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Old_lady
Oct 4, 2011, 2:17 PM
Post #26 of 41
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Registered: Oct 3, 2011
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Smallclimber--best wishes to you, the new baby, and the rest of your family. I hope you find a way to juggle family, climbing, and the rest of life. If climbing gets squeezed out for a few months or a year or two, you can start climbing again later--maybe with kids when they're old enough?
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wendella
Jan 11, 2012, 1:39 AM
Post #27 of 41
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Registered: Jun 21, 2005
Posts: 50
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Just read this and thought i would post a reply. I'm 40, and I have two good friends I climb with (female) who are about 55 and 61. The sixty one year old is the peppiest in our group. She's been through a few health scares (breast cancer, gallbladder removal, etc) but she just so damn full of life. She climbs outside whenever she can and has made it her goal to become as knowledgeable (and safe) about trad climbing as one can be. None of us climb hard - the most I climb in the gym is usually a 10 - and we do have to take breaks when body parts start hurting and don't work to spec (knees, shoulders, fingers, elbows...). But all-in-all this definitely seems to be a sport that can age with you. :)
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photonicgirl
Mar 15, 2012, 3:21 AM
Post #28 of 41
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Registered: May 19, 2003
Posts: 152
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I'm 52, I don't lead 5'8 gnarly like I used to, but I can still climb up to 5'10. I think I'm in better shape than ever and having quit drinking five years ago, my liver is happier too :)
Bike, hike, snowboard, climb, farm, yoga, animals (llamas). It's all good.
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Kerry_NC
Apr 30, 2012, 5:00 PM
Post #29 of 41
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Registered: Apr 23, 2012
Posts: 15
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Hi ladies!
I will be 40 this summer. I started climbing in January this year, in the gym. My boyfriend who is an avid climber and has been for 20 years, told me he wanted to go to Red Rocks for his 40th birthday, in March (he had been 5 times, but not in several years). So I told him if he could teach me to climb multi-pitch routes by March I would take him to Red Rocks for his birthday.
Well he succeeded! We started in the gym, and were climbing outside by the end of February at Pilot Mountain and Moore's Wall here in NC..brrr..those were some cold weekends.
We spent 9 days in Red Rocks climbing the end of March. I've moved from never having climbed to having climbed up to 5.9, multi-pitch routes, including a couple slightly nerve racking hanging belays, some crack climbs, etc.
We are headed to Summersville, WV the end of May for a long weekend of climbing. Training for that now with weekly bouldering and climbing around NC.
I have a 7 yr old son, but have not brought him into climbing yet..he is to ADD. Hoping to start him this fall in the gym.
How long..as long as I can. :-)
Kerry
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gblauer
Moderator
May 3, 2012, 2:41 AM
Post #30 of 41
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Registered: Oct 4, 2002
Posts: 2824
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Welcome to climbing!
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Kerry_NC
May 3, 2012, 1:26 PM
Post #31 of 41
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Registered: Apr 23, 2012
Posts: 15
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Thank you! 
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ChaChaHeels
Aug 3, 2013, 3:09 AM
Post #32 of 41
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Registered: Aug 19, 2012
Posts: 8
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It's reassuring to hear from other 40+ climbers, especially women. We are a rare breed. I started a few years ago at 50. I do at least 5 hours of hard exercise weekly in regular gyms and hiking to keep flexible and strong. Physcially my worst foes are hot flashes. Besides feeling like you're standing in front of a huge fire, you'll get a rapid heartbeat. It only lasts a minute, but when they hit on the rock, or steep approach hike, I gotta find a rest point quick! I like the sport and climbers tend to be good people. I'll quit when it no longer feels safe-physically or mentally.
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lilvicks22
Aug 9, 2013, 6:23 PM
Post #33 of 41
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Registered: May 7, 2013
Posts: 15
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I climb with my mom and she's 53...
Having a mom who climbs, I love how rock climbing spills into our non-climbing days--must begin all shopping spree with a stop at EMS for new shiny gears, arguing whose turn it is to climb the kitchen cabinets for those out-of-reach chinaware, etc. We even managed to convince my dad and convert the attic into a climbing cave. LOL 
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gblauer
Moderator
Aug 10, 2013, 3:06 AM
Post #34 of 41
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Registered: Oct 4, 2002
Posts: 2824
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I love climbing with my 24 year old daughter. It's such a treat to hear "On belay, Mom".
