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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 21, 2008 - 03:06pm PT
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I just heard this through the grapevine. Really sad. With everything going on there, I'd been trying to be really supportive by opting to stop there at the end of each climbing day for Red Bull's and snacks.
edit: found a story on this after posting
http://www.fresnobee.com/updates/story/541267.html
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Domingo
Trad climber
El Portal, CA
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Apr 21, 2008 - 03:21pm PT
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Yep, about 5am this morning. Old building full of dry rot, as you might expect.
Given that it's a government town covered with building regulations, none of us are expecting a new market to open for a loooooong tiiiiime.
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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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Apr 21, 2008 - 03:27pm PT
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I heard it was that Sean Jones motherf*#ker that did it.
Get A Rope!
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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Apr 21, 2008 - 03:45pm PT
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did he burn it ground up, or top down?
=)
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wildone
climber
Where you want to be
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Apr 21, 2008 - 04:06pm PT
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Actually, he was too busy being in the hospital for being bitten by a rattler yesterday. Haven't heard anything beyond that.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 21, 2008 - 04:07pm PT
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Pre-inspected too.
I admit I was in there with him.
Beer was involved.
But i hear Sean got snaked on actually torching it.
Truly sorry tho for owners, workers, the community.
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Apr 21, 2008 - 04:09pm PT
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wasn't the store closed already? heard it was boarded up and surrounded by orange net a week ago.
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Domingo
Trad climber
El Portal, CA
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Apr 21, 2008 - 04:25pm PT
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It's been closed for renovations; a new owner was going to reopen it in May.
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CF
climber
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Apr 21, 2008 - 04:46pm PT
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I was woken up at about 4am by some weird noise and we saw some white flashes down by the store and fire station. I thought it was some search lights from some training so I went back to bed. Then about 10 mins later I could see this orange glow out my window so I drove down and by that time the store was totally engulfed. It had been closed since Feb for remodeling as some new owners had taken over.
This is what I saw when I got there.
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susan peplow
climber
www.joshuatreevacationhomes.com
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Apr 21, 2008 - 04:51pm PT
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Wow, that's incredible and so unfortunate for the owners, locals and visitors.
I feel for the locals who will now be forced down the road for supplies and visitors who will be paying a premium for Ice in the valley.
I'm glad it didn't on with the dry grass and create a bigger mess by spreading to the town or buildings behind. That would have truly been disastrous.
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SteveW
Trad climber
State of confusion
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Apr 21, 2008 - 05:00pm PT
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Hey, was Potter involved? Like the Dewey Bridge burn?
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Bart Fay
Social climber
Redlands, CA
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Apr 21, 2008 - 05:13pm PT
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One can only wait and wonder if further pictures will arise and implicate any celebrities.
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Domingo
Trad climber
El Portal, CA
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Apr 21, 2008 - 05:33pm PT
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Pretty much the whole building is gone, as you can tell by CF's pictures.
The previous owner (who had retired March 1st) had operated it for 42 years. He's pretty upset. A very excited person this morning with a digital camera ran up to him, apparently not realizing who he was, and exclaimed "Look at how cool this is!"
El Portal doesn't have a whole lot. People around here are very upset today. It's a big part of the community and now the nearest groceries are in the Valley (pfffff) or Mariposa.
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Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
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Apr 21, 2008 - 05:44pm PT
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somone w/ a van oughta start a grocery delivery service- easy money!
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
Otto, NC
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Apr 21, 2008 - 06:25pm PT
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Remember WebVan? [I think that's the name...]Short-lived grocery delivery service for the go-go days of the dot-com boom. bunch of people got taken for a rirde on that one.
Anyhow, this is a major bummer.
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salad
climber
Escondido
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Apr 21, 2008 - 06:30pm PT
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what a drag, i loved that place. everyone there was always very friendly to me...
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nita
climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
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Apr 21, 2008 - 06:32pm PT
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Wow, amazing pictures Chris................ What a bummer...sad.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Apr 21, 2008 - 06:43pm PT
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Where I grew up just outside of Chicago, new owners often pursued this sort of thing as the key element in their overall remodeling effort.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Apr 21, 2008 - 07:02pm PT
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Great Pictures - Burn Baby Burn!
Did you light that fire?
Juan
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Jobee
Social climber
El Portal
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Apr 21, 2008 - 09:27pm PT
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Chris,
I cannot believe it. Your images hit me with a sudden force of
reality...so sad. I can almost feel the flames.
My condolences to all involved in this tragic loss including everyone here in El Portal who loved that little market heart and soul.
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