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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 21, 2008 - 02:09pm PT
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Given Astroman's importance in rock climbing history and given that we have 2/3 of the first ascent team posting on this board, I'd be really interested in hearing the story of the first ascent. i.e., whose idea was it?, what was the feeling when you started up?, when you finished?, did you feel you had done something historic? I'd like to hear all of it.
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marky
climber
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Jan 21, 2008 - 02:18pm PT
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seconded
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WBraun
climber
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Jan 21, 2008 - 02:24pm PT
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I should tell Kauk to make a guest appearance. He's an occasional lurker sometimes.
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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 02:25pm PT
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That would be great, Werner.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jan 21, 2008 - 02:30pm PT
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FWIW
I object.
You are talking about the FFA of the Harding East Face.
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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 21, 2008 - 02:51pm PT
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I'd be happy to hear about the first ascent of the East Face of Washington Column from participants of the ascent also, Ron, but climbing progressed and the route got free climbed.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jan 21, 2008 - 02:58pm PT
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Precisely.
That's all.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 21, 2008 - 11:54pm PT
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Your odds for a tale are pretty good even without Ron. Harding Slot ahoy! Hugh Herr about to negotiate the bizness with a lean two or three chimney pitches of any grade under his belt! He did great! His kneecaps suffered badly.
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WBraun
climber
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Jan 21, 2008 - 11:59pm PT
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There's a new route variation to Astroman that hasn't been done yet to the right.
Me and Croft were both looking at it. It goes through a huge terrifying off-width roof up high.
Yikes!
Who will do?
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john hansen
climber
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Jan 22, 2008 - 12:15am PT
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Harding's East face,, Astroman, they were both ground breaking climb's in thier time.
What other routes went to the top of WC in 57?
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jan 22, 2008 - 12:18am PT
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Shouldn't the thread title be "Astroman's Genesis", or something like that? Astroman's pre-history, in human terms, is the story of the East Face of Washington Column. Stories about both fine by me, though.
Does anyone still do it as an aid climb, or perhaps a largely free, partly aid climb?
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 22, 2008 - 01:13am PT
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It began and ended with a rockin' Hendrix tune!
Here I come to save the day
A little boy inside a dream just the other day
His mind fell out of his face and the wind blew it away
A hand came out from heaven and pinned a badge on his chest
It said get out there, man, and do your best
They call him astro man
And hes flyin higher than
That faggot superman ever could
Oh, they call him cosmic nut
And hes twice as dense as donald duck
And hell try his best toscrew you up
The rest of your mind
Oh, look out! my guitars
Astro man, flyin across the sky two times higher
Than that old faggot superman ever, ever could
Ever could
There he goes, there he goes
Where he stops, no one knows
There he goes, there he goes
He's tryin to, tryin to blow out the rest of your mind
He's gonna blow out the rest of your mind
Talkin about lookin for peace of mind
Astro man will leave it in pieces
Have you put our trouble behind him
Make you fly around in pieces
Yeah, blow out the rest of your mind
Astro man will blow out the rest of your mind
He's gonna blow out the rest of your mind
Those boys went out and did their best!
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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Jan 22, 2008 - 01:15am PT
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Steve,
Is that Hugh Herr-the "mechanical boy"?
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 22, 2008 - 01:27am PT
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Yup. Before he had his little mishap. We did the route in six hours hauling a small pack. It was one of my best days out to be sure.
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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Jan 22, 2008 - 01:28am PT
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Herr musta been what...sixteen seventeen then? Hardmen.
Jesus! You guys are burly.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 22, 2008 - 01:38am PT
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Hardlad. And all of sixteen, I think.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Jan 22, 2008 - 02:02am PT
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 22, 2008 - 11:06am PT
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Ahh, hanging from the spike jug just before the suppository crux! You probably didn't have a bad time in there Jaybro.
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Mimi
climber
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Jan 22, 2008 - 11:23pm PT
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bump for one of the Fifty Faves per Sue McDevitt in Mark Kroese's cool book.
Climbers on Astroman's famous third pitch, the sustained Enduro Corner, Jared Ogden photo.
Mark Kroese photo.
Supertopo.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 26, 2008 - 02:14pm PT
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bump for murse. And a Largo story.
Astroman is the real deal and has hard climbing in all categories. Half of the pitches can easily buck you off. The Changing Corners and final pitch involve hard committing face climbing to top off the amazing crack climbing.
Largo, never did get your tale of the outside of the wide on the Harding Slot...
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