I keep looking at both of those climbs and dream of the day that I am able to climb them. 62? That's 13 years away. I can't wait that long.

Thanks.

Im sorry... I did my first wall before the age of 16...

but I don't think it couted because it was only about 15 pithes and I freed all but a short bolt ladder.

Nice piece of random spray there.

As soon as the weather starts improving, Looking Glass routes are on my list of things to begin my laid climbing earning curve. Let me know if you want to get on the curve too! I am reasonably confident I should be able to muster my way up GM or IA by the end of the season this year.

So, I'm getting a little older (I'm 38 now) and have been climbing for a good number of years. I have been recently getting the bug to try some real aid climbing and maybe eventually a wall. I've done a number of grade IV/V free climbs over the years, and have done routes where I had to aid small sections, but I have never intentionally targeted aid climbing. I want to hear about others who have gotten into aid later in life. Anyone done their first wall after the age of 40?

Big walls are ALL suffer.

DMT

I think some aspects of my climbing are also getting better at 38 (39 in a couple weeks). But there are some aspects of my fitness that are getting worse.

My knees are starting to have issues. And I don't have the same endurance I once had. I also don't have the opportunity to have very long climbing days (unless I get creative); like long multi-pitch/big mountains.

I think walls also require some suffering, and although I like to suffer, I'm not sure I have the same tolerance that I had 10 years ago. All that said, I think that a wall after 40 is a very attainable goal, and I'm well on my way to making it happen, maybe even before 40.

Mostly true, but I find complete serenity from moment to moment, every once in a while while up there. I sleep like a baby due to the work involved, sometimes, but find the rest way more rewarding than when on the deck. That maybe a little perverse, but suffering may bring about an appreciation like nothing else can. Kind of how do you really know how sweet something is without tasting something a bit bitter.

Moof's saying to "embrace the pain", is not only destined to make it to a t-shirt, but next month is walling month, and that phrase will probably go through my mind no less than 50 times every day, and when the moments of serenity and peace are being experienced, that should generate a good chuckle.

Solo'd a wall way after 40, did one this winter at 50, and going for a month with two big Yosemite objectives to be realized. 40 is really just getting into the wall season of ones life. I am finding the alpine is too big of a day, and cragging is ok, but without good people around can get boring and humdrum, even doing fa's. Big Walls get the stoke going like no other climbing related activity can, still, after a half century.

Go get your dreams, 40, 50 or 62. Nothing can be as bad as sitting in a rocking chair, too crippled up to do anything but say, "you know, I wish I would have............

Bob

Do you climb as often or have you reduced your climbing? Workout as often? Just currious, nothing more.

Getting older does mean I need to stretch more. I barely do, but I know I should. My knees have been a problem ever since I did my service in the Army. Endurance and long day, I just wonder, are you climbing as often? Working out as often? Biking as often?/ I think as we get older, we do less active and become more passive. Depending on our careers, this is true too.


I'm not sure about suffering. Some discomfort, yes. Ready to suffer yes, but not required. Not more so than backpacking or camping. Walls can be very physical, but you can aid the leaning tower and make hauling fairly painless, sleeping fairly comfortable, and rain doesn't matter. Sleep on the summit and negotiate the descent in daylight to prevent suffering.

I climb as often and as well as I ever have. The big difference is that I used to have easy access to long routes (CA and CO), and being in NC now, I do much more cragging. This has helped my climbing ability as far as difficulty, but somewhat at the expense of all day endurance. On the plus side, I just did two of the longest routes I have ever done; Epinephrine and Inti Wantana to Resolution Arete in Red Rocks. It's no RNWF, but it 's been several years since I've suffered a little and been on my feet for that long.

I have definitely reduced the amount of other exercise I get. I used to regularly do several long bike rides a week, and now I do a few rides no longer than two hours. I have also had to stop running because of the knees. I have also been trying to be more diligent about stretching regularly, but I haven't been doing a very good job.