are particularly hard,
subject to extreme ups and downs,
making you feel perpetually unsafe,
like you might, at any minute,
fall off a cliff.
People often wonder,
why be in such a relationship?
They may not share the love of the challenge, the discipline, the risk.
Cheers to you from beautiful Utah and the remarkable rock-hounds who choose to defy gravity & win~
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Ah yes. Universe is difinitely larger than us. <3
It’s re-assuring isn’t it! We don’t have to pretend we’re important~ <3
Wow, amazing.
They are like chess players and athletes combined~
Yes, with alot of patience.
True.
Great snapshot. I enjoyed the people who challenges gravity.
I do too. I bet it helps them gain perspective on life~
True Cindy know Thanks for visiting my blog post.😇
My pleasure~
Ditto here!😇
This is scary. 🙂
It is.
Fascinating as usual. Lovvvvve that zoom. You always have the eye for subjects and composure.
Yes composure, and composition.
The facial expressions on the first climber is what hooked me. There was a look of pensiveness and applied problem solving. Not pure fear, but sorta close.
I’m guessing their problem solving doesn’t include what to fix for dinner or how to remodel the bathroom while they’re climbing. 🙂
I know, shuffles around the old priority list but quick! What I can’t fathom is spending the night on one of the faces, in one of those suspended tents….
As always, beautiful pictures. For me as never before from you, work that would quickly drain my adrenals. I am reading this as they climbed those rocks because they were there, and you photographed the climbers because they were there scaling the cliff.
I watched them for awhile and I got the sense that they were chess players and the rock face their board. It takes the same sort of cerebral strategizing. The only difference is the stakes were much higher here, than in any game of chess. I admire them~
Man oh man, they are a whole braver than I! 🙂 <3
They take it fissure by fissure. Not looking at the whole, but parsing it to each next step.
Still couldn’t do it‼️😊😊😊
Neither could I, but it is so wonderful that some people can.
Yes it is! I live the diversity of our gifts and abilities‼️❌⭕️
Your photo analogy is fabulous. 🙂
We all know about rocky relationships, but these rock hounds win the prize for endurance!
Vertigo…vertigo…VERTIGO! -whimpers and hides under the desk-
I love you! You so made me laugh. I would never, ever, ever, be a candidate for this!
-grin- I am so relieved! Just warn me before you do any posts on tightrope walking. 😉
http://www.carlswebgraphics.com/mice-images/laughing-mouse.gif
Simply amazing Cindy…you always inspire me! The shots are gorgeous!
They are inspirational aren’t they! They have their everyday problems and they do this for relaxation!
Wowsers, those rock climbers are CRAZY!!! tee hee! How scary that looks! Brave people! I love the color in that rock!!! So gorgeous and vibrant! Hugz to you Cindy, Happy Thanksgiving wishes! Hugz always, Lisa and Bear
I am thinking about you these days my friend. I admire you and my thoughts and prayers are with you and the bear child~ <3 <3
I think the rocky relationships are the ones we are proudest of if we succeed. The first photography shows sceptisim, mixed with a confidence that I find surprising. Great shots.
That is true. And yes the emotions on the face of the first climber got me hooked. I saw the interplay of feelings as the problems were presenting themselves, the pensiveness, but also confidence and coolness under pressure. Most impressive~
My two daughters and husband have done some climbing in our mountains here, and did the summit of Longs Peak, but I prefer keeping my feet more grounded on firm footing. 🙂 Utah is a great place too for rock face climbing and using the more technical skills.
Yes the technical climbers are fascinating people and I had never really watched their process before. It is like this silent game of major high stakes chess. So much of it cerebral and psychological. Remarkable. Happy TG to you and your family Joyce~
Yes, I would think that every move must be literally thought out before making. Blessings to you and yours also.
They have to pre-plan, but then constantly improvise and the rock face unfolds, not unlike what we have to do in living, they just amplify it for themselves.
It takes a special kind of heart to defy gravity. Amazing shots!!
Newton is rolling in his grave extolling them, “Remember the apple!”
LOL I’m guessing they ate it on the way up!!
Oh you smart woman! <3 I am sure they did!
They are very brave, Cindy 🙂
I do understand, that they wish to enjoy this view, but this look very risky to me.
I like to walk at a mountain even it is not always easy, but this kind, no thanks.
It takes training, a special sort of psychological make-up, and absolute physical fittness. I think they may love the views, the challenge, and the mastery of both fear and gravity~
I used to do that Cindy, a quarter century ago. Now, I get dizzy looking at these fantastic pictures!
