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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Mar 13, 2014 - 06:42pm PT
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61 ... 61... 61.... every time I think about it I want to cry.
really, trully
when I was 49 I was cranking better than ever, at 52 I ripped my quads clean off of my knee!!! resulting 2+ years of major inactivity,it hurt.
then climbing overweight, tore the heck out of both shoulders...
just now getting better.. reading what other people are doing really helps me stay motivated to stay in the game.
e-kat....R-gold... jay... Jim and all the rest of you.
thanks
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sangoma
Trad climber
south africa
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Mar 13, 2014 - 07:40pm PT
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I was hanging out with my brothers friends one day and thought "you're just a bunch of old men" then realised that I was older than them !!!
Inside every older person is a younger person thinking what the heck hapened
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Mar 13, 2014 - 08:09pm PT
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Inside every older person is a younger person thinking what the heck hapened
So true, G-gome and I were talking about this the other day. He said "don't feel bad... most people our age can't hardley get out of bed, let alone worry if it was 5.10 or 5.10c....."
well ... it's time to clock out and go to STONEY POINT, see what the kids are up to....
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Mar 13, 2014 - 08:35pm PT
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Met a 92 year old the other day and commented on how happy he seemed. When I asked the secret he said " You stay alive until your age finally matches the number of brain cells you have left."
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Trusty Rusty
climber
Tahoe Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 13, 2014 - 09:01pm PT
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Moose just moments from being slapped by a mannequin, again.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Mar 13, 2014 - 09:23pm PT
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Moose...drool, now I get it. Age gracefully, age anyway you want, but you will age....if you're lucky.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Mar 13, 2014 - 09:26pm PT
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OK! Great to read what my peers have to say on the subject.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, they are appreciated, as we all work through this aging and climbing thread. I'm still having a gneiss-time, but you never know, until it gets schisty.
rgold gets points for most profound & funny post.
I identify best with Locker's post:
I guess there is an advantage to being a sh!tty climber afterall...
and Moosedroll made me snort up some wine.
I now will say!
Carry on till you're carrion! (I just made that quote up & I like it!)
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Mar 13, 2014 - 09:31pm PT
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I'm cracking up at this thread. Now in my 57th year, I blew my knee out a few weeks ago playing ultimate Frisbee on the beach. My left elbow has bad tendinitis from mountain biking. Damn it was fun getting injured like this. The young doc I saw yesterday said I have to rest....Nooooooooo!
My right side is working, I'll be hoppin and boppin to the crocodile rock.
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Mar 13, 2014 - 11:29pm PT
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Paralytic Polio in 1953, at nine months, made any kind of climbing seem unlikely for myself. Major challenges in every decade since have made things more interesting yet, especially over half a century of dealing with Post Polio Syndrome. Though I am essentially jumaring, every push of a wall I do is filled with a deep sense of appreciation, enjoyment, satisfaction and power. The inspiration that I carry from my ascents I also pour into my paintings, and it also fuels my training with a constantly high degree of motivation. I never take extra rest days unless I've done a big project, and just work through injuries so I don't lose any conditioning. All of my partners are now much younger than I am, which is a good thing, because I want to keep at this game for a very long while.
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jgill
Boulder climber
Colorado
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Mar 13, 2014 - 11:43pm PT
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Though I am essentially jumaring, every push of a wall I do is filled with a deep sense of appreciation, enjoyment, satisfaction and power
What you have revealed here goes far beyond the mere words of advice the rest of us have given. Thank you.
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rmuir
Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Mar 14, 2014 - 01:55am PT
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Don't age. Problem solved.
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Quasimodo
Trad climber
CA
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Mar 14, 2014 - 03:13am PT
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In some respects I am a better climber at 54. I lack the explosive strength of my 20s and 30s but have better technique and a much better head. I struggled with adding a pound every year after 30 until I changed to a vegan diet two years ago. I am almost down to my ideal weight of 30 years ago. I added yoga three days a week with my wife one year ago. The added flexibility and core strength seems to protect me from injury and improves my movement on rock. I wish i discovered yoga and ate better over three decades ago. I feel better than ever until i look in the mirror and say, "Who the hell is that old guy?" it is a blessing that my close vision sucks.
