This Is For Raoul and The Warden

This is the video with the guy trad leading on gritstone. Starting at 7 seconds into the video and ending at 14 seconds, you'll see he releases two ropes that he is trailing. Why is he trailing two ropes?

(I've included the link instead of embedding the video. BTW, whenever I post a video on the blog, if you double click on it, you'll go to the website where it is stored and it will be bigger. I usually reduce the size of the videos when I post them because... no real reason, it's just that I'm in the 3rd Stage of Weirdness. Ask Lisa or Johnnie Mac to explain. They're in the 4th Stage of Weirdness so they understand. [Lisa was in the 3rd Stage of Weirdness but she wanted to go back to the 2nd Stage which pushed her into the 4th Stage. Ask her. Don't ask me.])

A Book Highly Recommended

The Warden is using this book and recommends it highly. Based on how good he's climbing, might be worth buying. You know Christmas is coming .  (Which reminds me, make sure your goose is getting fat.)

How Much Should I Train?

According to this guy:

"To start answering the question of ‘how much should I train?’, a good place to start is ‘try a bit more that you are used to’. Your body will tell you whether your choice is broadly correct or not. If its not enough training, you will stay at the same level. Too much and things will hurt."

Lisa, as Goldilocks said, I think our overtraining program is "just right."

WR Party

Watch the video or read the details below.

WR Party from rgsletten on Vimeo.

We're planning a WR climbers' party. Our plan is to make it a Sunday afternoon so everyone can climb at VE if they want, and then at 4ish meet at Yarusso's which is a bar/restaurant about 1 mile from VE. There you can have a meal or a C.R.A.P. (Cocktail to Relax And Ponder.)

So pick a date on the poll on the sidebar.

Once You've Climbed to the Top

Here's a way to get down that'd be fun. It's zorbing

Thursday VE Report

Lisa showed up for a few minutes as she was on her way to Duluth for a multi-event weekend. Including concert going, fund raising, swimming, skiing and other peripatetic activities. John was there practicing his lead climbing out of the pit. And we helped a new guy - Kyle (possible WRer?)- pass his lead test. He just moved here from the Denver area where he used to climb in Eldorado Canyon. He's a pilot and has a fairly flexible schedule. Hope to see him some more.

Big Turnout at VE on Wednesday

Aaron, John, Amy, Tamara, Lisa, Mel and I were there. Two photos to prove it.

 

 

 

PBJ DAY!

Mel-lo and Quick draw both had some fun up on the roof today, so it was Personal Best Jamboree Day. The rest of us showed up and put on our harnesses, so we win too! There were quite a few in attendance, good to see A1 back, Trigirl, Johnny Mac, Amy too. I feel much better, I tried to take some time off but I find I am physically addicted to endorphins and adrenaline and the withdrawal made me feel like crud. I am all better now!
I am going to Duluth, see y'all on Sunday. Would anyone happen to be in Duluth on Friday. I have the day open for climbing, skiing, anyone??

20 Stunning Rock Formations

Here's an article and slide show that picks out 20 great looking rock formations around the world.

This Is A Tough Way To Enjoy A Sport You Love

Be sure you watch the last 35 seconds to see the edge of the cliff he's biking along.

Disaster and Climbing

This might be a (yoga) stretch, but I'm reading a book called "The Unthinkable" which is a study of how people react during disasters. Like plane crashes, fires, etc. One of the ways they study people's panic reactions, is to drop them unexpectedly from a height, so they land on their backs on a net below. "It is freaking scary. It goes against every instinct you have." 

That's very similar, it seems to me, to lead climbing on the ceiling at VE. There's lots more in the book about how they train people to overcome the initial panicky feelings we all have when under stress. Such as the tendency to have tunnel vision. More to follow if I can get over my panic at reading about disasters.

Here's A Way To Combine Two Hobbies

 If you like to climb and you like to use tools, you can practice chopping bolts (like this guy here or this guy here) from routes you don't like. Another benefit is that fewer people are likely to clog up the climbs you want to do.

If You Think Snakes Are Bad

If climbing next to rattlers at Red Wing is bad, how would you like to climb next to these critters?

Mensch

Mensch: German, Yiddish, person of honor and integrity. Good qualities in a belayer and a Realtor for that matter. Here is a video of the same name. Does anyone know German?

A Response to Lisa's Post About Jugs at VE

I will not, can not, in a legal sense

Touch Greg’s jugs, ‘cuz I’m a mensch

I will not, can not, move his holds

I could not ever be so bold

I could not, would not, climb his crimps

I am, as always, quite the wimp

I am not good at holds that slope

Do not like them, but still I’ll cope