UKC

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC:

Good article - I too am approaching 30 but have a distinct disadvantage in that I only 'discovered' climbing last september. Therefore its been a mad year of training, weight loss and pushing myself sometimes harder than I should. So far top roping E2/E3 and leading E1 (accidentally soloed E1 too - eek!).

Previously thought time was very much not on my side but this is encouraging...

One thing... Wasn't Violent New Breed the UKs first 9a+ in 2004?

In reply to chris_j_s: Updated.

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC:

Excellent!

Tom 29yrs

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC:

brilliant stuff and a very good point! Ondra, Schmondra - bet Henry can beat him in the true test of gnarly alpinism, which, as we all know, is: who can grow the best beard?

Thanks, though I'm not sure about the beard. Perhaps I'll need a new list soon of good climbers with pathetic facial hair.

I like your car fotos. They reminded me of Cherrylog Road by James Dickcey http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/txt/1193.txt

H

In reply to Henry Loveless:

I really enjoyed that and it's so true. Keep the dream alive!

I always rememeber how depressing it was when OTE profiled climbers and you would see how they went from: Age 12, Day 1, soloed some climbs in my trainers in some quarry behind some 'real rock climbers' later turned out be HVS. Age 13, bought first pair of climbing boots from second hand shop, three sizes to big, went from E2 to E6 in a day....It took me six years to get to lead a VS!

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC:
Isn't Reinhold Messner Italian?

In reply to Henry Loveless:

Good stuff.

Don't forget also that Ben Moon completed Voyager SS (8B+) when >40 years old. His hardest piece of climbing ever (which is saying something!).

The great thing about climbing is that the competition is not others achievements but your own. Push on.

In reply to seagull:

Also worth a mention, Jibe Tribout. Back to redpointing 8c at 47 after a 12 year break from hard climbing. BEAST!

Good stuff. So thats two more for the list. Any other offers? It would be nice to have something for every age up to 50.

In reply to Henry Loveless:
Didn't Rab Carrington climb his first 8a a year or so back? Not sure how old he is, but pretty awesome achievement.

In reply to gingerkate:

He and Al Austin both climbed New Age Traveller (7c+/8a) at Malham last year age 59. An awesome effort by both.

Also last year, Keith Sharples did The Austrian Oak (8b) age 50.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=771

As I'm on my second stint at climbing after 12 years off I find all this very inspiring!

In reply to Henry Loveless:

How about an article on people doing good things as they become increasingly overweight? 8b at 16 stone, The Nose Free with sausage fingers and bingo wings? Who is the fattest person to onsight 8c etc, etc?

Game?

In reply to drew harrison: You building evidence for a case then!

In reply to Henry Loveless:
Any other offers? It would be nice to have something for every age up to 50.


I'm 49. There is clearly no hope for me. I'm off to buy a bag of chips since it obviously doesnt matter any more.

In reply to pebbles:

I remember Kevin Stephens (iirc) from on here saying something about how his local leisure centre was 'helping the over 50's into sporting activity', and him saying he was going to go along and ask them to coach him in consolidating E5, but that he wasn't sure that that was what they meant...

In reply to Tall Clare: oh, he should have done it, it would have been brilliant. I look forward (not) to my first Saga bulletin coming through the door on my 50th birthday to make me feel about 90.

In reply to pebbles:
Ha, apologies. I didn't mean to suggest that 50 was the end. However, unless anyone can better Seagull's post then 59 may well be.

In reply to Drew (with toungue in cheek?):
Nice idea. But I think that's rocky ground these days (if you'll excuse the pun). I'd probably be strung up for sizeism or similar.

In reply to Henry Loveless:

Surely it's Pro-size. It would offer inspiration to those millions who like pies (and lots of 'em) yet also want to crank.

Maybe you are right. However, I still want to get this list sorted. I still need something for 42, 45, 46, 48, 49.

I'll be surprised if the normally encyclopaedic knowledge of UKC punters can't fill in the gaps.

In reply to chris_j_s:

Hey Chris, remember the proper OLD men that discovered climbing with you last September - you're a young 'un!!! Good work on hitting the magic E. When I come up and see you and Mrs S at your new abode I'm not going up anything harder than a VS though lol.

Good article. It was inspiring for a 43 year old newbie and it left me feeling a little less old!

In reply to Henry Loveless:

9a/+ at 48:
see news for Jan 22nd here
http://www.ukclimbing.com/news/older.html?month=01&year=2008#n42257

8b in the "early fifties":
see details under Edu Marin
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=854

FWIW i think, as ever, performance comes down to how motivated you are and what you are able to sacrifice. up to a point, age is irrelevant.

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC: Great article!

In reply to ksjs:

Thanks. I really should start paying attention.

Only 42, 45, 46, and 49 to go.

C´mon UKC.

oliveraramnotloggedin...

great article henry - i had a massive downer after watching 'king lines' this weekend and seeing sharma leading this amazing life - and i just thought, i've already missed the boat!

feel really inspired now, thanks!

oli

Wahey.

http://climbing.com/news/hotflashes/erbesfield_raboutou_514a_at_age_45/

only 42, 46 and 49 left

In reply to Karriless:

Yes but culturally Austrian since from the South Tyrol.

In reply to Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC:

Brilliant article!

I 'discovered' climbing aged 23, and even now at 26 I'm beginning to wonder if I didn't start early enough!
I'll aim to hit my peak by my mid-30's!