It鈥檚 the time of year again when we hole up inside and do one of a few things.听
听We might drop into an intensely motivated training regime where it sees us at the gym at 6 a.m., training and psyched to get stronger, simply because of the pure brutality of the weather.听
As if fuelled by an invisible wellspring, this response is difficult to explain if you鈥檙e looking for tangible goal trips, routes or boulder problems that are the catalyst. Often it鈥檚 just the act alone of shaping up a training schedule, sticking to it and making the punishments more frequent as one gets strong and fit enough to handle the increase in training volume.听
The climbers shaping their winter this way are often burdened by many different factors already 鈥撎� a job that has them divert even a small amount of brain power away from climbing for several instants, a partner who doesn鈥檛 approve of their obsession, a family that needs a little bit more contact above training beta talked at them at breakfast and even being part of circles of friends who don鈥檛 climb at all but instead, god forbid, ride bikes.听
It might, alternately, be the time of year where you turn away from climbing, from exercise, from movement in general and instead burrow and scratch, dig and squirm down deep into the dark warm layers of distraction away from the vertical world. Whether that be books and booze, brews and flicks, gaming and Pokemon Go, bar star partying or even simply complete stasis; a movement of unmovement, of staring out the window with slack jawed disengagement, it all accounts for another way of coping.听
What about those that are free as the wind and completely untethered of responsibility and duty to anyone and anything?听
I call these folk The Abandoners. These lucky and enviable few just leave. That鈥檚 right, they can take the emergency brake off the van and head south, head overseas, head to Spain, France, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, South Africa or even North Carolina.听
What about responsibility, what about money, about friends and family, about community and their homes?听
None of these moorings matter to an Abandoner. They have no home, home is where they throw their bouldering pad. What about money? These folk have long ago learned how to be truly frugal, and what they reap is the richness of time. Some work contract work and can leave once their work is complete, others work odd jobs and save every penny.听
Some are absolute professionals who design software out of decked out vans or mouldy Civics while others live on the lines of poverty and homelessness.听
Responsibilities? No problem here, they can take their sweet pooches with them and feed them from the same dishware. No rent to be paid, no bills other than an online cell bill.听
What about family? Some may have family who understand their wanderlust or who don鈥檛 agree and are ignored.听
Some may have bottomless credit cards topped up via La Familia in hopes that it keeps them on some long-term righteous path. Whatever their situation, they can and do just get the hell out of Dodge once the rains begin. Lucky sods.听
So what can we do, all of us who can鈥檛 do all that鈥檚 mentioned above? By far, without a shadow of a doubt, action breeds energy here.听
Get out and meet a new crowd, get into a new activity and throw off that sad dark shawl of depression that cloaks the endless rains.听
Here鈥檚 a short list of fun or at least interesting new things you can do in the next coming months.听
Capra Running 鈥� This group runs Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and their 30x30 November Challenge. It sounds heinous and is bound to put a grin on your face鈥fterwards. Check out their website at www.capra.run/pages/timber-and-tor
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Gillespie鈥檚 Distillery 鈥� A Thursday to Sunday evening speakeasy cocktail lounge rumoured to be off the hook great. The Golden Scrub Brush Awards 鈥� Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at The Knotty Burl is a yearly night of lies celebrating all that is new and scrubbed for rock climbing.听
Vote for the awards here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/TRXKP7D . Tickets are $15 and are available through their Facebook page.听
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The Grandwall Bouldering Co-op 鈥� Squamish鈥檚 original cooperatively-owned indoor training space for climbing. Memberships are available at Climb On Out West and are $400 for the year. You pay, are given a key and you can go and climb, train and generally get strong anytime you want. The co-op鈥檚 yearly hold strip, clean and reset is happening this coming weekend, which starts the new year term.听
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The Reel Rock Film Tour 鈥� Nov. 10 at The Knotty Burl. This event is sold out but it trying to secure another showing. Check their Facebook page for details. These are the newest cutting edge films from the world of climbing. There will be an auction and music after the films, guaranteed to get you motivated. This year鈥檚 films feature some Squamish local talent at the cutting edge.听
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Ground Up Climbing Center 鈥� Wednesday to Friday morning early opening training time from 6 a.m. Squamish鈥檚 new local gym is opening, turning on the espresso machine and pumping the tunes for those looking to train early.听
They also have coaching by a host of male and female professionals for more structure. The Wednesday Hump Day Pump Day friendly competition is returning this Wednesday Nov. 9.听
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Tall Tree Bakery 鈥� Just like our biology says, when under threat eat sugar and fat to access instant energy and put on life saving fat. Erin and Sean are crushing skulls here, winning top bakery in Squamish for 2016 and basically everything they make is incredible although the Gibassierre on weekends tops the charts. Go support your winter coat 鈥� eat local.听
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1914 Coffee Company 鈥� Drop in here so that owner Mike Chapman can open your eyes and mouth to next level coffee experiences. Whether it鈥檚 simply craving a cortado done right or attending one of his increasingly insightful cuppings, you will drink a range of coffees that no one from Portland to Pemberton can touch. See www.facebook.com/1914coffeecompany/ for details.听
