Ah, the summer that was not how I long to kiss you good bye. One would think that my being laid off March meant the start of a prolific new period of athletic activity wherein I would dip my toe feverishly into every pool of enjoyment that had been denied me these past five years of toil. But alas I was stricken physically nearly from the beginning. A very intense two month training period indoor rock climbing set the stage to emerge from what was a three year string of injuries and all around poor performance. Turning forty had been a boon to my mental and work skills, but I suffered physically like never before. On my last day of serious indoor training at the end of April I managed a brilliant .12c red point and then two routes later it began – that nip of pain in my right elbow that signaled things were not well. I took two weeks off and the pain resumed slightly abated as I launched into a first ascent project in Eldorado. No sooner was the project complete then I left for a two week non-climbing vacation/pilgrimage in Europe with my lovely wife.
I returned from Europe feeling fresh and my elbow healed. This short lived period came to a close after my second out door climbing session on an .11c at Mt. Evans, Cary Granite, where I re-injured the elbow. Since the lay off I have been doing volunteer software projects that see my typing tons every day. This further aggravates my chronic elbow injury. Currently, I am icing it a few times daily and taking an extended break from climbing focusing instead on mountain biking.
Not even the mountain biking has been that great. Start of the summer I had a major mechanical which combined with the trip to Europe saw me lossing six weeks of riding time putting me in the worst riding shape of any summer I can remember in the last five years. In addition it has been the wettest Spring and Summer on record in almost 20 year along the Front Range of Colorado limiting things severely. Even now as I type it’s been almost 10 days since my last ride due to sloppy trails – almost unheard of in Colorado!
Is summary I can wait for my good health to return and my attitude to perk up. Crosses are handed to each of us, yet I often try to shrug mine off. Oh be joyful!
Hey Joe, I never google people but this morning I got on mountain project for the first time in years and for some reason your name popped out in my head and I had to make an attempt to see what you’ve been up to. I just got done reading a few of your threads and other than your elbow injury, I’m stoked to hear that you’re doing well these days and still climbing and riding as always. A great deal of my fondest childhood memories (at the dawn of my own life as a climber) include you, Kieth, hardcore Hannigan and the infamous green trailer.
As for me.. I spend my (free) days in remote areas of the back country either on long aid lines or on my bike or snowboard. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a few years back, I’m grateful for every day I can get up and march into the beyond (usually by myself where I can find my piece). I’m currently working on a new solo first accent of an aid line on mt. Alice near Wild basin. You’d love it! lots and lots of hooking with a crazy long approach.
Anyway Ill stop polluting your website now but I hope you stay well in the meantime and continue to “fire the desperate”