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johnr9q
Sport climber
Sacramento, Ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 1, 2015 - 10:12am PT
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Please only post here if you are at least 70 years old. I thought it might be interesting to find out about rock climbers out there who are at least 70 and are climbing. I am and I live near Sacramento and get out very often mostly doing sport climbing these days. I know of 3 (and there are more that I hope will post here) who meet the 70+ requirement, one lives near Bishop, one lives in Reno and one lives in Ouray. I have no idea why we are motivated to climb when most of my peers are fat, out of shape and not doing much except channel surfing. I guess some things that provide that motivation for me are: I have always been concerned about staying in shape, keeping busy with outdoor pursuits (or building things) and intrigued by the mountains etc. Just thought the few of us could encourage each other. I know there are also many 70+ folks that enjoy activities other than climbing and I don't want to dis them but my biggest activity is climbing so I wanted to concentrate on that.
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Discrimination everywhere. Hope to make the climbing at 70 bracket in 20 years.
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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I'm 71.5, still climbing, usually trad when I'm outdoors because that's what's most accessible to me.
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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I have no idea why I am still motivated to climb when most of my peers are fat, out of shape and not doing much except channel surfing.
could it be that most of your peers are fat, out of shape and not doing much except channel surfing?
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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78.5 now and I climbed up until shoulder arthritis and questionable inner-ear balance made climbing (all solo) too risky - age 74. I chose not to continue if it meant being put on a top rope and jollied along by youngsters. But then I had a fall-back in bodyweight exercises that I have done since my days as a gymnast 60 years ago. Puttering Around
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Ropeboy
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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I was climbing last year at seventy because I was still thrilled to be up on moderate multi pitch routes and enjoyed being "up there." I did not mind following young rope guns because my strength and tolerance for risk sure isn't what it used to be. Many of my friends can no longer climb because of old age and the physical gifts that come with it so I feel I have been lucky. This year I had a serious illness and may not climb again. If that is true I still think I had a good ride.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Just back home from checking out a new area at 10,000 ft. on the Grand Mesa. Sandbag ratings made me feel like I was 2,000 miles back East in the Gunks climbing with another +70 year old who just checked in.
Rather than mentioning "still climbing" we gentleman should be talking about "what" we are climbing. When it comes to food and climbing I'm an opportunivoire.....put it in front of me and I'll try to take a bite out of it. Hopefully, my bite and stomach, for food and climbing, are still in alignment.
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johnr9q
Sport climber
Sacramento, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2015 - 03:20pm PT
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Jim D: If you notice I purposely left out the word "still" in my original post. (by the way, you are the one from Ouray I was referring to). I don't think life is what we have done but what we will do. John G: Thanks for sharing that video. What an inspiration. I forgot to mention my age, I'm just a babe compared to some of you go getters, will be 71 this month. Occasionally getting an onsite on a 11a sport route. Putting up a bunch of new routes in an area around Tahoe we are developing. I have no health issues.
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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I hope Cosmic shows up in a clown suit for my 70th...Crotchless clown suit that is...
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Hard Rock
Trad climber
Montana
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I'm 70 with my mileage (63 as far as the government is concerned). Since I only have 18 years with my Forest Service employment (3 years as a student when you got full benefits) and 4 years (full time) of university employment. When my friends went to the office on Monday to rest - I had to continue to bike, ski and climb. That is why I say my life is harder than anybody else. Anyway, I still climb because I have all this equipment and don't know what else to do. Just did a mountain bike trip from Durango to Moab and was at the Lander Climber festival before that.
I do have the advantage of being a life style auditor having started my business in 1985. That knowledge has help me since I retired. The money will also help as soon as I get my first client.
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jstan
climber
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I meet the age criteria, handily. I have a few words for the youngsters here.
In old age you have something you never had before.
Time.
