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Group admin:: JoeKauffmann
Created:: September 1, 2008
: 78 Members

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outdoors

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Anybody rock climb, or caving

Posted: Sep 2, 08 1:49pm

I'm new here and just starting to get the feel for navigating my way around. Sort of on a break right now and came across this group and it's where I belong.

I have been living in far West Texas for a little over 15 years now and love to go climbing. Big Bend Nat'l Park offers some great opportunities as does the whole area. Hueco Tanks State Park just East of El Paso has some excellant climbing for beginners to advanced climbers.

I have a very good friend that runs the Rio Grande often and is about to do the Lower Canyons of the river this month. It's a trip you have to experience. It's beyond description. This trip will be done by canoe where as most of the time we do it in a raft.

There is just to much for me to put into this first writing and besides, I need to get back to work soI can do all this so called Goofin' Off!

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7 Comments // 6 Members

Cowgirllu

Posted: Sep 2, 08 7:20pm

The kids and I just got back from rock scrambling and hiking in the Shawangunk Mountains of the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York. There were a lot of climbers out today. The "Gunks" are world-class climbing--if you're ever in the area--ya gotta go!

Sarah & Sammy on the rocks

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Pat Abbott

Posted: Sep 3, 08 7:34am

Thanks for the heads up. I used to live in Connecticut but did very little climbing there, on the rocks anyway. I was an Iron Worker and climbing was a job at that time. I fell and broke my back but it hasn't stopped the need to climb!

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genesis08

Posted: Sep 3, 08 12:56pm

I love the outdoors so very much, but i don't get to enjoy it all that much. Hopefully in the future I'll get to do some of these. Welcome Pat, it's good to be a "nomad".

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JoeKauffmann

Posted: Sep 3, 08 1:48pm

In the past I have loved climbing and caving but lately I have strangely gotten claustrophobic and had a bit of of a fear or heights. I keep my belay certification up and I lend support.

I hold the rope

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alcibiades_7

Posted: Sep 3, 08 2:09pm

I live in the Alps, so yeah, we have hiked and climbed, though the kids are a bit young for more rigorous stuff.

There is also "adventure parks", which are like obstacles courses in the tree canopy, with mountain-climbing safety gear, very popular in France. My kids (g13 and b9) are quite expert.

I ride my bike up the mountain on roads. Every day.

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Pat Abbott

Posted: Sep 4, 08 7:39am

Very Cool! I'm happy about the fact you're taking the kids down the path that nature is to be communed with, not ruled over! Keep up the good work. I've only been to Europe once and it was just a whirlwind trip to say the least. Definitely enjoyed Portugal and Spain much more. I'm a native Texan and didn't care for the winter much. The beaches were much better!

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ScottLunt

Posted: Sep 24, 08 10:17pm

Rock climbing and mountaineering was my life from age 13 until my late twenties. After that, I did it off and on until about forty. My swan song was an attempt on Pico de Orizaba last year. (Turned around with altitude sickness). I won't go into the reasons that I've given up this pursuit.

However...

IMHO, there isn't a greater source of adventure, exploration and self-esteem building on this planet than mountain climbing. I am still having a difficult time replacing what I got out of climbing.

When people try it, they either hate it or get addicted to it. If you are interested, take a course from a REPUTABLE place that teaches you outdoors -- not in some gym.

Caving has always fascinated me, but I too suffer from claustrophobia so I'll need to avoid any squeezes or tight crawls.

Cheers,

Scott

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