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lewisiarediviva
Oct 5, 2013, 1:48 AM
Post #35 of 41
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Registered: Aug 1, 2004
Posts: 527
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I'm 42 and I seem to go through phases of climbing. I started climbing in 1993 at the latest. Climbed for a few years and then life got crazy. We started again around 2002 and climbed through 2007 and then the economy crashed and we moved and it has just been crazy.
I had been thinking of rockclimbing.com as a long lost friend when suddenly I received an email about one of my watched threads that hadn't seen any action for years. I think I'll be doing some exploring and some serious investigation of my gear and get back on a rock.
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matterunomama
Nov 2, 2013, 12:49 AM
Post #36 of 41
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Registered: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 419
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Im 60. I have been climbing for the last 7 years. I will never be particularly good; I have devolved from being a 5.10 indoor climber to sport leading 5.8, but I enjoy it for what it is. One of the sweetest things my son ever said to me was "mom, you are awesome" after seeing me lead a 5.9 and acknowledging that for me, the fear factor was equivalent to his 5.12. I hope to climb to 70 and beyond, even if I am not Fred Beckey.
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Karinsmayo
Feb 18, 2014, 9:40 PM
Post #37 of 41
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Registered: Feb 7, 2014
Posts: 3
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Hi awesome climbing ladies! I just read this post and thread and I'm happy to see that there some old ladies as me, 43, and older, still climbing and passionately keep going on.
I started about 3 years ago and it helped me a lot for recovering from some big health issues, keeps me focusing of 'keep on moving' and fighting my disease as I've to live with it. Until now I managed to get up to 5.9, even though I had to have a lot of health related breaks in between, but that's ok, bcs the fun of climbing and challenging myself is the pace, which makes me go.
A year ago I've infected my family with the climbing virus and we're now a 3 / 3,5 generation climbing family: my bro (45), my dad (76 started with 75!), my niece (21), my other niece (5)
It's so awesome!!
My dad and my bro just started with lead (everything indoor) and I can't wait to go with them together outdoor.
Unfortunately the live far away, but every climb together makes up for it 
Girls be safe, go on climb and show the guys how great we can do
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gblauer
Moderator
Apr 5, 2014, 2:36 PM
Post #38 of 41
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Registered: Oct 4, 2002
Posts: 2824
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Welcome! I wish I could say I was in my 40's! Well into my 50's I am enjoying climbing today, just as much as when I started.
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dingus
Aug 6, 2014, 9:30 PM
Post #39 of 41
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Registered: Dec 16, 2002
Posts: 17398
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A bunch of women, bragging about how old they are.... :)
LIARS!!!!!!!
Hah. Kidding. I'm 53 here and still confused about my gender. I'm about as broke up as a person can be and still manage to climb.
I love the resurrection of this thread.
My climbing partner is significantly younger than me. I can still kick her ass though, on lead, on the approach, pretty much anywhere vertical.
But in the City? Its her whipping my ass instead.
(... and I like it)
;)
Thanks for the thread
DMT
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satch
Aug 18, 2014, 7:24 PM
Post #40 of 41
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Registered: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: 94
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My partner wouldn't respond to this thread, so I'll take a risk and respond for her. She's 47, has two kids around college age and started climbing 8 years ago. She was overweight before that and has lost 100 lbs.
I can't even get off the ground on her hard projects now and she carries a big pack in the mountains. We're currently on a year-long climbing trip that also works in skiing, ice climbing and mountain biking. Her preferred routes are multi-pitch moderates in the mountains. While each area we visit will be it's own peak experience, the trip ends with 2 months in Chamonix.
In my view, the beauty is that she just has lots of fun, can be fully in the moment and loves life.
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gblauer
Moderator
Aug 19, 2014, 7:59 PM
Post #41 of 41
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Registered: Oct 4, 2002
Posts: 2824
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what a lovely post. Good luck with your travels.
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