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lilred
Jun 18, 2002, 6:39 PM
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I'm at a point in my life where I am DISCUSTED by society...It seems like everyone is all about themselves. "Me me me" is the attitude.
All my close friends are climbers, and they feel the same way.
I use to be all about wanting to buy a house, start a family and the whole 9 yards, but now, my friends and I have recently been discussing buying vans and living off the road...Is anyone out there living the lifestyle? Living to climb? Working to live, and not living to work? I'm just curious.
I've met people who live out of their cars and travel around the country, but I never thought I would be able to do it due to money...can anyone provide some advise as to the best route to get going?
I'm getting out of the city. I hate it...that was the 1st step...now what?
Thanks
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bradhill
Jun 18, 2002, 7:11 PM
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Resort areas often have easy, low-obligation, have-a-pulse?-you're-hired employment (cooking/waitressing, housekeeping, etc.) in nice areas with dormatory style housing included. You'll find them inhabited by lots of young people 'living the life'. These places tend to be ski resorts in the winter and the summer, the major National Parks usually have these sorts of jobs available nearby. (Glacier, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Denali, etc..)
Since you're in Colorado you might want to check out the YMCA of Estes Park. It's a "Never-Never Land" with lots of young people from all over the world and smack dab in the middle of some of the best rock climbing anywhere.
I spent 9 months last year up in Alaska and road tripping around Canada and it truly WAS the life. I was broke by the end of it all, though, and am back in the grind for now.
Alaska is THE bomb, but there's not much good rock. If alpine climbing is your thing or you just want the most mind bogglingly amazing backpacking, sea kayaking, partying and scenery ANYWHERE, with tons of summer jobs where you can start the same day, work two weeks, quit for two and move on, you can't beat it.
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amsam
Jun 18, 2002, 7:24 PM
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lilred, I know exactly how you feel, and I'm only 16. You should see the looks on guidance counselors faces when you say that all you really want to do with your life is live in a van, traveling around the country to climb.
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bradhill
Jun 18, 2002, 7:26 PM
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Check out www.coolworks.com.
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lilred
Jun 18, 2002, 7:41 PM
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Thnx Brad
Amanda, don't you let them get you down. Be true to yourself, and the rest will follow
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bradhill
Jun 18, 2002, 8:03 PM
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Lesee, since I'm stuck in front of a computer screen right now WISHING I was back living the life, here's some more info...
Summer season tends to run May-mid September, and Winter season mid November to mid March. This leaves you with a month or two twice a year in "shoulder season" to fend for yourself between jobs. One of the best things about these jobs is that you meet people from all over the country & world so you can often road trip and stay with folks in these interim periods.
Another good thing about these jobs are "comps". Most of the companies in an area (or the whole state of AK) will give you special deals if you're a seasonal worker. Free river rafting, flightseeing, boat tours, cheap or free horseback tours, kayak rentals, etc., just show your ID or pay stub.
Damn, why am I here at this programming job? Oh yeah, alpine and trad gear is expensive. I need to take up sport and bouldering...
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sheppe
Jun 18, 2002, 8:19 PM
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Quote:Damn, why am I here at this programming job?
Heh, my sentiments exactly.
-Sheppe
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climbsomething
Jun 18, 2002, 8:23 PM
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Sigh. I wanna live the life! I'd be thrilled to live the life for just the summer, heck, even just a month. It's my new goal in life to nab a cute dirtbag boy (with a dog or two, to give mine company) load up the van, and make him drive us all over the country! I don't like driving, but I like climbing! hehe
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wigglestick
Jun 18, 2002, 8:33 PM
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Quote:
my new goal in life to nab a cute dirtbag boy (with a dog or two, to give mine company) load up the van, and make him drive us all over the country! I don't like driving, but I like climbing!
Are you asking for volunteers?
I am a boy, I have a dog and I have a truck, which is close to a van.
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sidepull
Jun 18, 2002, 8:34 PM
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I'm a cute dirtbag -- but no dogs just yet.