You are going nowhere so there is no longer any hurry. This evening I was sitting outside and heard an odd noise. My nearest neighbor, a twelve inch desert tortoise, came walking up. I believe in sign language so I signaled he should bear right to avoid a step. Promptly moved right. I signaled for him to move left to avoid more steps but he came right up to me. He showed he did not fear me. So that I would not risk being bitten I moved back a little, thus telling him I respected his abilities. Eventually he went left but circled back toward the house at a lower level. I went into the frig and got two handfuls of Romanian lettuce and a container of water. He ate all the lettuce and licked the plate but did not touch the water. Probably had never seen liquid water. After the lettuce he made a sound. Talking to me I expect.
Not everyday you make a new friend.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Nice John.....tortoise as metaphor. Seems that the club has just about all checked in. Kind of lonely at the top of the pyramid.
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11worth
Trad climber
Leavenworth & Greenwater WA
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I will be 75 this coming Friday. I started climbing in 1958.
I live in Leavenworth and climb for a few hours 5 to 6 days a week. I do a lot of top rope soloing as most people around here do not have as much time for climbing as I do. I also enjoy putting up new routes as we have a lot of unclimbed rock around here. Yesterday I started putting up a new route in Icicle canyon. It is a perfect hand crack on a vertical wall that finishes up on a with a face climb. I am headed out the door now to do some cleaning on the route and will need to place a couple of bolts to protect the final 30 feet of face climbing.
I have been on two road trips this year. One to City of Rocks and one to Tuolumne Meadows. Nothing like a good road trip!
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Yeti
Trad climber
Ketchum, Idaho
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I'll be 77 in 2 months and climb as much as possible. Though the grade level has diminished, I find that by staying within my limits climbing is even more enjoyable than in other days. In addition to King Donini we should not forget Herman Goellner, perhaps the best sport climber of his age on the rocks. I like the Sartre quote, "Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you."
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Ron Hermanson
Trad climber
California
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I am 70 and still climb. If you would like to meet a group of old guys and girls that climb come down to Iron works on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Berkeley from 9am to 1pm and you will meet a couple of guys that are 80+ along with the rest of the group. The group works out and climbs together at the gym and also does day trips for outdoor climbs.
Come and join us.
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Jim Clipper
climber
from: forests to tree farms
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Rad! Sorry,had to say it.
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Roger Brown
climber
Oceano, California
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Never did rock climb very well, I am more of a mountaineer. But I still lead 5.6 and follow 5.8. I have 1650' feet of rope hanging and I am replacing the bolts I can reach on several routes. Pacemaker and Jolly Roger are the present project, just the stuff below the top of The Heart. Working solo but I did use a friends fixed ropes to hang mine.
O yea, I will be 71 next month.
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whoops
climber
paradise, ca
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I'm taking license here because I'm 66, not 70. But the truth is, those four years will go by in what seems like a couple of months. I'm sure John won't mind, don't know about the rest of you.
John is one of my climbing partners, has been for many years. He is also my mentor and hero. It will be a dark day indeed if John gives up the chalk bag.
I think old climbers are exceptional human beings. The ability to access passion seems to disappear for most people but older climbers don't seem to lose a step. Sure older climbers lose strength and endurance but all the reasons they started climbing: the physical, mental and spiritual aspects seem to remain intact. I personally can't imagine life without the camaraderie, laughter and the astonishing places we get to visit.
There is still much to see and much to do. When my time comes I'm not going to ask for a second chance, I'm going to ask for a second wind.
"It's not the years in the life, it's the life in the years". Abraham Lincoln.
Brad
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johnr9q
Sport climber
Sacramento, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 2, 2015 - 03:14pm PT
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Thanks Brad. When are the Women going to report in? Yeti: Herman is one of the 3 hero's of mine I mentioned in my original post. Got a buddy who has an airplane and we are headed to the East Side of the Sierra tomorrow morning for 2 days of climbing. With his new plane it will take us all of 45 minutes to get from Sacramento to Bishop. Life is good. When I was in France a year ago, I met a fellow that said his dad was in his 70's and climbing something like 8b or 8c. Does anyone know who he is? He was either French or Spanish.
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MP
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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You all are so inspiring, thanks.
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