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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 23, 2012 - 01:11am PT
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Pat has suffered a number of serious health challenges this last year that have kept him from all the usual ways in which he earns a living.
PAT’S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE is a fundraiser from the BOULDER CLIMBING COMMUNITY and the AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB, and a personal call for help from Royal Robbins, John Gill, Tom Higgins, Richard Goldstone, Jim Erickson, Crusher Bartlett, John Bragg, and Roger Briggs.
Let's get Pat back on his feet!
Pat's birthday is September 3, so between now and then we will collect donations, then give him a gift from the climbing community on his birthday. Our goal is to collect $5000. Pat has given endlessly to all of us, so please help us achieve this goal.
Write a check to “Boulder Climbing Community” and mail it to:
BCC, 498 Canyonside Drive, Boulder, Colorado, 80302
OR
donate with Paypal on the BCC website:
http://boulderclimbingcommunity.net/2012/08/22/pat-ament-fundraiser/
American Alpine Club President emeritus Jim McCarthy calls Pat Ament “the poet laureate of American climbing.” Award-winning British author, Jim Perrin says he’s “one of American climbing writing’s great literary stylists.” Tom Higgins says, of Pat’s music, “The lyrics are better than any lyrics on any airwaves.” His films have earned, among other prizes, the “Best Spirit Award” at Telluride’s Mountainfilm.
Pat Ament is also one of the great pioneers of American free climbing. He did the first 5.11 routes in Colorado, the first 5.11 in Yosemite, and climbed regularly with Layton Kor, Royal Robbins, Chuck Pratt, Dave Rearick, Tom Higgins, and Bob Kamps. Pat was one of John Gill’s best bouldering partners and invented such things as the one-arm mantel.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
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Aug 23, 2012 - 01:40am PT
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... from Royal Robbins, John Gill, Tom Higgins, Richard Goldstone, Jim Erickson, Crusher Bartlett, John Bragg, and Roger Briggs.
That there is some tall cotton.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 23, 2012 - 09:14am PT
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Sent out a mass email last night, Thanks to those generous ones that have contributed as of this morning!
Peace
Be part of an important and worthy fundraiser (BoulderClimbingCommunity.net).
Pat Ament has touched many lives in climbing. A few of our better names have made some insightful statements about him:
“Pat Ament is, in my opinion, the poet-laureate of American mountaineering.”
—Jim McCarthy (American Alpine Club President emeritus,
at an award ceremony for Jeff Lowe,
Ogden, Utah, Sunday, July 19, 2009)
“With Alan Watts and Bill Ramsey (who still climbs 5.14 at age 50), I was at a show Pat gave. After the show I collected my social courage (I was very shy) and came to the front to make my acquaintance with Pat, one of my top climber/author heroes (and also one of Alan’s and Bill’s – we held our climber/author heroes in great reverence). I shyly asked several questions about bouldering, and Pat kindly and patiently answered. We shook hands. After I walked back to where Alan and Bill were seated, Alan stood up and, in all seriousness, asked if he could shake the hand that shook the hand of Pat Ament!” —Chris Jones
“Multi-talented, in fact – Ament’s output as climber, musician, film-maker, writer, and poet has been distinguished and prodigious over four decades. At his best, Ament seems to me one of the most delicately gifted of all writers on the sport. One of American climbing’s great literary stylists.”
—Jim Perrin (from his biography of Don Whillans, the Villain.
Dr. Perrin is a two-time winner of England's Boardman/Tasker Award)
“A master of the English language.”
—Royal Robbins
“Pat is the freight train of the climbing mind – barreling into unseen turns, wailing sweet and mournful tones, shining light on rails few other climbers have found or touched. Pat is always after the inner story so often lost in the buzz and blast of the sport, and the one voice reminding us it is not sport at all.
“Pat’s vision is wide and deep. He delves into the depths of glittering climbing experiences in his book Swaramandal, filled with moods and marionettes, desert glimpses, and insights into the elusive Pratt. He paints the iridescence, solitude, and spirituality of friendship in his book Everything That Matters. He pries open the soul of Kor for all to see as never before in The Black Canyon with Kor. He translates the mentality as well as craft of climbing in Rock Wise and How to be a Master Climber in 6 Easy Lessons. He gives us the most soulful and honest of selected climbing writings in Climber’s Choice and brings the secretive, quiet power of John Gill into the climbing world in Master of Rock. Also important, Pat assembles a biography of Royal Robbins, in Spirit of the Age. Pat writes, ‘We give these ascents to each other. We share these experiences so that when we see a certain rock or a mountain we see each other, we remember.’”
– Tom Higgins
“I have been fortunate to know Pat, and what stands out for me is his talent, and the multiple ways that talent shines from his generous and sensitive soul.