Unfortunately I sponsor Patagonia and not the other way around.
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lilred
Jun 18, 2002, 8:35 PM
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Hey Hill, I usually don't try to set people up, but my best freind (the guy with the van) IS single, a GREAT climber, and a cutie...PM me if u r interested!
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ubangie
Jun 18, 2002, 8:35 PM
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I miss the road too. I got on the road last summer via the .com lay off express...
but I started reading Mark Twight's book, got in to Alpine climbing and ran out of money so I had to get a job again... you guessed it
computer programing
(is this where we all go to die?)
Ok screw this!! Where's my Jeep, and a year's supply of brown rice? I quit!!! Anyone up for a west coast tour? (I can only wish)
[ This Message was edited by: ubangie on 2002-06-18 13:37 ]
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lilred
Jun 18, 2002, 8:37 PM
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I'm serious about this! I'm definately going to live on the road for at least 6 months...as soon as I save up, I'm gone...till then, I'll have to get strong at Rifle
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hoppinbig
Jun 18, 2002, 8:42 PM
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As someone who is stuck in cube hell right now I understand what you all are saying - just takes some seriously big balls to leave all the stupid commitments we have - (girlfriend who I really can't stand and hates all the time I spend climbing), lease payments and working in the IT world - people think I have big balls for climbing - if I really did have em I would be out west climbing with you all - well back to my emails
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freezerfrost
Jun 18, 2002, 8:45 PM
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Oh yea, I'm living it. I access this site from the AM radio modem duct-taped to the dash of my Gremlin. Riight.
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climbsomething
Jun 18, 2002, 8:52 PM
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haha, hey, let me make an addendum: I'll sit proudly at the head of a dirtbag-boy harem. It'll be like a team of Iditarod dogs! One lead boy gets tired, I switch him out with another to carry my pack and drive tha van! *cracks whip* "flake my rope! re-rack my gear! make my pasta roni on the whisperlite! hee-yaw!"
hey cragchica, wherever you are out there, ya wanna be my deputy?
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bradhill
Jun 18, 2002, 8:54 PM
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Oh, damn... where were the girls like y'all last year? Makes me wanna cry... Not that I didn't have a great time, but I what I would've given for a cool traveling/climbing partner those weeks I spent by myself staring lustily at the Canadian Rockies. (and who couldn't use some good lovin'?)
Do you ladies really have any trouble finding eager male partners? I can't believe you're looking very hard...the ratios in this sport are all out of whack in your favor. Most of the messages I see from women looking for climbing partners are looking for other women climbers.
P.S. - What ever became of the climber's online dating service thread? The need seems to come up again and again in many threads...
[ This Message was edited by: bradhill on 2002-06-18 14:00 ]
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lilred
Jun 18, 2002, 9:22 PM
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That dating service thread was pretty funny...
So who wants to hit the road?
If anyone wants to stop by Colorado, Rifle is VERY popular for sport climbing...
Just let me know!
Hill, I want in! Nothin' like a few mountain boys slaving away making us happy!
YEEEE-HAW!!!
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climbsomething
Jun 18, 2002, 9:35 PM
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Naw, I really would travel about the country with or without manly pack mules chivalry is rad, but far be it from me to be desperate or strike a blow to climber feminism I can flake my own rope and cook my own pasta roni! hear me roar!
I actually climb with both men and women and don't really have problems finding partners of either sex, assuming they're down with me and my level, and my spastic doggy. (...we're both kinda acquired tastes :rolleyes2: )hehe
dating service thread? too funny
[ This Message was edited by: climbsomething on 2002-06-18 14:55 ]
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climbsomething
Jun 18, 2002, 10:02 PM
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ok Meghan, you are hereby one of my deputies!
Rifle, seriously, sounds really sweet. Sick limestone sport climbing, cool CO temps, I'd love to get out of Arizona and sample the goodness up there! I have a few acquaintances who are living the life there for a couple months this summer, and I am sooo jealous! Only probby is, I'd need a ride But if you swing thru here and get me and the puppy, I'll bring the pasta roni! as long as I am back in Tucson before the fall semester starts, chillin' in Rifle would be too cool!
