Ralph’s Place

Consider it a new year’s resolution that this site will get an upgrade at some point soon. It’s just a case of finding the time, and the energy, to do something about it.

Ralph

In the last 2 weeks I’ve learned a valuable lesson about backing up data. We all know we should do it, we all occasionally think about it. Sometimes, if we’re lucky (and smart) we even make the odd backup, but all too often the hassle and time involved mean it gets put off until another day.

It’s funny how it takes the realisation of our mistakes to really make a lesson hit home. I made a mistake, in fact I made quite a few. Every time I thought to myself “I should probably back these up sometime soon” and didn’t, that was a mistake.

About 2 weeks ago, my computer ground to a halt, shut down, then failed to boot again. It turned out that this was because my hard drive had failed. Music.. photos.. files.. all gone (or at least held inaccessibly where only some expensive recovery work can get them).

My last full backup? Never. Music - about 18 months ago. Photos - about a year.

Luckily many of the most important photos to me will also be on Caroline’s machine, so I should get some of them back. But some are lost forever, along with other pretty irreplaceable stuff like my climbing route log.

So.. as I said before, I’ve learned a lesson. My external drive was out today, and I’m set up and ready to clone my drive weekly. There’s plenty of software out there to help, it just takes a bit of effort up front to get on and do it. Don’t make the same mistake I did…

For Mac (if you haven’t got Time Machine like me) I’d recommend SuperDuper. It’s free, or you can pay for extra features like scheduling backups. For Windows there are a few options, none of which I’ve tried: Norton Ghost or DriveClone are the first 2 that come to mind. Neither are free, but worth every penny I’m sure. There are no doubt some free options out there too, even a scheduled batch file would do!

I often wonder how I could improve as a climber. I’ve been climbing VS for about 3 years now, with only the occasional forray onto anything harder. I’d love to be operating more in the HVS/E1 ball park, but for some reason I just can’t seem to get a foothold.

I don’t think my problem is ability. That’s to say I’m physically capable of climbing much harder. In fact I’m probably bouldering about as well as I ever have! Climbing E2 on top rope hasn’t been a problem for years, so why should leading HVS? Alas, I am fairly sure my issues lie elsewhere.

My head is what needs training, but how? How do you improve at reading routes, placing gear under strain, and let’s not forget that big one, “the fear”. That performance crippling fear of falling and hurting yourself, because you’re sure your gear won’t hold or you haven’t found a place for any yet.

I even know the answer to some extent; climb more, and push out of my comfort zone. Only by trying harder routes will I start to adapt and settle at a new level. But how to do that, when every part of me says to climb the HS I know I’ll “enjoy” rather than pull onto a potential epic?

Noone likes leaving their comfort zone (except a select group of nutters), and I’m no exception. More often than not these days I’d much rather have a “nice day out” than really push myself. But the only way to improve is to do just that. I know I’m capable, as long as I can control the fear and resist the urge to overgrip everything (and pump out) or stand around on a ledge for weeks and eventually back off.

Somehow I’ve got to get past that overwhelming sense of self preservation and push myself a bit… but how?

I like this I need to get out and try Deliverance again soon…

UKC Article

No time
Too busy
Moving house
Wrong phase of the moon
The internet’s too smelly

…

All the usual excuses for being away, but hoping to be back soon…