Climbing Naked

[jbeegoode]

I saw this over at Naked Hiking dot com.
It is stunning. I'm in awe., no chalk, no water, no food, just body and spirit.

http://www.epictv.com/media/podcast/no-rope-no-chalkno-clothes---the-purest-form-of-climbing-|-epictv-fresh-catch/603113

You may have to cut and paste the address, as the last part (-epictv-fresh-catch/603113) doesn't include itself.

Jbee

[HairlessNude]

That was an interesting video, but not something that I would have much desire to do. Rock climbing is a good challenge, but the risk is too much.

[nudewalker]

Years ago, in what seems to be another lifetime, my firefighter training included rope rescues and we would practice our climbing skills. Never have I tried such a thing without the protection of safety lines and harnesses. Now I must admit that in my younger days my friends and I would try to scale abandoned strip mine walls but never naked. Maybe I missed something in my youth?

[Greenbare Woods]

When I was young, 11 to 15, my friends and I would often climb the mountain west of town.  The top of the mountain was all rock.  You could go around to the back and walk up, or climb the "face" up the rocks.  We usually climbed straight up the face.  And, being young in the 1950s, we had never heard of climbing ropes or safety nets.  Every couple of years there would be a news report that someone fell, but we never knew the victim and didn't worry about it.

Sometimes we would take off our clothes and stand naked on high rocks on top of the mountain to wave at the people in the town below.  Somehow we never thought of hiking or climbing naked in broad daylight even though these were the same friends who also ran naked through town and around our school late at night. 

[nuduke]

That video was AWESOME...or rather, awe inspiring.

Ok
1) I felt vertigo at my desk!
2) You have got to deeply admire that guy's utter silver-steel bravery, wrought-iron nerve and cast-iron endurance to do those climbs
3) One presumes that you can't just do any old lump of rock.  It has to be one with no outward hanging sections and plenty of holds and dry or made of a non slippy material.  That said, the technique was also awesome and the apparent utter calm with which he appeared to tackle every new step and hold.
4) How I wish it were me, not least because he has an enviable physique but whilst watching, all my stupid mental fears and bodily weaknesses flashed before me, confirming that I could never even get near that level of physical achievement.  But I'd love to try.
5) I hope he continues to thrive.  Anyone that brave and uncaring for their fate deserves to be preserved for a long and happy career climbing naked.
6) Where did he get the film crew and helicopter and why was the film made?  It must have cost a few quid!
7) Another interesting thing was that with nothing with him, what if he needs a drink of water in the heat and the effort?  His endurance must be amazing...or do I overestimate the time to get up one of those rocks?  Couple or 3 hours I'd say. 

John

[jbeegoode]

I'm thinking that it is a drone with camera. As for the water, see him sitting on top of that cliff looking down, thinking, "I'm thirsty and the water is way down there! Crap!"
 
To me and DF, it is more difficult to climb down than to climb up. The sight of footing is diminished, less sure, and you've gotta look down and face the heights.

 I have a problem with heights that has increased the last couple of years. I need to do a hike on the side of a cliff, incrementally Behavior modification..ing my emotional response. My lack of use of muscles and strengths and stretch, with age, has given me missing confidence. Where I used to do things naturally, I have limitations. I don't think that this is age, as much as disuse over time. For example, I found my gravity inversion boots, pulled myself up on the hanging steel bar, hooked and let myself down. I needed help to get back up, last year. I'm praying for youthful elasticity, stretching, massaging and exercising more. There has been great results in my health, especially from diet, but more needs to be done. Use it or lose it. Barefoot and nudity allows the body to exercise in subtle ways that we are not aware of.

This "age" thing is over rated. The 85 year old Tarahumara man who runs to town 25 miles and more, was mentioned in "Born to Run" by Christopher MacDougall. How can he do that? Because nobody ever told him that he couldn't. Belief changes biology in miraculous ways, belief with practicality, use and awareness sustains youthful fitness. I never cared about risking life and limb like that, but some greater nude canyoneering abilities would be handy, and sustaining, and add to my fun. I never thought that I could feel and look as I do at 63, and I know that there is much more to be had. The more that I do for myself, the better my abilities and experience. My belief has had a dramatic impact.

