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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Sep 24, 2016 - 06:40am PT
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Inspirational stories!
Sorry, Curt, but I gotta give you a little grief for this "humble-brag":
I turned 60 in January and still managed to do two 5.12 routes in the last year--along with a ton of easier stuff. I know that's no huge feat for someone at age 60,
Seriously, dude? You know for a fact you're way strong and climbing extremely well--for just about any age. At 60, you're in something like the top .001% of the US population for fitness.
I wish I could climb so well. I don't have the world's greatest connective tissue and since my early 20's have battled with pulls, tears, and strains. I pretty much topped out at low 11's. I turn 55 in March '17 and will take early retirement and move full time to Bishop. My goal is just to keep climbing, hiking, biking--regardless of grade.
I hope we can meet up sometime. I always appreciate a good geezer rope gun!
BAd
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Sep 24, 2016 - 07:08am PT
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Climbing 5.12 at 60 is nothing special. I'm in the middle of the 50s and already climbing 5.11. Many years to go... At 80 5.13 will be no dream...
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F10
Trad climber
Bishop
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Sep 24, 2016 - 06:26pm PT
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60 is working good for me.
Much more experience now than when I started at age 15
Just keep on climbing and having fun, including my first time up Devils Tower last week
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Sep 24, 2016 - 06:29pm PT
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Cool! What route? Did you meet the Colonel?
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Sep 24, 2016 - 08:19pm PT
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Heh, Marlow. Been a HUGE line of sexagenarians lining up under Separate Reality. Tell them oldsters to move over so the kids can have a shot! Oh, guess that's only 11d these days. I guess my point is that MOST climbers haven't/don't/won't climb 5.12, so the number of those in their 60's climbing at that standard is going to be small indeed. If Curt's sending 12's, he's doing freakin' awesome! Most of the fifty-year-olds I know have a tough time climbing stairs, if you get my drift.
BAd
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Rattlesnake Arch
Social climber
Home is where we park it
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Sep 25, 2016 - 07:10am PT
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I too am a recipient of the Golden Turkey award. Some observations:
I climb as well as ever (on a toprope).
I'm more willing to "share" the lead.
I have gotten very good at switching to French Free mode.
I don't like to climb 2 days in a row. And after a hard day, 2 days is no longer enough to recover.
When I come to Yosemite, I find myself repeating my favorite climbs rather than doing something new.
I wear socks under my loose fitting shoes.
I find bifocals suck for footwork, both climbing and descending.
I wear a pair of single vision glasses that focus on my feet, and don't worry so much about the details of the scenery.
I prefer climbs where there is something to hold for balance, however small.
I don't sleep well in bivis or in a tent, preferring one day adventures.
I find myself taping for crack climbing.
I never take leader falls.
And I love a day of climbing as much as ever.
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F10
Trad climber
Bishop
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Sep 25, 2016 - 07:50am PT
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"Cool! What route? Did you meet the Colonel?"
Jay, yes I got to meet the Colonel and check out his place.
I was passing through and short on time. I got to help out with some Guide Cert's and go up the historic Durrance Route. Got to check off another one of the 50 most crowded Classic's of North America.
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yanqui
climber
Balcarce, Argentina
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Sep 25, 2016 - 03:38pm PT
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Jordi Pons was gonna do this route in 1952 but he got rained out. 64 years later he finally got around to climbing it. He had fun, too, or so he says. "Está bello, eh?"
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Sep 25, 2016 - 06:01pm PT
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Nice, F10!
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Sep 26, 2016 - 06:23am PT
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Nice, Yangui. Impressive. Hope I'm so fit at 83.
BAd
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Sep 26, 2016 - 12:03pm PT
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Wow, Tim! This guy is three years older than me and I can't imagine doing what he did. Accolades never-ending, pal!
;>)
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Marlow
Sport climber
OSLO
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Sep 26, 2016 - 12:50pm PT
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yanqui.
Great video. Impressive climb by Jordi Pons... My compliments...
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LongAgo
Trad climber
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Sep 26, 2016 - 09:22pm PT
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No longer climb due to injuries. Does it matter? Or is the relevant question: what did it mean all the way, irrespective of age, highest grade, legacy of first ascents, and whether still doing or not?
I’ve turned to cycling. Does it matter? First in my age class for some route, some climb. The question returns: what does it mean to me along the way irrespective of grade and age and who did what on the same climb?
I travel: Nepal, Patagonia, Japan, Iceland … The relevant question: what does it mean to me irrespective of countries visited, miles driven, sights seen, the tales we tell to friends on the return.
Climbing as all else is irrelevant unless it rings inside, down deep, for good. And in silent times.
Slaves once were told by wise ones of the day to stand in chariots behind winning warriors returning to Rome after another resounding crush of the enemy: “all victory is fleeting.“ I would add: unless our victory, ours alone.
Tom Higgins
LongAgo
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Sep 26, 2016 - 10:09pm PT
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Age is just a number. Shut up and climb.
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Feb 22, 2019 - 11:16pm PT
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I am 66 now, but while still 65 I climbed the U Wall with Jon Riggs and Chris Trull, and the Aid route on the Sherriff's Badge, both on the Chief. Luke Cormier, Kieran Brownie and I did the first one day ascent of the Aid route on the Badge. Some serious aid, a lot of fun climbing, and we avoided cutting loose any of the time bombs.
I also did Zodiac in 17 1/2 hours in Sept, tying Tom Frost and Eric Pearlman for oldest ECIAD that I am aware of, anyone? Then in November, Paul Gagner and Chris Van Luevan joined me for a push of Zodiac, making it my 11th month having climbed the big stone. I have lots of plans for 2019. When the storms fade my training will pay off and I will be up there laughing with great friends on these amazing formations feeling incredibly blessed like it is the first time all over again.
This is a Tom Evans Shot from a 2016 17:30 ascent of the Shortest Straw. Brandon Adams leading, Kristoffer Wickstrom at the belay and me coming up in a less than graceful manner. Libby Sauter over on Zodiac.
This photo is from our Nov ascent. It was smoky.
This is another Tom Evans shot of Brandon Adams leading, Roger Putnam cleaning, and myself getting close to the end of the pitch. From our Sept '18 ZIAD. From the Badge last July, Kieran Brownie; photo.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Feb 23, 2019 - 07:54am PT
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Fully amazing!! Wuph-woof, >BIG oLe` #1 Dog Bark
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Feb 23, 2019 - 08:06am PT
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Remember when 60, was, “old”?
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capseeboy
Social climber
portland, oregon
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Feb 23, 2019 - 08:13am PT
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Push yourself till you can't. Genetics man. 63 arthritic knees shut down. Ha ha. More lives than a cat. Did it. No complaints. Bucket list already finished. Save yourself for what? Do it while you can Bro.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Feb 23, 2019 - 08:38am PT
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Did a 40th-anniversary rope solo of the Bastille Crack at 63 - it was my first rope solo back in '75.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Feb 23, 2019 - 09:09am PT
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At 60 you are ready to reap the awards of a life well lived or sit back in your armchair of complacency. At 60 your path has likely been determined until the end.
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