I've met several folks who chose a Birthday Challenge, but they were all for the whole year!

When one friend turned 55, he chose to climb 55 summits that year. Just over 1 summit per week-end. Well in the Rockies that's quite do-able. Most of the mountains have some a scramble route to the peak. although some are strictly alpine. Also there are some peaks that you can link by traverse, once you're up there. He succeeded.

So that year I decided to go for 66 rock-climbing routes. That's a lot easier: 11 outings, 6 routes each day. Well I failed! Not because I couldn't, but because in August I thought ridge-walks were so enjoyable that I abandoned my ambition.

The year-long goal changes the flavor of the Birthday Challenge a lot! It's like the difference between a dash and a marathon.

55 summits in a year seems to be a lot more challenging than 66 routes in a year...

+1
I've easily done 66 routes in a week long climbing trip.

55 summits in a year seems to be a lot more challenging than 66 routes in a year...

... Now, 66 new (not before climbed by you) routes in a year would be a bit more challenging. Just hitting the local crag wouldn't work so well. (By that measure, I've easily hit my 45.)

... Well I failed! Not because I couldn't, but because in August I thought ridge-walks were so enjoyable that I abandoned my ambition...

+1
I've easily done 66 routes in a week long climbing trip.

70 huh? wow! i hope i am in good enough shape to be leading when i'm 70! i'm only 20 now so i have a ways to go, but all the people i know that are 70 can barely walk, much less lead a climb! even if you didnt get 66 climbs like you wanted, i'd still say you are doing a hell of a lot better than most at that age

Dan,
For No1, move to Australia ... year round climbing.
For Nos 2, 3, 5, 6 .. marry a young woman who climbs. Married people are fitter, happier and live longer. It's working for me.

Marc and Lena, I did not expect your comments to tell me that my challenge wasn't as challenging as your challenge, or somebody else's. So you dented my ego, just enough to piss me off. Yeah yeah I know this is RC.com, and I gotta keep a thick skin.

I know that 66 sport-climbing routes is so easy that anybody can do it, just like that! But that was never the crux. Let me explain:

But first a correction: I'm not 66, this year I was 69. My 70th birthday was last week.
<snipped all sorts of other stuff>

... - I don't really give a rat's ass. For all I care you can make your challenge be 66 beers in 66 continuous hours.

... you can make your challenge be 66 beers in 66 continuous hours.

Well Marc that beer thing would be your challenge, not mine.

Well Marc that beer thing would be your challenge, not mine.

There are routes (piddly like at the RRG) or ROUTES (like the Becky Choiunard). There are summits (piddly like Tunnel mountain) and SUMMITS (like Robson)...

And I didn't expect you to be such a whiny little girl.

Marc and Lena, I did not expect your comments to tell me that my challenge wasn't as challenging as your challenge, or somebody else's. So you dented my ego, just enough to piss me off. Yeah yeah I know this is RC.com, and I gotta keep a thick skin.

I know that 66 sport-climbing routes is so easy that anybody can do it, just like that!

But that was never the crux. Let me explain:

The first challenge is climate, and the climbing season.

The second challenge is finding folks to climb with.

The third challenge is skill level, and experience.

The fourth challenge is setting and following a goal.

The fifth challenge is partners. Not groups: partners.

A sixth challenge is health and fitness.

So anybody else who thinks I should do more, I invite you to come and visit for a while, and help.
Maybe with a little help, we could smash that "70" limit in sport routes, and move on to dozens of multi-pitch routes. Wouldn't that be great?

I find it pathetically funny that the worst insult that you can hurl at someone is to call him a girl. Thanks for keeping it classy, marc801. What a great contribution to the thread.

I find it pathetically funny that the worst insult that you can hurl at someone is to call him a girl. Thanks for keeping it classy, marc801. What a great contribution to the thread.

I would never think it an insult or attempt to insult by calling someone a girl. In fact I find the thought of it being an insult offensive.

I didn't call him a girl - I called him a whiny little girl. No one, even other girls, likes those. They're as annoying as testosterone spraying 15 year old boys or PBR drinking hipsters.

Backpedaling is a pretty annoying characteristic, as well. But I suppose that you have a reputation to uphold here at RC.com.

If you don't give a rat's ass, then why are you contributing to this thread? Maybe you're deep-down afraid of folks who aren't as tough as you, yet they think they can still perform?

Would you like me to stay home, and read out-of-print copies of old route topos? Would that make you feel easier?

If you don't give a rat's ass, then don't give a rat's ass.

I find it pathetically funny that the worst insult that you can hurl at someone is to call him a girl. Thanks for keeping it classy, marc801. What a great contribution to the thread.

Clarifying your botched interpretation of what I wrote is not backpedaling.

...
Huh? What? Did you say something? I couldn't tell - I'm on my 49th beer....
When did you get the misguided idea that this thread was all about you?

I would never think it an insult or attempt to insult by calling someone a girl. In fact I find the thought of it being an insult offensive.

I didn't call him a girl - I called him a whiny little girl. No one, even other girls, likes those. They're as annoying as testosterone spraying 15 year old boys or PBR drinking hipsters.

Backpedaling is a pretty annoying characteristic, as well. But I suppose that you have a reputation to uphold here at RC.com.

Because calling a man "girl", or attributing any girly characteristics to him, is a common insult in this culture. And you should be aware of the sexism in that insult, and not use it next time. That's all.

