Dedicated to those of you who have had a very hard week, who have felt like you were struggling up a mountain, who did not know if you could hang on until the weekend, worrying about things that make sleep elusive. When you finally reached the end of the workweek, did you decide to try it again, this time without ropes or shoes?Enjoy the great Patrick Edlinger in the Gorges du Verdon:
Yes, the latter part of this video is without ropes or shoes or gloves!
Patrick Edlinger, a native of Dax, a spa town in Southwest France, is one of the living legends of free climbing, solo, bare-handed & bare-footed, the dizzying cliffs of Verdon. He has distinguished himself in high-level cliff climbing and in competition. He continues to practice and live his passion.
Need inspiration for your weekend workout? Watch Patrick Edlinger "training" (3-minutes). Must be something in the water there in Dax, France!
Now, equal time for women! Here is Catherine Destivelle, another french climbing legend, solo climbing not too far from where I currently reside (and she's not even breathing hard at the end):
20 comments:
Too many mountains to climb just to reach a peak.
What a stunning photo. This must be dedicazted to me, as I have had one of those weeks and next promises to be busier still.
If we are going to use the metaphor of the workweek to mountain climbing, then my workplace stood at the top of the mountain & threw boulders at me from above.
I am getting a serious case of vertigo watching this lady climb w no ropes. Is she wearing suction cup shoes, or does she have super powers?
aaah, Larry, there can NEVER be enough mountains!
Tomcat, I heard from so many people who had horrendous weeks last week, and now you, too!
Fran, I was just reading of the boulders thrown at you this week! I'm so sorry what you are being put through. I have to say, you were one of the people I thought of when I dedicated this post.
The woman climber, Catherine Destivelle, uses special gripper shoes with those little sticky dots on the soles. Check out her link, she's pretty amazing ... and available for corporate speeches if your company is interested in another corpo write-off!
Funny what trips peoples triggers. I personally admit I don't understand the desire to climb with or without ropes. or Bungee jump for that matter, but I have no problem riding my motorcycle at 130 mph. To each his own.
Peace to All.
I find the whole prospect of mountain climbing or motorcycle riding tremendously risky myself Spadoman, (not so much in my younger days ,but certainly now.
DK what a cool and interesting post. Being home on disability all i can say to you workers of the world. Hang in there, keep taking good care of yourselves, and try not to let the stress or assclowns get you too down.
Spado:
I like hiking in the mtns, but these guys take it to a whole 'nother level. I free climb ... in my dreams ... where I have no vertigo!
PProg:
You don't have to be working to have a horrendous week, do you? I love watching these free climbers. To me, they represent goals & dreams realized. I'm amazed at what good shape they are in & how they work every muscle.
The Edlinger vid was filmed in the mid-80's when he was mid-20's (he's now late-40's). Destiville's vid could be late-80's to early-90's. She & Edlinger are the same age & both french. She was born in French Algeria & grew up in Paris.
D.K.,
I am with Spadoman, I have no desire to climb mountains, or even stairs in a stadium. My vertigo prevents me from flinging myself down the side of a snowy incline, and I have no idea why anyone would want to snow ski. Still, I like the analogy. One of my favorite Elvis songs is You Gave Me a Mountain. I will rush over and post that song. I am a big fan of the older Elvis years.
Okay...confession time...my Ex, Mr Enigma is a Climber, and Ice, rock and mountain- he was and is very good at it....and I admit that I sat and watched him climb alot...it is kind of mesmerzing...and the guy in this clip is very very good..wow...so amazing that you found this..isn't Youtube is amazing .....sigh..thank you for sharing...
( and yes, he taught me how to do it..."On Bellete..."...and rappel etc...BTW rappelling is awesome....but we were safe wore helmets etc...)
Pursey: I don't snow ski because it's too damn cold. I like the ski lodges, though. If you show up at one in the late afternoon in some big soft fleecy boots, it's quite fun to hang around the skiers. And you know, I think there MUST be an Elvis song for every occasion. Really!
Enigma: It was mesmerizing & a bit scary to watch, mainly because of the heights. Now Ice Climbing ... well, once again, that is too damn cold for me. The ex-mr engima must be in VERY good shape! Is "on bellete" those little ballet shoes they wear?
I don't feel safe climbing a ladder but I do appreciate the beauty of mountains.
I haven't had a really bad week in a long time, but damn, I so look forward to all weekends.
PoP, if it's an extension ladder that I lean up against the house, I am fine. But on a regular A-Frame ladder, I get all wobbly toward the top where there's nothing to lean into. For me, vertigo happens when I can see through to any great distance. If all I see is the side of the house, I'm fine. Just don't turn around!
I love weekends, especially Sunday here in UT ... our whole town in dead, no traffic on the streets, like one of those twilight zones with all the infrastructure intact, but few people. Us non-churchies have the whole place to ourselves!
I love looking at mountains, with my feet firmly planted on the ground. But the metaphor is apt, and life sure feels like sheer cliff faces at times.
Have enough trouble walking, and wouldn't think of trying to climb.
Cartledge: there is something very uplifting about being in the mountains. Hiking 'em is best for me, but I love watching the solo free climbers. All they have is themselves. I catch my breath.
Larry: walking in the mountains is a pleasure, you don't have to climb. Even the easy little nature trails through pines & underbrush allow you to spot an occasional deer or wild turkey or soaring falcon. I saw a grey fox running, I mean flat out running, across a trail last week. I have NEVER seen one before, didn't even know there were any around here. It was twilight & I think they are nocturnal. If it wasn't for the huge bushy tail, I could've mistaken it for a small coyote.
I am reminded by this talk about climbing mountains of the place in Wyoming called Devils Tower. The Native people still call it Bear Lodge, and I have also heard of it referred to as Grey Horn Butte.
Its outline and straight sides, made famous in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", is a huge draw for climbers.
The month of June is a very Sacred time of year, at a Sacred site such as Bear Lodge, for the first Americans.
These cultures have clashed at times over use of the monolithe. The National Park service, along with the Native people and many climbers groups have asked for voluntary non use of Devils Tower during the month of June.
Most climbers stay away during that time in observance of Sacred rites that take place there.
I feel like Cliff Clavin in the Cheers bar expounding knowledge of such trivial importance. But to be honest, it is all I know about climbing. That, and a couple of knots that are the same on the nautical purchase as they are on a stitch plate for belay.
Devils Tower, Bear Lodge
Peace to All.
LOL, DK! Next week will be even worse, but the latter half of the month should be calmer.
As for mountain climbing, I used to do it, attempting to overcome acrophobia. It didn't work. I climbed several mountains, including Ranier and Robson, and still can't change a light bulb without severe anxiety.
Spado: until I looked at your link, I had no idea why Devil's Tower would be Bear Lodge. Those unique vertical marks DO look like bear claw scratches!
Tomcat: sorry about your upcoming week, but good to know things will be calming down for you soon. I'm telling you, light bulb anxiety is related to A-frame see-through ladders. I bet if you could walk up to the bulb on a solid platform, you'd be fine. I think those light bulb changers sold in hardware stores were made just for you! They allow you stand on the ground & telescope up to reach the ceiling, as if your arm was suddenly 8 or 10 or 12-ft long!
I manage, OK, as long as I don't look down.
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