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lilred
Jun 18, 2002, 10:32 PM
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Hill, I have tons of friends in AZ...I just moved from Tempe about a month ago, and the AZ crew is always itchin' for me to come visit, so next time I'm there, I'll drop ya a line...
Also, a bunch of AZ'ers are heading here for climbing during Labor Day at Independence Pass (near a little place called Asssssspen) so you are more than welcome to hitch a ride with them! They wouldn't mind abit!
So is it Chef Boyarde Pastaroni, or the legit shiznit?
-Deputy lilred
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melonhead
Jun 18, 2002, 11:12 PM
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Hey,
Bradhill has a point. I lost three girlfriends due to climbing. Obviosly they weren't climbers. Since climbers are a "special" breed, it should be easy for a guy (or girl) to hook up, but it's just the opposit. I mean, what kind of couple would be very happy sitting down to a macaroni and cheese dinner in a crag's parking lot?????
One more thing.....I noticed (I'm unlucky enough to be from New Jersey) that all women want is a goal oriented, well traveled man. OK, well who tends to exceed both of those qualities?????? You guessed it climbers!! For some reason I see doing the Trango Tower all "free" a little more goal oriented then getting a promotion. OK, OK, I'm done now. Ha Ha.
[ This Message was edited by: melonhead on 2002-06-18 16:17 ]
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climbsomething
Jun 18, 2002, 11:28 PM
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Dude, it's the real deal, Rice a Roni brand pasta shells with white cheddar sauce. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Also suitable: those bags of Lipton noodles n sauce
Aspen, eh? Heard of it. A place with trees I betcha. And maybe some skiing in the winter
I WANNA GO TO COLORADO NOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!
Now taking applications for manly pack mules (despite previously mentioned female independence). You will be paid in noodles and powder sauce!
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poorclimber
Jun 19, 2002, 7:34 AM
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So, you want to live the life!? don't we all! I've had that dream ever since i first started climbing, which was only like 2 years ago. My dream might come true yet, only i figured out a way to get paid and write off all my trips, or most of them. Make them business expenses. I started a company, two actually, a guide service, and an online retail shop selling climbing gear. You might have seen my post in the other forum. Poorclimbers.com the place to buy gear for less. Our motto is "work less, Climb more." Since that's most people's dream. No one really likes to work, few people actually find a job that they truly enjoy, those that do, I envy.
So what do us normal people do in order to achieve this goal. Not everyone can start their own business, if everyone did, there would be no business! So, what do we do? I've had friends that have traveled in RV's and got paid for it. All they did was find a big rv dealership and ask if they needed people to drive vehicles across country or wherever. They pay you to drive it. Sometimes if you get lucky you can get a job on the way back as well.
All i have to say is good luck, and if you find a successful way to 'live the life' and still be able to afford gear and food, let us all know.
oh, and by the way, I'm cute, I could get a van, and I'm dying to find a girl to live the life with!!!
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rrrADAM
Jun 19, 2002, 8:27 AM
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I'm truely blessed...
I inspect Nuclear Power Plants around the country, so I get to climb "around the country". I tend to pick my jobs with Rock and Road. My wife even comes with me, and I get her jobs at the Nukes. We only work twice per year, in the Spring and Fall, so Summers and Winters are left to climb full time around Southern California. My jobs are usually back East, or down South, so we climb our way back home after each job.
I make pretty good $$$, I own a house, can afford gear for Trad climbing, and even get a paid vacation, a la unemployment when I'm not working.
I lived on the streets due to drug addiction till Oct 23rd, 1988 when I got clean and sober, so, like I said... "I truely am blessed."
~Adam
BTW... Mark (fiend) is living the "lifestyle", as he is staying with Karen and I for the Summer, just climbing, body-surfing, and going to punk shows out here in SoCal. Man, what I do for a lousy 10 Q-Vote.
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