I never really climbed hard compared to others. I try to focus on the movement, the outdoor experience, climbing friendships and the beautiful places to climb. I am more motivated today than ever. I just appreciate my continued good health and the opportunity to still climb up to 10c. I realize that dailing back the difficulty will likely allow me many more years of climbing without wasting precious time recovering from injuries. I see so many of my friends push really hard in their 50s and 60s only to spend months recovering from injuries and surgical procedures to fix torn knees, elbows and shoulders. I plan to follow Fred Becky's example by climbing well into my 80s.....God willing.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
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Mar 14, 2014 - 03:43am PT
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paul crawford,
a local icon who's been putting up hard and serious routes since the 70's turned 55 this year.
he continues to lead hard 13 crack and face, v9 boulder problems,
and he climbs circles around me daily in our arbor-culture pursuits.
he lives a training regiment, just in his habit strides.
but he also does a little weight / finger board and rope climb training on the side.
i turn 40 next year, and i hope to hold up like paul has.
though i'd be keen to just lead 10's and remain active in the mountains
until a rotten old age.
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Mar 14, 2014 - 10:38am PT
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I'm loving all the comments here from those climbers who are simply "getting their first glimmer" of what "lies ahead!"
My final advice to them: "Getting old beats the other alternative." Just keep at it at your sustainable level as long as you can.
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Trusty Rusty
climber
Tahoe Area
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2014 - 10:45am PT
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"Getting old beats the other alternative" Right on!
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MikeL
Trad climber
SANTA CLARA, CA
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Mar 14, 2014 - 11:14am PT
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Quasimodo: "Who the hell is that old guy?"
LOL. Yeah. Who hasn't had the experience?
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rmuir
Social climber
From the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Mar 14, 2014 - 12:12pm PT
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I've been 50 for six years now…
Yep, even men lie about their age.
At age 57, a good friend of mine was out walking the full-sized standard poodle after aggravating his arm and shoulder vacuuming the house. Something caught the poodle's eye, and the sudden jerk on the leash caused my buddy to watch (and feel) his bicep tear and roll up to his shoulder like a window blind. While visiting the "kind" surgeon and discussing the attendant risks involved, an inquiry was made about this age... "I'm fifty-seven," he says. "I don't know…it might be best to just leave it, since you don't have that much time left." Needless to say, said friend went off to get a second opinion! Postscript: After a successful reattachment of his bicep and lengthy recovery, he's got full mobility and is not dead yet.
We are all entering our corrosive years.
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SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Mar 15, 2014 - 12:11am PT
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Mike, Laurie, Phillipe, John and Susan.
Collective years of climbing approximately 180.
Spent the day crushing, or at least gripping, will wash, rinse and repeat tomorrow.
Keepin' on as best we can
Susan
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Mar 15, 2014 - 12:25am PT
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Well at 52 with 30 years in the construction industry, my dreams of climbing are fading away year by year. Some folks have been able to maintain their bodies well past my age but I haven't. I've fallen from dangerous ladder placements and messed up both hips. A delayed carpel tunnel issue has left me with 2 numb fingers on my right hand and something messed up in my spine shoots 120 volts down my right arm half of my waking hours. My right shoulder is about as useful as a raw piece of bacon. I debate about selling my ledge and haul bag everyday but I can't give up the dreams of climbing for over 36 years and the possibility of what tomorrow may hold. Getting old is knott for the week at heart.
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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Mar 15, 2014 - 12:41am PT
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Mark, we can all sympathize with your predicament . . but for many others what Rodger says:
I'm loving all the comments here from those climbers who are simply "getting their first glimmer" of what "lies ahead!"
has a certain resonance for those of us in our 70s.
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