You did! Fascinating! Might you be tempted to post some photos and tell us about it? It would make a amazing post. People want to know about the motivation, the feelings while climbling and after. People being me, laughing…….No people really do want to know. If you do post please alert me so I don’t miss it~
I would have to dig for photos. This was pre-camera (lol).
You can scan and post if you want to!
Ha ha. I will look 🙂
Thank you. I would love to see and learn more.
I can’t even imagine doing this!
Yeah, it’s kinda outta my realm of possibility~
I sort of half expected to see you shimmying up the side with your camera snapping pictures! 😉
Cracking up, thats me! Except for the fact that it is not. You rock my friend. Happy TG. <3 <3 <3
LOL! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. <3
Thanks, but no thanks. Not my cup of tea! Must be great for thrill seekers though. That and very brave fearless people.
It’s always interesting to me to explore the lives of people who are different than myself. I am so glad we have this diversity among people other wise we would be boring. I thought the first climber was showing fear. They could be fearless or maybe they just like overcoming their fear. I don’t know, but I respect their difference.
We’ve been way out in the middle of nowhere and came across rock climbers on shear cliff faces. I’ve done a lot of dangerous things in my day, but rock climbing is not one I’ve ever been interested in. Great photos.
Yes. We have the same encounters. It takes a special type of personality to climb. It’s good we have this interesting diversity~
These people are nuts. I won’t even climb a ladder.
Laughing….not even to change a light bulb?????
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2f/ce/a0/2fcea0f79a077c201fb1edd5fbff49d2.jpg
Before we met, Lynn shattered her heel falling off a ladder from the 3rd step while changing a lightbulb. And she was on a carpet. 7 years later and she still suffers from it. Nope. I’ll send a kid up the ladder. They bounce!
Ok, you are wonderful. You made me laugh. Bouncy kids are always an advantage~
This is amazing Cindy! Your photographs are beautiful😊
Thank you! The subjects are impressive~
Amazing shots and whoa!
Whoa, that is what I think. These people are very interesting.
impressive
your climbing
skills 🙂
Cracking up. I am so glad your prescience enabled you to notice this diserning skill of mine. Here’s me:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/hobbies-leisure-mountain-mountaineering-climbs-climber-climbers-ggm070223_low.jpg
so amazing and scary
thnak you so much for sharing
kisses
Merci beaucoup mon ami! <3
je t’en prie
Omg, I could never do this! I’d immediately get dizzy and be an instant casualty, lol. I’ll hang out at the beautiful pond and wait for the others to return 🙂 But the photos are gorgeous nonetheless ❤
Love it! I’ll take the photos and meet you at the pond later! Laughing……
bravo ! the shots are amazing
Ah, thank you Tanveer and all the best to you my friend~ <3
honored 🙂 thank you Cindy dear
The pictures are dizzying and stunning. And amazing how just a few well chosen words can unveil an entirely different life perspective – I got goose bumps Cindy 🙂 Kudos.
I learned a lot watching these climbers. I learned that what they most rely on in climbing is cerebral and emotional, plotting their moves and controlling their fear when their moves don’t work, which is often the case. I love seeing life from other people’s perspective and I so appreciate you noticing and responding to this. Thank you Dahlia. I am touched by your thoughtful words~ <3
While looking at the pictures I was wondering why anybody would do that and that I would never ever do such a thing. But your words made me think – don’t we often do this in life – if not literally then figuratively? The images and the life parallels have stayed with me since – as I said a thought provoking and impactful piece 🙂
We basically are always on a cliff, and we can choose what to do with this~
Yes so true 🙂
real life in a short photostory 🙂
Precisely! Clever one~ <3
😉 <3
Amazing! It must take such courage, focus and determination to climb like this. The perfect recipe for getting the best out of life! Cheers Cindy x
Interesting isn’t it. I imagine they don’t sweat the small stuff much!
Indeed! A great way to focus on the bigger picture 🙂
Indeed. A great way to focus on the bigger picture! 🙂
<3
What a brave team! Nice photos.
It seemed to me that what they were particularly good at was controlling their fear which was really impressive and I guess this is what bravery is~
One must be brave just to dare starting such an expedition… Self control is surely involved in the matter.
