Author: geckojudo

“This is what it’s all about.” That was my thought halfway up an onsight of an exposed arête problem when I found myself over gripping and sweating. I decided to literally blow out the tension. Breathing deep and hard, I onsight Ed the problem and knew I had been right—if I hadn’t tackled the vertical … Continue reading Vertical step by step

My psychiatrist introduced me to rock climbing a little over five years ago. He retired on Memorial Day of this year (2021). I haven’t climbed since...until today. I got on the wall and I was happy. I realize that my doctor gave me an invaluable and lifelong gift in introducing me to climbing. I had … Continue reading Climbing again…a gift

https://coffeehousewriters.com/hollow-moon-part-3/. Enjoy!

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cross-country-mountain-bikes/marlin/marlin-6/p/28787/ I picked up my new Radioactive Red Trek Marlin 6 small-frame bike yesterday. I have yet to ride it, and need to adjust the seat, but short of that, I'm in business! I'm selling the Co-op ADV that I had gotten a couple of years ago. It's just not working for me. Nothing wrong … Continue reading The 2021 Trek Marlin 6; my new mountain bike!

When I used to set routes, I liked to set what I would call a a reverse start. It could be standing or sitting, but you had to face backwards from the direction of the rest of the problem. For example, if the problem runs up and to the right, your legs would be kicked … Continue reading The reverse start

I've climbed enough this week to have a few blisters where my calluses should be and where they were when I was climbing regularly. Yippeee! Calluses are a good sign. Truly. They are an indication to me that I am working hard enough, but not overdoing it (because they aren't burst and weeping all over). … Continue reading Blisters! Yippeee!

Today, I had the beginnings of vertical creep up on me. I attempted a few vertical bouldering problems and got little traction on them, but the desire is there. I traversed several times as usual to warm up and practice my technique. I have to say I’m a bit disappointed in my efforts at the … Continue reading The beginnings of vertical

I’m not sure what’s going on with me, but I’m perfectly happy traversing. I need to get vertical again, though. Part of it is that I’ve gained weight since last year and haven’t taken a good fall since then. I know the remedy for that is to take some practice falls, but I don’t want … Continue reading Gotta get vertical again

I’m more into traversing right now than vertical problems. I’m trying to make sure that my technique is rock solid, pun intended. I’m still climbing in my Katanas on the upper wall of the climbing gym and getting more efficient at choosing holds, which meant that today I had to use more difficult holds and … Continue reading Traverse right, traverse left…

It’s the latest thing...and I finally got my “one per household” order from Friction Labs! The black, redesigned chalk ball, still refillable, but different. I can’t even describe this thing adequately to you with words. I can’t even get a good photo of it to show you, but it’s supposed to keep the germs down, … Continue reading Friction Labs prototype chalk ball