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No Climbing: Training/Workout/Food (All things climbing, without climbing)

Optimistic · · New Paltz · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 450
Adam Leedy wrote:out of curiosity, what are you doing for Americorps? I ask because you make your situation sound pretty terrible. Living in an extended stay and eating on 4.75 a day? Three years ago I lived with two roommates who were on an Americorps stint and they lead pretty much normal post college style lives. (i.e. they didn't have a bunch of cash to burn but they could still afford a six pack of beer occasionally). What you describe just doesn't compute to me.
That was what I was thinking...sounds pretty painful!
Eli Buzzell · · noco · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 5,507

For the most part I'm alright, though I've been getting the hunger for rocks really badly recently. I need to at least go bouldering or something. This is pretty rough.

Dan Austin · · San Francisco, CA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

This might be a dumb question or implicitly suggested in your OP, but do you have access to a car and/or weekends off? I believe the NRG is only 5 hrs away. Not close enough for evening sends, for sure, but if you're really itching that's for sure a do-able weekend trip! And if you don't have a car, I'm sure there are many DC area climbers making that trip every weekend. You could find them through Partner Finder on this site, or like others have mentioned, try to pick up some volunteer hours at the local gym.

Another thing to consider is nearby universities/colleges/schools. Some have decent climbing walls and maybe even training equipment, and are often cheap if not free. You might technically need to be a student, but you could also probably talk your way into access if you really wanted. Ditto for YMCAs.

Adam Leedy · · Austin, TX · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 760

That sounds so grim.
I hope whatever you are doing is worth it. I can't imagine anything that would be to me.

My suggestions:
1.) take up running. it's free and you'll stay light.
2.) spend 20 bucks on amazon for a chinup bar and convert it into a "blank slate" style device to hang a DIY fingerboard.

This way you'll be light and your fingers will be strong. Then, when you finish Americorps, you'll just have to build up some endurance and then start crushing.

Alternatively:
1.) don't eat for 10 days.
2.) use the 45 dollars you save to build blankslate and DIY hangboard.
This way you'll be light (from the fast) and get strong fingers.

Chris Clarke · · Davis, WV · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 130

You live very close to Sportrock, a decent climbing gym. Perhaps go there and ask if you can do some work in exchange for gym access. If you are serious, send me a pm. I am friends with several of the partners, the general manager and the yoga teacher so you could at least maybe get your foot in the door. Honest work for gym access seems like a fair deal to me.

You can boulder on the walls of the C&O Canal near the Patagonia store in Georgetown. Access via Roselyn metro or Foggy Bottom metro.

There are a number of decent cracks you can boulder where K Street exits onto Rock Creek Parkway south leaving Georgetown. Access via Foggy Bottom metro.

There is a bouldering area below the Italian Embassy in Rock Creek park. Easiest to get to from Dupont metro station. Don't expect much but it's there.

Between Calvert St. and Connecticut on the Adam's Morgan side of Rock Creek Park there is a 20' stone wall that you can traverse for more than 100'. Get off at Woodley on the Red Line and orient yourself. This traverse is outstanding for dry tooling. No idea if it is legal or not.

Further up Rock Creek Park past the Zoo maybe a half a kilometer, there are a series of short cracks and face problems next to the bike trail. Further north, where the abandoned Klingle Rd. is, there are a few rock walls that you can invent problems on. This area is also right next to the bike path.

There are scattered problems in Rock Creek Park north of there, some of which are good.

That should get you started.

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

Eli, send me a PM. I used to live in the area and still frequently pop down into DC for work. I'll actually be in DC this coming week for at least 3 days for some meetings. I have some beautiful leftover mahogany finger rungs I ripped on the tablesaw to make a full fingerboard. I'll bring them down with me and you're welcome to have them, free of charge.

I'm also happy to mount them on a piece of scrap plywood for you. I've got all the tools necessary.

