MrJohnMcGowan

One lap in a series to wire a boulder problem. Rehearsal is my key to success and safety. Safety includes no damage. Whether it be handling a firearm, weight training or rock climbing; I like practice, training and rehearsal. "Act like you've been there before." said one coach. The moves should appear smooth and effortless; of course, I'm not there yet!

I try and down climb a boulder problem each time I 'up' climb one. I am getting more physical training time and mental practice for a calm and in-control attitude. Besides simply enjoying moving over the rock; down-climbing adds a defensive mechanism in case I need to retreat.

Climbing the Gill Reach boulder problem. Spent yesterday rehearsing the down-climb in case I did not make the 'reach'. Returned today, with 2 crash pads, and sent it. Three times.

Got in some bouldering before the next, predicted, Winter storm. This problem can be a bit trying for me; but today it went pretty smoothly. I always try and include a down-climb. The crux for me is getting the right hand about halfway.

On a recent road trip, I shot a Remington Rand 1911 brought back from the WW2 Pacific theater. It was well worn and worked perfectly with the original magazine. It jammed a few times using a 10 shot magazine.

Boulder problem on a road trip. Some snow and mud around. Tops were mostly dry.

Warm-up boulder problem. I avoid muddy areas, whether open or not. This boulder gets the morning sun making it a frequent choice for warm-ups.

I start looking for wild flowers in February just in case we get an early Spring. Not this year. The area usually has a few of the earliest flowering plants so I make regular trips, or try to, looking for wild flowers. Here I show what looks like a Hooker Townsend Easter Daisy in the making.

Someone dumped concrete blocks at a local bouldering area. I broke one up so that it would fit into 5 gallon buckets which I use to hold down my basketball backboard. This video shows the final piece being reduced. Although I spent my career writing software, I known how to use a sledge hammer; and despite being "over 65" I can still get work done.

This video shows me taking a few shots; after a hiatus of more than a couple years! We picked up a backboard via "Buy Nothing" yesterday. I'm still working out the set-up, and take-down, procedures. Including raising it to the standard height!

I practice shooting right as well as left handed. I also like to try shooting one-handed. Happy Groundhog's Day. Steel targets are more fun than paper.

I figured out how to hang my steel targets. In this video I'm having some fun shooting at the different targets. By the way, I'm left-handed!

How I field strip my Rock Island Armory 1911. It was a big day for me when I field stripped a 1911 by myself. Without coaching! I am not an expert, of course, and am still working out how to set-up the camera.

Finish of tree removal. Glimpse of the two leaners; now on the ground, limbs removed and ready to be moved away from the trail.

This video is part 1 of the removal of a couple of dead trees that were leaning over a hiking trail. The first tree, the smaller of the two, was removed yesterday. The larger tree was topped and the removal of final section removed is, almost, show here. The camera died just before the trunk fell. Sorry about that.

Final stage of clearing a fallen tree limb from a hiking trail. The goal is to have nothing visible from the trail. This tree limb took several trips to remove the limbs and move it up the slope to the borrow pit. There was a lot of time sawing off branches and shortening the main limb since I couldn't move it otherwise. Often times obstructions can be simply moved off the trail. Thanks for watching. Now back to cleaning up after our canine visitors.

More detail about about where the removed tree parts go and a better view of the tree limb itself. A "borrow pit" is where trail workers remove dirt for trail building. Also we can put removed debris and tree parts; trying to keep them out of sight. Most of the visible contents in the pit are from this single tree limb. The third and final video gives a better perspective on the amount of work to clear this one downed tree limb.

Start of the final stages of removing a tree limb from a trail. Not an ideal camera location. The source of the tree limb is show at the end. I use rope to life and move trees but this part was too heavy. Another method is pry bars which I use here. Not shown is how this rolling allowed me to saw off enough to be able to dead-lift the remainder.

I am trying some new steel targets. There was a learning curve getting them set-up (not shown) and staying up! Did not shoot as well today as before; but steel targets are more fun than paper. Hands down! Happy new Year!

Short climb and down climb at Rotary Park in Colorado. Rotary Park is billed as the home of modern bouldering. The climb is not hard but a fall could be serious. I rehearsed the starting moves and waited until the top was clear of tourists. People have been know to throw rocks off the top.

Five rounds from a 1911 .45 ACP on my new steel target. The shots in the background are from the bay next to mine. The video starts when I backed up from adjusting the target stand. I can be seen clicking off the thumb safety.