Now, my perception of 90 is still something limiting. It is a target, a belief, and it is 30 years away. Just because my relatives get there and suffer age and health, doesn't mean that I have to. Being mostly retired, at least with more time for myself, it is time to focus less on my intellectual pursuits that I love and find as habits. There is time to find physical things to do. There is no sense to have a younger body and not use it. I need new habits, the time is there. If I'm focused in the moment, ninety will sneak up on me and I won't even realize it, just like 63 has done. All I need to know is what I feel like, what I'm doing right now. The Who, "Hope I die before  get old" in "My Generation" has given me thought since back them. One must choose lifestyle wisely. There is no sense in getting old, if I'm getting younger in the present moment.

Rant for the day. Now it is time to get off me arse,
Jbee

[nuduke]

Just because my relatives get there and suffer age and health, doesn't mean that I have to.

Quite so - my plan is not to be any older than I am now by the time I'm 85!  Sixties are a good age, I'll stick there, I think.  I was more depressed in my fifties!

John

[jbeegoode]

I'm heading back for revival of my early forties for the current goal. No tellin' what the result of the project will be.  If I actually optimize, who knows where that goes. I feel better physically than my late forties and early/mid fifties as it is, other than a few kinks from disuse. I was more active early forties. If I get to that level of activity, that's better than my late thirties totally indulgent bod. The reality is in the moment, the surprises often come from ups and downs.

Mentally, depression...she... the last six or seven years have been transformative. Never better and improving. My lowest low is much better than younger Jbee's highest high.

Would I ever think to do anything like the whippersnapper in the flick? NOT EVER! Not then, not now. But I know that I have the potential to do more than I think I can.
Jbee

[eyesup]

FYI Alert!!!
It has been over 20 yrs. since I have done any kind of climbing, protected or otherwise, although what I learned most likely still applies.

One presumes that you can't just do any old lump of rock.  It has to be one with no outward hanging sections and plenty of holds and dry or made of a non slippy material.  That said, the technique was also awesome and the apparent utter calm with which he appeared to tackle every new step and hold.

If you look online for any free or solo-climbing (climbing without protection), not just naked climbs, you will probably see climbers on more difficult walls than that one. Those will scare the wits out of you. There are people that push this to the limit. It was enough for me to do it using ropes and anchors. I am definitely impressed with this young man.

It is likely that he has done this one before and was absolutely comfortable with the climb. It is also likely that it was the 1st time he had seen it. Some climbers can do that. Just walk up to a wall, see the best route and do it. Either way it is impressive.

I hope he continues to thrive.  Anyone that brave and uncaring for their fate deserves to be preserved for a long and happy career climbing naked.

If he were careless and uncaring, you would probably see his story on the news at 6:00 pm. He is extremely skilled and confident. Born out of practice and experience. Not uncaring.

. . . what if he needs a drink of water in the heat and the effort?  His endurance must be amazing...or do I overestimate the time to get up one of those rocks?

There were probably supplies at the top, which were hoisted by rope or lugged up the trail that runs off the back.

When I was learning to climb I was told more than once, "Do not stop!" it will exhaust your muscles. Keep moving as much as possible.

Try this. Do the old test of doing deep knee bends till you have to stop.  Then, after recovering, lean with your back against the wall with knees bent as though you were sitting. Try holding that position without moving to see how long you can last. Muscles under load and not moving get fatigued fast.

You can guess how long the climb took by watching how fast he moves over a given distance then that, estimate the height and do the math. I did notice in one frame he was sitting on a ledge and resting.

I doubt it was much over an hour, possibly less, even though he did take a breather. While he was climbing he didn't stop. Remember to keep moving!

Duane

[eyesup]

To me and DF, it is more difficult to climb down than to climb up. The sight of footing is diminished, less sure, and you've gotta look down and face the heights.

Down climbing is risky enough if you are scrambling or bouldering, imagine trying to do that on that climb without ropes. Generally most climbers don't down-climb, unless neccessary. They rappel. You are far too tired and like you said, you can't see your footing. This is why I think there were supplies at the top.

This "age" thing is over rated.

I agree. You have to keep up with the activities or the body stops working properly. It's all in your head. I can't climb like I did because I stopped doing that. I no longer have the upper body strength plus I weigh about 20 lbs more.

Duane

[nuduke]

I can't imagine how the guy in the video got down again! Presumably by a path or by helicopter!  Surely you can't do that climb backwards!?
John