Best way for you to mount them would be an Iron Gym. Ever seen one? Sorry for the lame commercial, but they're a SUPER simple and cheap way to mount a pullup bar without drilling at all. They're about $30 on Amazon, but you can find them for about $10 on Craigslist.

youtube.com/watch?v=Ww14MvF…

Then, I can help you mount the rungs onto the Iron Gym as follows:



You'll have a fingerboard to take with you wherever you go. Like I said, PM me though.
Peter Beal · · Boulder Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,825
denver.craigslist.org/spo/4…
as an example. Great recommendation on the hangboard
Eli Buzzell · · noco · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 5,507

Thank you so much! I'm headed out towards rock creek today to see what I can find. If anyone happens to see this and wants to meet me or show me anything, just shoot me a PM and I'll give you my phone number.

I really appreciate everything, its helping me keep my psyche up!

5.samadhi Süñyātá · · asheville · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 40

Quit the stupid gig that you have and get a real job and then go on a climbing trip after working for 6 months

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115
5.samadhi wrote:Quit the stupid gig that you have and get a real job and then go on a climbing trip after working for 6 months
I'd kind of agree with this point. Unpaid (or extreme-poverty wages), full-time internships on a "volunteer" basis are exploitative. I've dealt with AmeriCorps in the past and thought that the way they treat their "volunteers" (aka barely-paid employees) very badly. If you want to be broke, spend your time in school; at least you have a degree to show for your time. Otherwise, get a real job; then you can live in an actual apartment, have money for a gym membership and gas to go climbing, and so on. Work should be given a reasonable wage.
matt c. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 155

I did AmeriCorps for a year and my advice to you is to get food stamps; you will qualify. When I was in i felt conflicted about the whole food stamps thing because i have never applied to a government program and could have probably survived without it. However, AmeriCorps stipend is intentionally designed to make you poor enough to have to apply to programs like these. Also, because i was working predominantly with a low-income population, going through the process of getting food stamps was a very educational experience. Also, it was an extra $200 a month...

oh, if you have any medical conditions make sure you get medicare. When i was in the AmeriCorps insurance was similar to emergency insurance that you never really wanted to use. Don't used it for long term care.

Matt

Eli Buzzell · · noco · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 5,507

I choose not to apply for food stamps, as I do not have a permanent address and do not want record of me receiving federal aid. It's kind of crappy the way that it is set up.

matt c. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 155
Eli Buzzell wrote:I choose not to apply for food stamps, as I do not have a permanent address and do not want record of me receiving federal aid. It's kind of crappy the way that it is set up.
If you are a volunteer that gets paid via stipend from a government program, then that is considered government aid. Remember, you don't get a salary for the work you do, you get a stipend for living expenses.

Also, if you have student loans that are deferred because of volunteering; that is another type of aid. The government presently paying the interest on your loans,if you have em.

So your record is already tarnished. That's what happens when sign up to you get paid shit.

Also, homeless people get food stamps all the time without a permanent address...

but who am i to judge... enjoy your ramen!
matt c. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 155
Eli Buzzell wrote:I choose not to apply for food stamps, as I do not have a permanent address and do not want record of me receiving federal aid. It's kind of crappy the way that it is set up.
If you are a volunteer that gets paid via stipend from a government program( ie AmeriCorps), then that is considered government aid. Remember, you don't get a salary for the work you do, you get a stipend for living expenses because you a volunteer.

Also, if you have student loans that are deferred because of volunteering; that is another type of aid. The government presently paying the interest on your loans,if you have em.

So your record is already tarnished. That's what happens when sign up to you get paid shit.

Also, homeless people get food stamps all the time without a permanent address...

but who am i to judge... enjoy your ramen!
Adam Leedy · · Austin, TX · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 760
Eli Buzzell wrote:I choose not to apply for food stamps, as I do not have a permanent address and do not want record of me receiving federal aid. It's kind of crappy the way that it is set up.
I now feel significantly less sorry for you. Whining about your situation but not doing the one thing that could make it substantially less uncomfortable because of some high horse you're sitting on is moronic at best.
5.samadhi Süñyātá · · asheville · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 40

You can file for foodstamps using the social services address as your "home" address if you are homeless. You will receive your card in the mail to the social services office where you can pick it up.

Its also a great place to score drugs (outside social services).

Don't ask me how I know either of these things :/

Eli Buzzell · · noco · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 5,507

While I won't file for food stamps, I thank everyone very much!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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