Climbing

[something sensible if]

given that it seems obvious covid can be airborne i am amazed we're opening gyms up lol but yeah i'll prob give up in a few months and get a climbing membership if we haven't completely opened up by then

[gazedo]

I don't even think fitness gyms should be open in most places but beyond that I can't help but feel like climbing gyms are kind of sneaking by on their "gym" status. It is impossible to implement the types of sanitation protocols that are being recommended or required at typical gyms and the type of activity that happens in them seems to be pretty bad from a disease prevention perspective.

100% agree. honestly, it is bordering on idiotic to think a climbing gym could avoid becoming a vector for spread (at least in the vast, vast majority of places in our country right now).

[brittle]

So, my gym is open (found out when they charged me for June last week). They're known as the progressive, inclusive, everything-positive gym, so I figured if anyone could open safely it'd be them.

They only allow 20 people at a time for a two hour block, three times a day, and then sanitize in between. You have to sanitize any time you move from problem to problem and of course, masks 100% of the time.

It felt safer than a grocery store.

But after spending the last three months doing Hangboards and push-ups, I'm officially a MUCH better climber than I was in March. I flashed everything up to the v5s and found myself being about to do tough, slow reaches on moves that I would have just swatted at and prayed last time I climbed.

If felt so fucking good.

Also people were talking to me about beta and move names and a bunch of other shit I didn't have any clue about, so I must have looked p legit.

[gazedo]

So, my gym is open (found out when they charged me for June last week). They're known as the progressive, inclusive, everything-positive gym, so I figured if anyone could open safely it'd be them.

They only allow 20 people at a time for a two hour block, three times a day, and then sanitize in between. You have to sanitize any time you move from problem to problem and of course, masks 100% of the time.

It felt safer than a grocery store.

But after spending the last three months doing Hangboards and push-ups, I'm officially a MUCH better climber than I was in March. I flashed everything up to the v5s and found myself being about to do tough, slow reaches on moves that I would have just swatted at and prayed last time I climbed.

If felt so fucking good.

Also people were talking to me about beta and move names and a bunch of other shit I didn't have any clue about, so I must have looked p legit.

glad you are able to get some proper climbing in and have it feel safe.

as the situation rapidly deteriorates here in Arizona, it is more and more wild to me that the climbing gym is open and lets people do things like climb without a mask on.

[brittle]

Yeah, anytime you leave Denver City limits people are straight up malignant about doing their part, but where I live and recreate, it feels same as it ever was.

I'd probably go crazy if I wasn't surrounded by serious, good-intentioned people.

[gazedo]

I'd probably go crazy if I wasn't surrounded by serious, good-intentioned people.

Pretty much anytime I leave the house to do things like grocery shop or curbside pickup, I feel like I am going crazy. Like everyone else is in some alternative reality that I am not aware of. Fortunately my co-workers are all being great about things and we are able to make occasional trips to work for essential tasks to keep things moving. But we are all still at home 95% of the time. Having at least a few other people you know take things seriously noticeably helps with the mental health.

My other big mental health thing is I have still been going outside regularly. Been climbing with one friend occasionally who I know is also being careful, otherwise just been climbing by myself. Lots of climbing in northern Arizona that does not have any publicly available information so it is actually very easy to avoid people. I don't even worry about other people touching holds when I am not there since I haven't seen another climber (besides my one friend) at the rocks in the last three months. I think I would actually be going insane if I never left the house to climb.

[gazedo]

But after spending the last three months doing Hangboards and push-ups, I'm officially a MUCH better climber than I was in March.

I am also somehow climbing better than I have for years. Even though my alcohol consumption has gone up and I spend the majority of my time at home snacking, I have somehow lost weight in stay-at-home. The only thing I can think of is not commuting 100+ miles a week on my bike has made me lose lower body muscle.

I am actually not sure I ever need to return to commercial gyms, at least to the world where I am paying for an annual membership somewhere. I might just commit to outside climbing + occasional hangboarding.

[shin blood]

I feel like a lot of climber bodies will have benefitted from rest their tendons needed that they just ignored for months or years

[shin blood]

My willpower cracked and I went to the gym. Felt good to climb, but climbing in a mask is terrible. Had to step outside a few times to catch my breath, which I think (rightfully) freaked the staff a lil. Most people wore worthless non masks that might as well be nothing. Still it was a big facility with high, open ceilings with good circulation and distancing was easy. Felt safe ish. Probably won't do it again anytime soon cause how much I hated wearing a mask while climbing, but felt good to get an endorphin rush.

[gazedo]

Arizona is getting the edge of this weather system sweeping down the Rockies. Lots of snow forecasted in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Looks like the lows will make it down to 35 in Flagstaff here. So excited for fall! My hangboard is outside on the carport here in Phoenix and I have used it only once since mid-July. Even if I wake up at 6 am, it is 90 degrees and I have no motivation to exercise in that. High tomorrow is forecasted to be 91! Low of 67!!!!

[gazedo]

Meanwhile I went climbing outside of LA this weekend and it was 88 degrees at 8000 feet. Couldn't try hard on anything but it was nice to be outside until the wind direction changed and the fire in the background brought smoke our way.

[woozy ducks]

anyone been following the k2 stuff? first winter climb

i guess there's like 70 people there. it seemed like a shitshow waiting to happen like the 96 everest book-writing-fiasco. then bad weather came in and sent everyone down. there's a 19yo woman there trying to climb it.

https://explorersweb.com/2021/01/07/k2-roundup-from-a-frigid-base-camp/

obligatory 'most of these people are rich assholes' comment

[v h g]

huh, sure haven't. What a circus.

Colin O'Brady sounds like a real piece of shit

[gazedo]

sounds like the sherpa/nepalese team did it. unclear if supplemental oxygen was used? anyone seeing if that is the case?