Yes! I agree~
Wow! The only way I’d try something like this is if I were also wearing a jet pack as flying off would be great consolation for WHEN I slip and fall – I say “when” because I’m basically an accident waiting to happen! Fantastic pictures of all the action… so some of us can enjoy this vicariously! 🙂
Laughing, “WHEN I slip and fall,” I caught this immediately! I think I could attempt bouldering where you basically climb ten foot boulders. I saw people doing it and the reason I didn’t join them was because I could imagine how ridiculous I would look and someone would take my photo and put it in their blog! The thought was too humiliating….. 😉 😉
Hahaha! Oh yes! Nowadays we definitely have to be aware that anything we do in public can go out to everyone on the World Wide Web (unless we can get our hands on those “invisibility cloaks” of course: http://www.livescience.com/52216-ultrathin-invisibility-cloak.html )
😀
I want one of those! BTW, I read your parrot book and loved it. Amazing birds and beautifullyl written book. Thanks for the recommend~
Yeah there was a lot of information in that book that we don’t often hear (even accounting for all this information we can access on the Internet). The one part of the book I had a hard time with, and that I remember distinctly, is where the book described how some researcher terminated a parrot’s life to find out what was in the parrot’s crop. I was thinking, isn’t there some non-invasive ultrasound you can use for that? Other than that, it was a great book (though I suggested in a review that they should cover various species’ sleep habits in a future edition since most parrot species need more than the human “ideal” of 8 hours per night, and many parrot caretakers don’t know their parrots are sleep-deprived).
Well, and I am dead serious, you should write the next book, start with an article, post it online. Your knowledge and passion here is obvious to me and quite special. Please tell me if you post it.
I do know one thing. Unfortunately I often know the bad things, and that is that exotic and endangered birds are killed regularly in one of the most revered wildlife and bird sanctuaries in the world. The usual method is to grab the birds head and spin it around.
People who know parrots, don’t like this.
I hear you. I always do.
Ugh, that’s awful what happens in supposed “sanctuaries,” “refuges,” etc. Really makes me want to establish one of my own somehow, someday!
Yes, I’ll definitely let you know when I contribute to the literature on parrots!
Yes! Please do this. Tell me when you plan to start and I will invest in the parrots and you.
The images are very impressive, Cindy. Beautiful place! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you more for your kind appreciation Isabel~ <3
An excellent pictorial metaphor
Ah, thank you kindly~
OMG! Still, I’m happy being grounded and watching them 🙂
They can annoy Newton and we can watch them! 😉
I don’t know much about rocky relationships. But your photography skills sure rocks, my friend!
୧༼✿ ͡◕ д ◕͡ ༽୨
And you are my rockin good friend. Hugs to you~ ୧༼✿ ͡◕ д ◕͡ ༽୨
http://www.keepcalmstudio.com/_gallery/152/kcs_61e28135.png
Takes a lot of energy, courage, patience, skills… to do what they do.
Great images, Cindy!
It does and it is impressive to see, especially when they get stuck and you can see emotion being controlled on their faces~
Lovely photographs! Thank you for the great post
Thank you more for the thoughtful appreciation~
Is it my imagination or were the walls painted blue?
Very perceptive! It is called rock varnish and it all over the southwest. It can vary in color from black, to blue to gray and orange. I photographed petroglyphs on these same rocks that showed up beautifully due to the bluish-black varnish. You have a good eye~
Stunning! Beautiful pictorial analogy of relationships, Cindy. Takes a lot of trust, patience and innate understanding.
Beautifully thought & said!
These are great shots. You must have had a very long lens or the ability to fly. 🙂
I think FDR said something like “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on”. Although I would myself add – try another rope. 😀
Or as Churchill said, since we are on the topic of good leaders & My grandfather’s painting of Churchill is looking at me as I type, “Keep buggering on!”
Love them both, the quotes and the leaders~
😀
Cindy I spent 15 years climbing outdoors. I loved it. The mental challenge, the physical challenge and being in the beauty of nature. I hate to admit that once I turned 50 my brain and body seemed to grow tired of the adrenaline and the stamina it took. Loved these photos and it took me right back to those special days.
Have you posted about this, because if you did, I forgot? I would love to see & hear more about your experiences. I find the mental discipline of climbers to be unique and most impressive. I also understand completely why you stopped at 50!
Cindy I have done very little posting about climbing as I stopped climbing before I began blogging. Here is one post about it though with some photos from my glory days. http://traveltalesoflife.com/2014/01/20/the-case-of-the-missing-arms/
Talk about sheer footed! I’m glad they are tied off. That will save a few cuts and bruises.
