RRC Archives

To answer some questions out there: Yes, I do want to be an old climber.

It works out well though...
When a climber has made it to old age, he/she most certainly has been a safe climber - and surely he/she has had a blast getting there (though this most likely implies that he/she has taken a heck of a lot of chances too (trad, alpine, long routes, etc...).

For all of your "old" Climbers, I raise my hat!

you know i think every climber tries to be as safe as they can or know how
Climbing is just dangerous especially in the bigger theatre's where there is more uncertainty
Old climber's are the ones who have survived
or started climbing when they where older

I'd like to share a little story, and I hope it isn't the norm:
A climber once came down to where I was belaying; he was limping. After couple of minutes, I asked him if he had hurt himself on the approach. He proudly told me NO and explained he had fallen 45 feet to the ground... after asking to be lowered off of a sling that he called "anchor". Needless to say, the sling gave out, and he fell.

My emotions for the day:
I was happy that he hadn't quit climbing.
I was sad to see that he anchor system consisted of a single sling attached to a single bolt.

Go figure, and MAY THE FORCE be with him as I hope he will make it as an "Old Climber".

Again, I can see where this is not the norm, but somebody DO SOMETHING....

I think the querie may have been in referrence to the desire to be "old." I'm an old climber because I started climbing late in life. I honestly think I've only seen about three people at the Gorge older than I. Age is just a state of mind. Yes, the body changes, but you just have to work a little harder to shape it back the way you want it. Tweezers, scissors, hairdressers, fitness centers, the Gorge, good friends, beer, and sheer love of life will keep you in a young frame of mind and body as long as unavoidable illness doesn't take over. Wrinkles don't bother me--I've earned them! I used to run in a 5X5 series, and in each race one summer, I was directly behind an 82 year old man with bowed legs and a shiny bald head. I never could catch him! In one particular race, I was running beside a young man wondering where the old guy might be. Suddenly that old dude ran between us yelling, "Come on, son! Let's run like hell and die!" There you go......climb like hell and die!

hell yeah!

cheers to that

I think its admirable that you want to climb safely enough that you live to be old. Learn to manage risk. Leaver biners cost little compared to injuries.You get down safely and someone else finds a biner.

My friends had to leave a #2 behind this weekend... that sucks, but you're right Ynot-- it doesn't suck as much as an injury.

Where did you leave it?

I think I'd die from grief if I left a #2.

I left a #2 at the Red also this weekend.
I had too many jalepenos the night before so I had to pull over for an emergency. It's a runny #2 but if anyone wants to see, it's near the pulloff for Long Wall.