Santa Fe, NM
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Oct 16, 2008 - 03:29pm PT
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The Flatlanderers are just not as much fun as the folks that hang out in the vertical world.
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Shimanilami
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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Oct 16, 2008 - 03:48pm PT
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I'm totally with you. I think it's because climbing big walls is totally consuming. For several days, you think about nothing except for climbing. It's almost like you've been transported to a separate reality. And when you "come back to earth", life seems so mundane in comparison.
It's different with trips where you get to return to camp at night, because you don't get that total immersion experience. It's not that I don't enjoy those kinds of trips, but they're just not the same.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Oct 16, 2008 - 03:53pm PT
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Thing about it this way guys, you don't have to haul the pig at work.
does this help at all?
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 16, 2008 - 04:06pm PT
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Glad I'm not alone...
F*#k I'd take hauling a pig over this redundant bullshit anyday. I'd even take doing the East Ledges with 90lbs over this chair...
And I got it easy, nothing to complain about, I work around climbers everyday, have a beautiful supportive wife, a nice home, friends, health...yet I'm still just.....bummed. Scheeming allready when/how I can get back up there for another run of suffering.
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myterious
Trad climber
Joshua Tree
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:12pm PT
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This is a sub case of PMS (Post Mountain Syndrome)
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crøtch
climber
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:12pm PT
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I think Shimanilami nailed it - "total immersion". Any trip that requires me to be on point 24hrs/day for many days in a novel setting can lead to "reentry" difficulties.
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GhoulweJ
Trad climber
Sacramento, CA
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:13pm PT
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Ditto to what "Mike." said perfectly.
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 16, 2008 - 04:17pm PT
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Any suggested remedies? Besides sex, drugs, and rock'n roll?
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crøtch
climber
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:18pm PT
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Bone - remedies: look at your photos & write a tr (temporary relief only) pull out a guidebook and start planning your next trip, get a guidebook to somewhere you've never been and always wanted to go.
Do regular folks feel this way when they come back to work after a week sipping margaritas at club med?
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:19pm PT
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how bout sex, drugs and another wall?
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aldude
climber
Monument Manor
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:20pm PT
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Wall climbing = Sisyphus.
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Beatrix Kiddo
Mountain climber
Littleton
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:21pm PT
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This happens to me constantly. It even happens after single day alpine stints up in the mountains. The sadness can begin as early as the approach out. It sucks. I'm feeling it now. I feel like I fit better in a world that is more natural like in the mountains, on rocks, in the desert, surrounded by animals and the in ocean, away from society. I recognize that I am a contributor to it but I can't stand all of the superficial bullshit that takes place outside of these natural environments. I have a good life with 2 loving sons, a good job, great friends, etc. . . So I can't explain why it hits me so hard to come back. I should be grateful because I am very fortunate. I have no idea what it is like to do heroine and feel the coming down part of it but if it is anything like what I feel after my time away, I'll NEVER so much as even try it.
Immediately planning the next climb or trip helps me. As soon as I have a firm plan I begin to feel better. Having something to look forward to, train towards and learn about before hand helps. I sometimes feel sorry for my friends. We have long days on just about any given Sunday. They are happy with what we did and are happy to be home for some rest, when sure enough, Monday morning rolls around and they already have messages in their inboxes from me, trying to make plans for any bit of free time I have for the remainder of the week and my full days off.
I've been saving for years for my sons. When they are in college, I'm outta here. I guess only then I'll know if I am just a bummed out person in general or if it is being down here that makes me bummed.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:23pm PT
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I'm not sure if I'd call it depression. Maybe restlessness. One nice perk I got from walls was that it reminded me how important the big things are down below--family, friends, relationships. Everything else was bullsh#t.
When I'd top out, I'd always be really relieved. You're in one piece and the hard work (except for the descent) is over.
Then when I got down I was usually pretty high about the accomplishment, the warm showers, being with my loved ones. That lasted about a week, just about the time my hands stopped hurting when I opened and closed them. Then it starts. I start looking at the guidebook and making imaginary plans to bag something new.
Where I am now in life, I may never get to do another route on the Captain. That doesn't stop me from making my pathetic little imaginary plans to get up there. That'll never go away.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:31pm PT
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Next week will be at least 4 weeks without climbing, except a brief bouldering session on a friend's wall.
No wonder I want to post the living sh#t out of pic threads.
I have PMS.
hahaha
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:39pm PT
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I feel your pain. As bad as I want my soft bed and a nice frosty Sierra Nevada Summerfest ale when I'm out there, the return holds a bit of emptiness.
Without getting all "religious", the truth has to be that climbing fills a portion of the emptiness that comes from the unanswered big questions in life.
1. Why am I here?
2. What's the point?
There are answers to these questions. Walls help. Motorcycles help. The opposite sex helps, so do grand adventures and life changing experiences. But there is more to life than "the experience." "The experience" will always fall short for lasting fullness. As corny and cliche as it sounds, there is a God shaped hole in everymans heart. All else is a band-aid. Ask the hard questions. Seek the hard answers.
16 "For everything in the world—the cravings of man, the lust of life and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
John Ch 2
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Ottawa Doug
Social climber
Ottawa, Canada
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Oct 16, 2008 - 04:50pm PT
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Hey Lambone,
I totally concur! Nine days on Tribal Rite and the only thing that mattered was the next placement, bivi, meal, etc...
Now that I'm back at work 'fcuking the dog' (service counter at MEC) I dream about my next trip to the valley. That will probably be in Sept./Oct. 09
FFFaaaacccck!
Somehow the time will pass and one evening I'll drive up to the bridge and life will be both scary and perfect for a couple of weeks.
Cheers,
Doug
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