The Vision

the Lesson

Yosemite NP’s Tuolumne Meadows is clustered with incredible granite domes of every size and shape.. One such dome, Pennyroyal Arches.. Is a little otherworldly.. with a stunning high Alpine location overlooking Tenaya Lake.. and a mild intoxicating minty aroma of pennyroyal lilac flowers clustered around the formation...

Ben was fired up to climb a route in the middle of the formation.. The Vision ascends the center of a large slab covered in light iridescent green lichen.. Having climbed an easier route there about 20 years ago I was very motivated to return..

My Rope Gun/partner, Ben is another one of the New Guard I mentioned before.. a wonderful human being and a very talented climber.. with a very small ego [kinda rare], mature, well beyond his age of 25.. Interestingly, he's the second member of the New Guard I have roped up with who wears flip-flops[ sticky climbing rubber on the bottoms] instead of approach shoes.. It keeps the toes and feet stronger, than shoes or boots do… a little tricky to keep on your feet initially, but the payoffs of additional toe strength and foot stamina take your Climbing to the next level.. Toes can really get worked being jammed into tight fitting climbing shoes. After decades, you can develop imbalances in your bio mechanics. The normal splay of the toes and feet can disappear.... but Yoga always has an answer..

There are several Asana’s that can effectively normalize the bio mechanics of a climber or skier’s foot and toes.. When done consistently in ones practice.. there is also a product called Yoga Toes, a rubbery toes separator.. Ancient climbers like myself can really benefit from.. Put mine on a good four times a week..

A foot saving trick I learned a couple of decades ago, is to Boulder [practicing climbing moves without a rope, close to the ground] in ‘approach shoes..’ When possible.. They are less constrictive and are about 75% as adhesive as tight fitting Climbing shoes.. Moderate rope climbs I also do in approach shoes..

Today at 76 I have excellent range of motion and no bio mechanical foot issues, never had bone spurs, no hammer toe.. etc. because of a consistent Yoga practice…

Most of my evenings, part of my Pratyahara [ down cycling routine ] from the days activities contain various asana’s to put the body back in balance.. Activities like climbing and skiing tend to overdevelop or under develop certain muscle groups of the feet and legs.. Really, the same goes for all continuous athletic endeavors..

The Vision taught Ben and myself a Lesson.. again [lost count].. Each team member should Know where the rappel anchors are as well as the walk-off In Advance.. and always, always take your headlamp.. especially grandpas.. It took us an extra two hours to make that descent in pitch black darkness.. The rappels would've saved us two hours, easy.. nonetheless we had a great time.. Climbing was steep and very enjoyable..

You can start your Yoga practice today.. at any age..

This ancient non-denominational practice will keep you and your body fully operational till the end..

Let me know if you have any questions about sequencing your yoga poses or what is appropriate for you to start your practice.. or whatever aspect of Yoga you are curious about ? I promise I will get back to you!

Photo Kristin Betz

Penny Royal Arches is just out of frame, to the right..

Peace…

We got this…

It turned out to be more of a slap down of a climb for me.. really making grandpa dig deep.. Yeah, little over my head, but it ended up being doable.. barely..

Ben a [member of the new guard] and I took a lackadaisical start and didn't really leave the car till about 11.. The approach didn't have much of a trail disappearing after the first hundred yards, so cross country we went.. It was noon by the time we roped up…