Trip Report
Partial TR about the 24 hours of horseshoe hell - more about an old man's journey

by thedogfather
Wednesday January 23, 2013 10:33am
This is really a shout out to the talented lady that based her college video project on a old man at the 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell. Thanks to Chelsey Rogers. For a guy that is a pretty mediocre climber, I think she captured what I get excited about and shows some of the festivities at the 24HHH competition.

Fun times in Arkansas

If you want to seem more of the crazy antics at the 24HHH, check out the Patagonia video here. I make a brief appearance in the third match (the only one with grey hair) and again at about 1:40 (crazy hair cut)

24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell arm wrestling 2011

Finally a wrap up by one of the members of the winning team, Sonnie Trotter

Sonnie Trotter's blog about the 2012 24HHH

  Trip Report Views: 2,845
thedogfather 		About the Author
thedogfather is a climber from Las Vegas.

Comments
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Jan 23, 2013 - 11:19am PT
Very cool.
thedogfather

Trad climber
Was Red Rock, now KANSAS
Author's Reply  Jan 23, 2013 - 12:21pm PT
Riley, it fills up in about 20 minutes each year. The demand is way greater than the available slots. Pay close attention to the day entries open and be ready. I think they are making you sign up as a team this year so be sure to be partnered up. I think there will be a 12 hour mini-comp the day before for those that don't make the cut but still want to be part of the event.

More info here: 24 HHH home page with results and information on signing up for this year.
jopay

climber
so.il
  Jan 23, 2013 - 12:40pm PT
My climbing partner has done the 24HHH twice and I have been tempted but being an older climber I thought it best left to youth, now I'm not so sure. Enjoyed the video.
thedogfather

Trad climber
Was Red Rock, now KANSAS
Author's Reply  Jan 23, 2013 - 08:26pm PT
jopay, I have consistently been the oldest competitor but there are a couple in their 50's and a few more in their 40's. The bulk of the climbers are obviously in their 20's. We welcome more "master" aged climbers for sure.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Jan 23, 2013 - 08:59pm PT
hey there say, thank you for the neat trip report info...

sounds very interesting, i will try the links, soon as i can...

god blesss and happy supertopo eve to you...
got to run, now...
Leggs

Sport climber
Made in California, living in The Old Pueblo
  Jan 23, 2013 - 09:00pm PT
"climb - a film by chelsey rogers"

~ speechless.. that was so good. watched it twice today.

thank you for sharing.


~peace
thedogfather

Trad climber
Was Red Rock, now KANSAS
Author's Reply  Jan 24, 2013 - 11:51am PT
For those not familiar, it is one of the few places that I have been able to climb right next to Alex Honnold, Matt Segal, Tommy Caldwell, Sonnie Trotter, Brittany Griffith, Kate Rutheford, Jeremy Collins, ... To name a few.
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Jan 24, 2013 - 12:05pm PT
Wonderful vibe and portrayal of the climbing spirit.

I lived in Georgia and Alabama for 13 years. I live in California right now, but sometimes I miss the smell of Southern sandstone. HP40, Tallulah Gorge, Sandrock, Linville, Looking Glass....man the south has some good stuff. Thanks for a great share.
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Jan 24, 2013 - 12:42pm PT
That was great! Cheers to the filmmaker. I agree with Riley - looks like a nice scene, something that anybody would want to be a part of.
John Butler

Social climber
SLC, Utah
  Jan 24, 2013 - 12:58pm PT
way, way cool :-)
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Jan 24, 2013 - 01:20pm PT
Very cool! I particularly loved your comments up thread about "master climbers." As someone only a few months away from buying my $10.00 Golden Turkey, I never expected to find so many people my age and older still at it.

Thanks for the share. Looks like fun -- after you stop!

John
thedogfather

Trad climber
Was Red Rock, now KANSAS
Author's Reply  Jan 24, 2013 - 03:02pm PT
JEleazarian, believe it or not, you go through some rough patches around 1 or 2am but when the sun comes up it's like you are a new person. I have done over 100 routes in three different years and my 48 year old wife has done it twice. You find out that if you don't ever stop, it makes it much easier. When you average 4 routes an hour each, that is someone leading a route about every 7 minutes so you can't afford downtime. One of the important things to train before the comp is the toughness of your tips. That and cramping up are often the determining factors in being able to continue to climb hard. 44 people climbed 100 routes this year with one team climbing 155 routes each and Sonnie and Tommy doing 151 routes each.
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
  Jan 24, 2013 - 03:47pm PT
Fantastic! A really nicely done film about a climber passing on his stoke. Thanks for bringing us along!
cultureshock

Trad climber
Mountain View
  Jan 24, 2013 - 04:45pm PT
Glad you posted this. Saw it earlier and was psyched to hear more of your story.

Met you at 24HHH this past year at the first routes of the comp, and managed to keep running into you. My partner and I flew out from Cali especially for the comp(one of only three teams from the state). Thanks for the tips and all your other write ups. Taping your fingers was key as was having musical encouragement in the 1-3am time frame. Such a good time.

 Luke (Team High Sierra Kitten Rescue Squad)
labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
  Jan 24, 2013 - 05:37pm PT
Cool!
looking sketchy there...

Social climber
Lassitude 33
  Jan 24, 2013 - 06:45pm PT
Inspirational to say the least.

Been going through a rough patch with climbing the last few years and it is posts (and stories) like this that help prod me out of my lethargy.

Thanks and Congratulations!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Jan 26, 2013 - 12:29pm PT
Awesome dog!!!
Bowser

Social climber
Durango CO
  Jan 26, 2013 - 01:01pm PT
Right on! We had some fun at Horseshoe way back when it started.

Great sandstone climbing!

TB
GDavis

Social climber
SOL CAL
  Jan 26, 2013 - 01:51pm PT
One of my all-time favorite TR's. Hope to make plans to head out there! Seems like a really wonderful place to be :D
J. Werlin

Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
  Jan 26, 2013 - 04:34pm PT
So who won the arm wrestling comp?

That was awesome, Dick. Great post and congrats!
thedogfather

Trad climber
Was Red Rock, now KANSAS
Author's Reply  Jan 26, 2013 - 04:57pm PT
The arm wrestling got a bit out of control on the men's side. The people signing up weren't all climbers and wasn't restricted to those that competed. So by the third round of the men's comp I think all the climbers were out and large farm-boy types were left. I talked to one briefly and he was a college football player. It got rowdy with shirts coming off and everyone hitting the whiskey bottle that was placed in the middle of the table. One funny match had a guy bring his own bottle and his opponent reached over and took a swig. During the match the owner of the bottle took a swig and then promptly lost. Too funny. I don't know who the overall winner was since it wasn't a climber. I at least got to the second round by being matched with a climber that was about 20 lbs lighter than me. But, it took a very long time. Second round I was against a 200+ lb guy that made short work of me.

The ladies comp seemed to be all climbers and got quite intense (first prize or men and women was about $400-$500 worth of Patagonia clothing). Natalie, my future wife got second in the ladies division.
J. Werlin

Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
  Jan 26, 2013 - 06:07pm PT
Thanks DD, I'll try to stay on your wife's good side if I ever meet her.
ZachW

Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
  Jan 28, 2013 - 02:24pm PT
Killin it, DogFather.
Sonic

Trad climber
Golden, Co
  Jan 28, 2013 - 02:55pm PT
Was at HCR this last December! The place was amazing!
big ears

Trad climber
?
  Jan 28, 2013 - 05:21pm PT
Great work DD!
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