Climbing in your 40s?

Still climbing at age ..

  • 18-29

    Votes: 3 5.8%

  • 30-35

    Votes: 6 11.5%

  • 35-40

    Votes: 10 19.2%

  • 40-45

    Votes: 9 17.3%

  • 45+

    Votes: 24 46.2%
  • Total voters
    52
I'm 77, and I've been climbing for about four years. I usually make several 60-foot climbs a week, but I've been able to make several in one day when I felt it was necessary. I climb MRS with a Zigzag and a double hand ascender connected to a foot loop. There's a pulley up top to make it easier. It's a bit slow, but it works well for me.

Sometimes I get tired and sweaty and people tell me I look beat, but nothing hurts, and I'm good to go the next morning. Just knowing I can go out and climb and work hard really brightens my days, and I'm always thankful for being so fortunate.
 
Perhaps those of you who are finding it so taxing should look into a Rollgliss with drill Burrapeg type ascender. It can get you 60 feet with minimal effort.
 
Bucknut said:
What?:oops: 67?

Moss, I’ve watched many of your vids, both tree work and cat rescue. Never thought about it, but if asked I would’ve put your age in the mid to late 50s. Good for you.
Click to expand...

Aging is inevitable of course but... between luck and accidents of genetics I keep going.

The thing I notice the most is the stability of my core and awareness (without trying) of my center of gravity in everything I do whether its tree climbing or reaching for a dish on a shelf.

Growing up pond skating, lots of free climbing trees and woods time is part of that but by my middle forties I'd been working in tech sitting in front of screens for a decade plus and my body was a mess. 2 years into my climbing starting in my late forties I felt more like a 20 year-old physically, what a difference.

Biggest thing I've learned about my shoulders is when I've already maxed out my reach on my arms, don't try to get another inch or two out of it, just rearrange body position and go get it. My shoulders thank me every time.
-AJ
 
I am 49 and a climber since 1997. I climb MRS using two VT 's and two Buckingham ring and ring friction savers while in the canopy. My body is still holding up.
For the occasional long accent, I double line footlock with a prusik. More commonly I use my three section extention ladder to start at 20 ft. I would never have been caught using a ladder in my 20's. Throwball on my splice to advance my rope up to the primary tie-in.
Also I have always worked with gloves for the last 20 years and am confident it has preserved my grip strength on thin ropes
I save my juice for work. No more skateparks or large kickers on the snowboard. No more soccer leagues. Hitting balls at Top Golf on Sunday and my lower back needs my chiropractor this week.
 
Winchman said:
You almost nailed it...I'm using a Petzl Rescue BB pulley.

I guess I fall into the younger group for having led a sheltered life, so please tell me what's in ladies underwear that I need. My wife couldn't think of anything, either.
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Remember before escalators, when department stores had elevators with an elevator operator. He would yell out what was on each floor of the department store as he got to that floor. 2nd floor always seemed to be, Ladies Underwear for some reason only known to department store managers.
I was referring our DRT with the pulley as an elevator for old guys. Had nothing to do with needing anything from that department. Although....
This particular set up I just made up a couple of days ago. I have several others with smaller pulleys, but I put this one together with Yale Scandere, which is very stiff and doesn't like smaller diameter sheaves. Least not till it breaks in a bit, then I can downsize to a smaller pulley. Usually run Bluemoon and a 1.1 omni block with the Zigzags.
 
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moss said:
by my middle forties I'd been working in tech sitting in front of screens for a decade plus and my body was a mess.
-AJ
Click to expand...
A good customer of mine just retired after 40 years on Wall St. in front of screens, she said it destroyed her body
 
moss said:
Aging is inevitable of course but... between luck and accidents of genetics I keep going.

The thing I notice the most is the stability of my core and awareness (without trying) of my center of gravity in everything I do whether its tree climbing or reaching for a dish on a shelf.

Growing up pond skating, lots of free climbing trees and woods time is part of that but by my middle forties I'd been working in tech sitting in front of screens for a decade plus and my body was a mess. 2 years into my climbing starting in my late forties I felt more like a 20 year-old physically, what a difference.

Biggest thing I've learned about my shoulders is when I've already maxed out my reach on my arms, don't try to get another inch or two out of it, just rearrange body position and go get it. My shoulders thank me every time.
-AJ
Click to expand...
Did you stay in tech or get out? I can see how sitting all day could be unhealthy for sure
 
Sitting on your arse all day is fine, as long as you exercise in your leisure time.
Some of the longest lived people I have known were sedentary workers, but they ran, played tennis, or generally did lots of social sports.
 
I have to admit I didn't realize the TreeBuzz demographics were skewed more toward the *ahem* older crowd.

36 here. First climbed when I was 21(?) and did it off and on for 3 years before going to school, then back to climbing, then to a dreary government job, then back to climbing.
 
Mick Dempsey said:
Sitting on your arse all day is fine, as long as you exercise in your leisure time.
Some of the longest lived people I have known were sedentary workers, but they ran, played tennis, or generally did lots of social sports.
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Majority of the oldest lived people haven't exerted themselves physically for any significant period of their lives. Walking, gardening, maybe a hike here or there. They just incorporated some level of modest physical activity into their daily routines.

Genetics play an overwhelmingly disproportionate role in longevity than any other factor. Next up would be social connections and stress. And further down the list diet and physical fitness.
 
Boomslang said:
I have to admit I didn't realize the TreeBuzz demographics were skewed more toward the *ahem* older crowd.

36 here. First climbed when I was 21(?) and did it off and on for 3 years before going to school, then back to climbing, then to a dreary government job, then back to climbing.
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Not sure it is skewed in that direction. It is more that, us old people seem to like to talk about all the things we have wrong with us. Pain and movement being top priorities. You youngster like to talk about other stuff.
But you will get here one day. Just you wait Henry Higgins, just you wait.
 
Boomslang said:
I have to admit I didn't realize the TreeBuzz demographics were skewed more toward the *ahem* older crowd.

36 here. First climbed when I was 21(?) and did it off and on for 3 years before going to school, then back to climbing, then to a dreary government job, then back to climbing.
Click to expand...
Yep, the younger ones are usually having pissing contests on the myriad FB tree guy sites.
It’s these privately owned/run forums where you find the real juice, away from the monkey chatter.
 
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