Leslie
It caught my attention when they would risk a bit step with momentum out into the air! They got stuck in places a lot and just thought their way out of it. Amazing~
It is amazing and breath taking too.
Leslie
So pleased you enjoyed & cheers to you~ <3
I’ve never attempted anything as difficult as depicted here, but I’ve done my fair share of rock climbing. My short stocky legs are perfectly suited for mountaineering ascents. It’s the going back down which was very frightening!
I have experienced a bit a what you are talking about going down steep trals. The descents have given me shin splints which hurt, and torqued my front thigh muscles severely. I think it’s because it uses these muscles much more intensely then normal. These guys get to rappell down, which is about the only easy thing they do!
We never used a rappell. We climbed down and it’s much more difficult than ascending. The footing is less certain and the vision is restricted.
It sounds challenging!
Such amazing humans !! That takes guts… Admire them enormously.
Yep! Me too. Thanks for understanding~
I don’t get the passion, but well, each to his/her own. I also admire the tenacity.
That is the cool thing! There are all sorts of people on this planet that are different from each other. It’s the difference that makes them interesting! Cheers to you & hope all is well with you~
I admire people who take on challenges like this! A couple of weeks ago I injured my knee/leg lifting something too heavy (I should have known better). Now, taking a first step in the morning has given me a new insight into those who must manage pain. Choosing to move, knowing that there will be pain is an act of courage. Another beautiful post, Cindy. Hugs and love coming your way…
Yes, pain, physical or mental is an eye opener. It suddenly makes us recognize our vulnerability, something we don’t like being reminded of. People have a tendency to forget the details of their pain when it passes, If we didn’t do this, we would be kinder to ourselves and others. You already know this because you are a very kind person Rebecca. I am so sorry about your injury and your pain and I hope it leaves you in peace soon. Rest well and take good care my friend. Perfect time for a good book. I just finished ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ by JD Vance. It was a tour de force. You may enjoy it if you are looking for a riveting read~ <3
Thank you, Cindy! Your insightful and compassionate comments are very, very much appreciated. Will check our Hillbilly Elegy!!
<3 <3
Good questions. I am amazed by the braveness, physical strength and intellectual from the rock climbers. Once you started climbing, I think the priority start shifting or perhaps it is about survival and reaching the top.
The experiences may shift the way they live life, but I don’t know. I don’t know if there is a carry over effect when get off the mountain but I am certain you are correct, when they are on those sheer faces “it is about survival and reaching the top.”
Oh, my, just looking at these photos gives me sweaty palms -lol! Beautiful photos, Cindy and I’m glad you ended with a scene much more relaxing!
I needed the final scene too!! Laughing……..
Great analogy. I was once in a relationship like that, and I felt as though I was hanging on a rock face all the time! 😀
Yes. I call it the elevator dropping sensation, you were waiting for the floor to fall out from under you. It’s a terrible feeling~ <3
come grande appassionata della montagna non posso che amare questo reportage!
Quando guardo le montagne ho i sentimenti delle montagne dentro di me: li sento, come Beethoven che sentiva i suoni nella testa quando era sordo e compose la Nona sinfonia. Le rocce, le pareti e le scalate sono un’opera d’arte.
Reinhold Messner
grazie e felice giorno Annalisa
Reinhold Messner, Jon Krakauer, Junko Tabei, Tasker & Broadman, sono affascinato dai alpinisti e leggere tutto il possibile su di loro. Condivido il tuo amore per la montagna e dei luoghi selvatici. Saluti a te e mantengono e si desiderano molti altri ricordi di montagna!
ho la grande fortuna di conoscere personalmente messner, e la montagna è uno dei miei grandi amori, se vuoi dai uno sguardo qui
felice notte Annalisa
https://ventisqueras.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/3-parco-naturale-provinciale-adamello-brenta-trentino-la-parte-dolomitica-brenta-paganella-le-torri-di-pietra-dei-rocciatori-la-poesia-dei-colori-dellautunno-the-dolomite-brenta-paganella-and/
Assolutamente stupendo e straordinario! Le tue foto sono incredibili! Reinhold è una leggenda di alpinismo. Vi saluto e condividere il tuo amore di questi luoghi selvaggi!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/2c/c5/0f/2cc50f7618711b832504d557a37e5a25.jpg
ti ringrazio molto te della tua squisita gentilezza
notte felice Cindy
Annalisa
<3