Suck It Up Buttercup

Hey, there’s scientific evidence that stress is a good thing.

“We’ve become addicted to enhanced recovery, obsessed with erasing as quickly as possible the pain, fatigue, and inflammation that come from a hard workout…stress is a

good thing, because it forces the body to adapt, repair itself, and come back stronger.

…. For example, trainers have long viewed exercise-induced inflammation as an enemy that should be eliminated. But it’s actually a crucial part of the recovery process. Exercise stresses and sometimes damages tissue, and the inflammation afterwards is caused, in part, by white blood cells rushing to the area to help begin healing. So while ibuprofen or ice baths might reduce swelling in the short term, they could also inhibit your long-term adaptation, says Jonathan Leeder, a physiologist at the English Institute of Sport. ‘You need that damage and inflammation for the body to repair itself.’”

So maybe the old way is the best way. Got sore muscles? “Suck it up buttercup” and keep on working out.

Living In A Cave

Here’s one way to get close to your roots (or at least close to tree roots) - live in a cave. If 30 million people do it, it can’t be all bad. It is energy efficient, I guess, especially since the only heat source is a fire. I liked this quote about their sewage “treatment” system:

“ it was hooked up to the national grid some time ago, but there’s still no running water or sewage system, meaning locals are as reliant as ever on the raging muddy waters of the nearby Yellow River.”

I wonder what the color of the Yellow River was before they used it for sewage.

And I liked this quote. Who doesn’t want to be told they’re burning hot in bed?

“Inside, their owners sleep on large stone beds, known as kang; cool in the summer, but with cavities underneath so that fires can be lit inside them during the winter months.”

What A Mistake Going To Red Rocks!

I didn't realize what a mistake I made going to Red Rocks until I got back. I had so much fun there, that I now have no interest in climbing back here. I am trying to work up some enthusiasm for climbing the "vertical kitty litter" that is Red Wing. Or the soaring towering low cliffs of Taylors Falls. But I am struggling to do it. I keep checking the weather in the Black Hills (the weather there last week was perfect for climbing, BTW.) But I am not going to the Black Hills until mid-June. I keep thinking of the climb I did in Yosemite last year but I am not there now and currently have no plans to go back there.

 

So help me get motivated. Tell me what you do. (I think I know all the recommended ways of motivating myself. Such as, "bloom where you're planted." And, have a goal and make a plan to achieve it. And - maybe this is the best one for me now - commit to scheduling climbing with others. )

What else do you recommend? (I know one thing you'll tell me: stop using terms like "vertical kitty litter." OK,and then what?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earthquakes Around The World

Mother Earth has a lot of intestinal rumblings; there were more than 9,000 earthquakes in 2011 alone. This video shows:

“. 9323 earthquakes equal to or greater than 4.5 magnitude that occurred during 2011 on a global map in sequence from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, with magnitude indicated by circle size and louder volume for higher magnitude quakes.”

What A Booster Sees

Footage taken from two booster rockets as they climb and accelerate to over 2,800 mph and then fall into the ocean. Cool sound effects.

Expand Your Attention

Warrior's Way author talks about keeping your attention on processes not fears. Focus on your movement, your breathing, not the fact you’re hanging upside down just about to fall. Sounds like a good idea, only problem is you need to practice hanging upside down in order to get good at it. I liked this quote:

“Finally, having a coach that isn’t stressed, such as my belayer, can help. She can remind me to stay open to possibilities, to breathe, relax, and “make the next move.” Her coaching can help me notice when my attention contracts my thinking and actions. I notice my doubts more easily and redirect my attention to possibilities. I notice my body tense and redirect my attention to relaxing, breathing, and making the next move.”

Exploring In Patagonia

 

The first part of a solo adventure that is way off the beaten trail in Patagonia. Soon after he started, he realized he was in trouble.

 "I should have recognized the first sign of a longer-than-expected trip when, ten minutes after leaving camp, what looked like an easy thirty minutes on the map turned into a two hour slugfest ending on a precarious perch three hundred feet above the glacier. This was the first of several encounters with heinous bushwacking (HB) en route to the southwestern arm of the Exploradores Glacier. The climbing beta for such routes will surely be enhanced by inclusion of this new classification: HB."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harness Alternatives

If you ever need an emergency harness, here are two ways to “make” a harness. The bowline on a coil was how I started climbing and then I used the diaper sling, shown below, because it is a lot more comfortable.

 

I Wish Nature Looked This Good In Person

What a great idea – watch people hiking national parks on your computer and skip the arduous walking with the bugs and bad weather. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at a new project to film the national parks from a hiker’s perspective. The first three park tours are here.

Everest, Then & Now

A comparison of gear used on Everest in 1953 and today. I know today’s mountaineering suit is better than these from ‘53, but I love the look from back then.

 

"Yell With Effort”

Ali Rainey writes about her new-found love of climbing steep and overhanging routes on her trip to Spain.

“I want to be screaming with effort and flinging my hands at holds more often than not…For the first time since arriving in Spain a month and a half ago, I actually tried hard enough on a climb to yell with effort – for three moves in a row, before I whipped off, laughing as I fell with utter joy and delight. At last! I finally felt okay enough to push it hard enough to try – and it was so much fun! Explosive climbing, powerful climbing, steep climbing – yes!”

Cycling And Astronomy

What does bicycling and planetary knowledge have in common? A lot if you’re wearing a Pearl Izumi biking short.

Improving Your Climbing

Lots of great tips here from a trainer. I liked these:

“Justen is a big proponent of breathing audibly on the route to hear yourself. Getting me to

breathe more audibly while climbing—not in a weird, forced way … but rather naturally—was really helpful.

Warming up: Two routes, each climbed back to back. If you can’t climb a route twice in a row, it’s not a warm up. On the first time up, notice things that you do wrong and on the second time up, eliminate them. Take care of whatever it is that’s going badly on that day, right away on the warm up.

Warm up the eyes, too. Look around and try to get your focus going. Focus on particular things and notice them. Get your focus working so it’s very precise.”

Single Line Rappel

Instructions on single line rappelling with a Cinch or a GriGri.

Fitz Roy Panorama

From Rope and Summit website is a link to a great panorama.

“Here’s a link to an amazing 360 panorama that was shot by our Brazilian friend Irivan after his successful climb of the route ‘Mate, Porro, y todo lo demas’ on Fitz Roy”