“You first marvel at his versatility, a Renaissance man, accomplished climber, musician, writer, chess player, and artist. Of course, he has a secure place in climbing history, stemming from his landmark first ascents in Colorado and Yosemite, but also from his heartfelt written accounts of the climbs and characters of the 1960’s, the golden era of American climbing. Gill, Robbins, Pratt, Higgins, Kamps, Rearick, and Kor are among the giants of American climbing who are memorably illuminated by Ament’s many books and articles.
“One also values Pat’s writings for their portraits of lesser known characters, such as the early pioneer of Boulder climbing, Baker Armstrong, and for the raw honesty that is a pervasive theme in Pat’s views on life, love, nature, and climbing. As bold in his writing as he was in climbing, Ament and Higgins’ classic ‘Nerve Wrack Point’ article may be the first ever to use the word ‘love’ in reference to one’s climbing partner.”
– Rick Accomazzo
“During a pretty long bouldering and climbing career, I never met anyone who could mantel like Ament. In those days before climbing gyms, his manteling prowess inspired the rest of us to indulge in ridiculous training and achieve… ridiculous strength.
“But Pat had something I frankly never saw in anyone else: manteling style. It didn’t come from strength, although he had plenty – it was balance. I recall a problem on Columbia boulder that Pat did with, among other things, a pair of linked mantels, including a mid-mantel hand change. It looked as smooth and elegant as a pommel horse routine, and as is evident, I never forgot it. I eventually managed the problem with the antitheses of Ament’s style, teetering precariously on slipping palms, losing sight of footholds while trying to get a little extra friction with my chin, tilting over backwards and just barely recovering, stalling out in mid-press – a veritable festival of ungainliness.”
—Richard Goldstone
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 23, 2012 - 12:34pm PT
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Pat has done much, over the years (decades!) to enliven, elucidate, entertain and educate. Time to return something!
EDIT:
WHo knows, (without looking it up) what climb that is on the cover?
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Aug 23, 2012 - 01:46pm PT
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My check will be in the mail and I encourage everybody to contribute. One of the most valuable functions of ST is that it enables us to help friends in need.
Thanks to Ron and the organizers for making this happen.
Rick
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Aug 23, 2012 - 03:20pm PT
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Radio andromeda
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Allen Hill
Social climber
CO.
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Aug 23, 2012 - 04:32pm PT
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Star Span. Good to see you Steve, this past Sunday.
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Peter Astroman
Big Wall climber
Orange County, CA
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Aug 23, 2012 - 06:05pm PT
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It's a shame that some of the heros of our country are not able to retire in a reasonable manner. But, I suppose a life lived without difficulty would not produce the same wisdom.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 23, 2012 - 09:25pm PT
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front page bump
Peace
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 23, 2012 - 11:35pm PT
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hey there all... say, can't do anything now... :( sorry ...
but--i'm thinking... :)
will be praying, also, for a good show of help...
:)
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 24, 2012 - 10:33am PT
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Peace
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bobinc
Trad climber
Portland, Or
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Aug 24, 2012 - 12:27pm PT
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He has been an inspiration to me since I started climbing in the mid-70s.
Donation sent.
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2012 - 04:55pm PT
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More inspiring than Lance Armstrong!
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goatboy smellz
climber
Nederland-GulfBreeze
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Aug 24, 2012 - 06:59pm PT
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Crusher, you guys really suck at surprises, I think Pat is going to see this one coming.
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2012 - 08:32pm PT
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Crusher, you guys really suck at surprises, I think Pat is going to see this one coming.
ya think?
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 25, 2012 - 05:42am PT
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Yes I think we can say the element of suprise is lost, other
than that I will learn who has helped and to whom I am deeply
grateful. It's hard to imagine anyone could be in such a position
as I have been these last couple of years, but it is very humbling to be
part of a community of so many quality individuals. Most have not
judged me, simply understood. I hope to pull through this trial one
day, and I know it will be because of all my friends.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Aug 25, 2012 - 06:45am PT
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I hope to pull through this trial one
day, and I know it will be because of all my friends.
Friends you know and friends you have yet to meet.
Cheers for all your contributions and writings. You have been and remain an insiring fellow.
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MisterE
Social climber
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Aug 25, 2012 - 10:11am PT
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Bump for Pat.
Check going out today.
Erik
Edit: Just had my account hacked and had to change my bank account # at the Credit Union. The check is no good, I will see if I can Paypal the $$.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 25, 2012 - 11:36am PT
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I remember there was a time when Pat could kick John Long's ass. Then I woke up. Kidding, kidding... Seriously, Pat is one of the greatest climbers of all time, or at least one of the greatest from Colorado, or at least one of the greatest from Boulder, or...what street do you live on Pat? No seriously, Pat rocks. If he had only done more climbing and less writing we would all be the richer for it. No no.. whoa, we got to live with a little humor in life. Pat is as much part of our climbing history as the piton. Anyone got a hammer?
Hey, I thought this was a roast, should I save it for the fundraiser?
Pat, we love ya man. Stand tall and hang in there. You da man!
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