Ever PC cop in the country will support this viewpoint. It is pretty ubiquitous in this day/age. But realistically "whiny little girl" is a common phrase and part of the popular lingo.

I realize that raising awareness of such things is a basic tenant of feminism in particular and equal rights movements in general. But I think (and this is only what I think - an opinion - not claiming that if you don't agree that you are a dumbass or whatever) that if you want true equality that you don't get bent out of shape by every little perceived insult.

Remember all the hoopla about "natty heads hoes"? Well if blacks (and there was a time not long ago when I would have been rebuked for using that term) wanted true equality they would have not raised such a stink (which was mostly for political gain) and accepted that some stereo types have some basis (see "whiny little girl") - equality means being an equal - flaws and all - not wanting to be placed on a pedestal and treated with kid gloves. I can't believe I am using rc.com and a platform for this sort of thing.

But while we are on the topic of common things that can be perceived as insults - let me rant about my pet peeve - ageism. You were guilty upstream with your comment "most people your age.." I hear that every day along with variations like "You climb pretty well for..." etc. Do you really think its a compliment? Substitute "girl" in the appropriate spots and see how it sounds.

...I suppose I should have instead told Dan2see that he was weak, and should be climbing 5.14?

But that's OK, because now I can start a new challenge: 70 insults on rc.com in one year!

#1
Well OK then, you've got ugly legs.

Thanks Moose, we're moving ahead.

Although I'm disappointed about this thread. Here we are at Post #38 and I really hoped that other folks would submit ideas for their own Birthday Challenges.

Thanks Moose, we're moving ahead.
Oh yeah? Well your mother wears army boots!
Now, we're moving ahead.

Although I'm disappointed about this thread. Here we are at Post #38 and I really hoped that other folks would submit ideas for their own Birthday Challenges.

...
PS, how did you know that about my mother?

I'm older than you are, remember!

Prejudice is assuming that certain characteristics apply to all members of a social/ethnic/racial/religious/age/whatever group, when it does not apply to all of them even though certain characteristics may be more common amongst the particular group than people on average. Some of Lena’s comments were ageist but caused me more mirth than anguish.

When Lena wrote

“you climb well enough for an old guy" caused the first of my giggles since at my age (82), I’m literally more often asked if I’m still driving than if I’m still climbing.

70 huh? wow! i hope i am in good enough shape to be leading when i'm 70! i'm only 20 now so i have a ways to go, but all the people i know that are 70 can barely walk, much less lead a climb! even if you didnt get 66 climbs like you wanted, i'd still say you are doing a hell of a lot better than most at that age

However when Lena wrote, “given your age, I think you have more flexibility to travel.” I did get upset. Well, not really but the comment caused my wife and me to have a really good case of the giggles especially the way things have gone this past fortnight. Five of our grandchildren live locally. Two weeks ago we had two wrestling matches, two basketball games + practice, a dance recital and a school program for some of which we provided the transportation as well a few days/nights of babysitting and helping on things such as forensics. This is a typical scenario for us. Yesterday, was over the top. Our youngest son developed kidney stones a couple of weeks ago. This disease is painful and debilitating as the doctors work through trying different therapies. Yesterday, Mary and I were up at 3:15 AM to drive to our son and daughter’s-in-law house. Mary stayed to get breakfast for three grandkids and see them off to school, while I drove to Denver with Jon and Kristie for his lithotripsy treatment. My wife and I arrived back home at 6 PM. That’s when I read Lena’s comment so you can see why it caused us to laugh a bit hysterically.

Last season I had 60 days of outdoor climbing (I don’t keep track of gym climbing but probably about 10 days). If I didn’t have so many family responsibilities, I’m sure it could have easily been 90 days. And traveling always involve fitting things to other people’s schedules. Right now I negotiating the time for a spring trip to Joshua Tree.

Let there be no misunderstanding here. For me, the satisfaction of a rich family life far outweighs the missed climbing time. It’s simply that the phrase, “ You have more time to travel,” is prejudiced in the sense that it assumes all old people have no responsibilities. Mary and I are glad it’s not that way for us even though there are times when it seems a bit trying.

Rob.calm

The first challenge is climate, and the climbing season.


The second challenge is finding folks to climb with.


The third challenge is skill level, and experience.


The fourth challenge is setting and following a goal.


The fifth challenge is partners. Not groups: partners.

I think you are reading too much into my response to Dan, because of your situation.

Dan listed the following excuses for why he cannot climb enough:


Nowhere on that list is lack of time, the fact that he is still working, or that he has day-to-day responsibilities in caring for his mother, aunt, grandson, wife, etc. etc. that prevent him from traveling. In fact, in a separate post in that thread, Dan mentioned that his wife was still working part-time, adding, jokingly, that it was "because someone has to pay for his gas for driving to the mountains"-- which led me to assume that he, himself, was retired.

This was the post (with excuses) i was responding to, when I said that he probably has more flexibility (than I do--being the mother and the only primary caregiver of two school-age children) to travel.

Jesus Lena... Quit whining.

Jesus Lena... Quit whining.

lol, on this subject I would also enjoy pointing out that while you attack Marc for his general use of the word girl--you are over there in the forum gender specific called "the ladies room." This, fellas is what I'd call a bigot.

Boooooooo!

Now feel free to break my post up into four or five quoted sections and pretend like you have evidence to disprove each part. I've got your number dialed girl, don't play the game if you can't throw the dice.