Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
dirtineye
Trad climber
the south
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 1, 2006 - 11:47am PT
|
OK, this is serious, seriously.
My favorite climbing partners are not very well. One is already dead, from cancer.
One is a recovering druggie, and got really hurt (unrelated to climbing or drugs) a while back, and just has not been the same.
One is a recovering alky, with other health problems.
One is always too busy these days, overworked, and has one foot in the grave from medical problems anyway.
I'm maybe about to kick the bucket myself.
So, anyway, I've been trying to find, create, conjure and cajole new partners, but you just can't make people be interested in new routes and remote areas. You can't make people have a climbing obsession. They have to want it already. And you need to hit it off together. And I guess they should be able to climb fairly well too.
Found precisely ONE, well TWO, of those new ones in the last 5 years, good as gold, not even old and decrepit like the rest of us, but they both live a bit far away.
So, what do you do then?
I've got a million boulderpunk teenage and early 20-something boulder buddies, but NONE of em wants to go roped climbing, not even a little bit, LOL.
SO, where can I get a copy of, "How to make a trad climber out of a boulderpunk"? I've looked all over Amazon but can't find it.
|
|
Shack
Big Wall climber
Reno NV
|
|
Try ridicule.
Something like...
"What's the problem? afraid of heights?"
or
"Are you gay?..Not that there's anything wrong with that."
or
"Bouldering is for pussies"
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
The West
|
|
Some of these other online entities here in this virtual place where we hang out claim to be from places possibly close to "The South." Maybe one or more of them is reading this? Where is 'The South,' in this instance
|
|
maculated
Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
|
|
I dunno, Jay, where is "the West?" :)
|
|
Weenis
Trad climber
Tel Aviv
|
|
Sponsor a huge theme party up on Mammoth Terraces.
Tell all the "kids" that there are "stacks of inebriants", bottle rockets and all the things that can tempt a young mind (or body)up there. They'll at least learn to jumar and might somehow gain an appreciation of "gear" for at least safety's sake. You'll probably sleep well because they'll all bring their pads too. Think about how easily you've been misled in your youth and go from there, good luck.
|
|
caughtinside
Social climber
Davis, CA
|
|
Dirt,
You have identified the horrific effects of bouldering, and how it impacts you personally. Don't take it lying down. Remember:
"Bouldering is for pussies"
|
|
foster
climber
|
|
get out of alabama...
|
|
Hootervillian
climber
Zak's Cabin
|
|
"How to make a trad climber out of a boulderpunk"
don't forget part II--
"How to make a golfer out of a trad climber"
part III?
"Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms."
|
|
WoodyS
Trad climber
Riverside
|
|
Line a few of the boulder punks up and start down the line with a 45. You shouldn't have to drop more than two or three before attitudes change. One thing I've learned in life, violence usually works.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
Dead partners are useless. Don't carry their weight. Can't even belay properly unless you know how to solo.
|
|
G_Gnome
Gym climber
The Big City
|
|
I have had to break down and climb with 20 somethings the last few years too. All my climbing partners my own age were getting their shoulders put back together. There are just too many weekends without a partner but fortunately I also like to boulder so I can find plenty of company for that activity.
Come to the meadows in august and you will find lots of old people who still know how to play. It's all we do for a couple of weeks.
|
|
Ksolem
Trad climber
LA, Ca
|
|
Heck. I think the Southern California geriatric crew is doing pretty well. I always have a partner. Shortimer - we were climbing some reasonably good stuff last weekend (but with your alzhiemer's you forgot already... that or you thought I was 20 something!)
My bud's are always looking to do something. And it usually involves a nasty hike to some secret crag. That or we're goin' to the pad in Idyllwild or JT. But something is always up.
Dirtineye, where do you mean when you say down south?
|
|
guyman
Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
|
|
Dirt, where is down south?? Like New Orleans? Or South Orange county?....
I find it best to find the more adventursome young boulderers (sp??)out there, then tell em you know where some WAY KILLER BOULDERS are..but you need to climb up there with a rope for safety. When you get to the top make up some story about the boulders beeing there the last time you were there in 68...Some of them might have tumbled to the ground in the mean time. Anyway some of these guys might get a taste for roped climbing and you can be the rope gun for em till they figure out climbing 5.11 aint that hard and leave you in the dust....then repeat the process.
|
|
dirtineye
Trad climber
the south
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 1, 2006 - 03:37pm PT
|
The south means the south of the civil war, of course.
For climbing it is the TAG area, plus NC, in my view.
|
|
G_Gnome
Gym climber
The Big City
|
|
Hey KSolem, I did say 'were' laid up. And if your photos were any good I could still remember that route with no holds you put me on last Saturday.
|
|
Mountain Man
Trad climber
Outer space
|
|
For what it's worth, I climb mostly with guys 20 years younger. I call it running with the big dogs.
Guys my age (56) would rather talk about it than do it.
Plus, it pushs me to keep up, which is good therapy. Plus their wives are delighful.
|
|
nb3000
Gym climber
Oakland, CA.
|
|
20 something ISO pain & suffering. Please inquire within.
|
|
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
St. Louis
|
|
I hate to be the one to break it to all of you, but Dirt is in ALABAMA!
That's even worse than St. Louis.
|
|
Hootervillian
climber
Lickskillet, AL
|
|
neither of you has climbed in alabama i take it; great rock, super nice climbing community, cheap digs.
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
The West
|
|
and humidity.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!