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dan2see
Dec 7, 2012, 5:14 PM
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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.
(This post was edited by dan2see on Dec 7, 2012, 5:16 PM)
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lena_chita
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Dec 7, 2012, 6:41 PM
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dan2see wrote: 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...
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marc801
Dec 7, 2012, 7:38 PM
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lena_chita wrote: 55 summits in a year seems to be a lot more challenging than 66 routes in a year...
I've easily done 66 routes in a week long climbing trip.
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dan2see
Dec 7, 2012, 7:49 PM
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marc801 wrote: lena_chita wrote: 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.
I've told my story straight.
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dagibbs
Dec 7, 2012, 8:47 PM
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lena_chita wrote: dan2see wrote: I've met several folks who chose a Birthday Challenge, but they were all for the whole year! 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...
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.)
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dan2see
Dec 7, 2012, 11:17 PM
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dagibbs wrote: ... 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.)
You guys didn't notice my original post:
dan2see wrote: ... Well I failed! Not because I couldn't, but because in August I thought ridge-walks were so enjoyable that I abandoned my ambition...
I told my story straight.
Anyway, the real purpose of any challenge is to accept it, and carry it through. My challenge doesn't have to be tougher than yours -- that would be your challenge, not mine!
So quitcherbellyachin' about who is tougher, and tell your own story.
(This post was edited by dan2see on Dec 7, 2012, 11:23 PM)
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dan2see
Dec 9, 2012, 1:46 AM
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marc801 wrote: lena_chita wrote: 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.
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.
The first challenge is climate, and the climbing season.
The ground here is frozen solid until April. Then in September folks basically give up climbing. So the season for sport climbing is 3-4 months long.
This spring, I got some early routes: one weekend in April, I got a day of gear leads until it rained, then a day of easy trad practice.
The second challenge is finding folks to climb with.
The Alpine Club starts regular group outings to the crags in June, once or twice a week.
Although in July, our regular trip organizer went away on vacation. Fortunately this didn't stop us, we found alternate ways to organize trips.
The third challenge is skill level, and experience.
Now you gotta understand that I'm new with this leading stuff. Although I had some experience from years gone-by, I really only started doing sport leads in earnest, this spring, 2012. So in a sense, every route is on-sight for me.
So now reality sets in. One week-end, I was the only climber who was willing to lead anything. Suddenly I'm the rope-gun? ?? ??? Ha ha, well it worked well that time. The following week-end, the crag we tried was harder. In fact I think there was only one route anywhere that I could top-rope up, and the rest of the time, my belayer had to boost me.
<Phew> but it's OK, everybody had fun. Which is the real challenge after-all.
The fourth challenge is setting and following a goal.
In August, the crag I had chosen was taken over by a climbing school. So we spent the day scrambling instead. Well this reminded me how much fun scrambling is, so I diverted my itinerary, and organized a series of scrambles for Aug, Sept, Oct.
The fifth challenge is partners. Not groups: partners.
In the past, I have sometimes enjoyed wonderful relationships with other climbers. We'd climb every week-end, explore the country-side, and build skills together. But each guy, on their own time, left. East, north, over-seas: they were no longer here, no longer available. What a shock to me!
And even the guy who might have helped partner some multi-pitch trad climbing, this year, got injured in a rock accident.
Absent partners always hurt, but I know the rule:
When you're dealing with people, you can never place an order, and expect delivery.
A sixth challenge is health and fitness.
My body treats me well, and I'm pretty good about keeping it busy. But last year I had some kind of heart problem. I still don't understand just why it was acting so strange last year, but it's OK as long as I keep hiking and scrambling. So that challenge did not stop me, but it did make me think about alternates. Just in case.
<Phew> again! That's my 66 70 challenge!
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?
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knubs
Dec 9, 2012, 2:04 AM
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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 
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Syd
Dec 9, 2012, 2:27 AM
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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.
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dan2see
Dec 9, 2012, 3:14 AM
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Syd wrote: 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.
Well I think that's a great idea, Syd. But the truth is, I love our Canadian winters.
It's too late to think about some"young woman"! I've been married 42 years already. My wife is actually older than me, but she's still working full-time. Hey! somebody's gotta pay for the gas, so I can drive to the mountains, you know!
(This post was edited by dan2see on Dec 9, 2012, 3:20 AM)
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marc801
Dec 9, 2012, 5:48 AM
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dan2see wrote: marc801 wrote: lena_chita wrote: 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. 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>
As far as your challenges are concerned and what you want to do - 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.
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spoon
Dec 9, 2012, 6:43 AM
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Was shooting for 12 5.12s in 2012 until someone pointed out that 20 12s in 2012 had a better ring to it.
20 13s in the coming year is going to be a real challenge.
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dan2see
Dec 9, 2012, 1:14 PM
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marc801 wrote: ... you can make your challenge be 66 beers in 66 continuous hours.
Well Marc that beer thing would be your challenge, not mine.
But you got me thinking about stuff that would be more fun for me, and do-able in the year 2013:
- 70 hours sleep-over under the stars, above tree line
- 70 kilometers of trail maintenance, below tree line
- lead 70 people on any kind of mountain adventure, climbs or scrambles
- photo or paint 70 mountain scenes, and publish them in Fine Art America
- 70 on-sight sport-climbs is still "on"
- 70 pitches trad routes is possible but depends on people
- 70 topic threads on RC.com, without getting flamed (now that would be a challenge!)
I won't make any New Year's resolutions yet, not until April Fool's Day, because I don't know how school will interfere with spring activities.
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olderic
Dec 9, 2012, 11:06 PM
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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). There were no qualifications given in the original suggestions. the nay sayers made assumptions based on their (very) limited experiences. But I think despite all else it is obvious who the rat's ass is - must have gotten that way cause he never "gives..."
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curt
Dec 10, 2012, 1:21 AM
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dan2see wrote: marc801 wrote: ... you can make your challenge be 66 beers in 66 continuous hours. Well Marc that beer thing would be your challenge, not mine.
Not so fast. I may take that one 
Curt
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dan2see
Dec 10, 2012, 3:26 AM
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olderic wrote: 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)...
I climbed Tunnel Mountain (near Banff) two years ago. I seconded on "Tonka". See Tonka in SummitPost.
We took 4 hours to climb it.
The next day, I hiked the other side of same mountain, but on the tourist side which is a paved walk-way. Hike was a half-hour.
This year I did Rundle Rock, just across the creek. I led that one. But the toughest spot was a 5.4 move somewhere in the third pitch. Now that's easy!
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wonderwoman
Dec 10, 2012, 3:11 PM
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marc801 wrote: And I didn't expect you to be such a whiny little girl.
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.
(This post was edited by wonderwoman on Dec 10, 2012, 3:12 PM)
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lena_chita
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Dec 10, 2012, 3:41 PM
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dan2see wrote: marc801 wrote: lena_chita wrote: 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. 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.
Sorry, it was never my intention to belittle your challenge-- if it WAS a challenge to you. Your original post made it sound a bit like a joke: "I planned to do 66 routes in a year, but abandoned the idea in August, in favor of ridge-walks, because they were more enjoyable"
It seemed to me that you were poking fun at your goal, so I responded in kind.
As to the rest:
dan2see wrote: 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.
I would say, if you REALLY want to do something, you find a way to do it. If you don't, you find excuses. (And just to be clear, I am an expert at this. My list of climbing-related excuses is 729 long, at the last count. Want to hear them all?  )
Seriously, no need to get so defensive. Most people here would be happy to be climbing when they are your age.
dan2see wrote: 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?
Well, given your age, I think you have more flexibility to travel. So, if you want to come on a trip sometime... you are welcome.
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lena_chita
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Dec 10, 2012, 3:42 PM
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wonderwoman wrote: marc801 wrote: And I didn't expect you to be such a whiny little girl. 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.
+1
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dan2see
Dec 10, 2012, 4:47 PM
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Sure, Lena, I accept.
And you're OK too, Marc.
There's a lot to be said about life and living, and how we do it.
It's a journey, and it's good to keep focused on the fun, along the way.
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marc801
Dec 10, 2012, 8:55 PM
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wonderwoman wrote: marc801 wrote: And I didn't expect you to be such a whiny little girl. 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 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.
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wonderwoman
Dec 10, 2012, 9:25 PM
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marc801 wrote: wonderwoman wrote: marc801 wrote: And I didn't expect you to be such a whiny little girl. 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.
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