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Amanda Bircheff
climber
CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 9, 2008 - 03:02am PT
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I am not a climber myself, but for those looking for stories about Jim Bridwell, My dad, Dave Bircheff, and uncle Phil Bircheff lived and climbed with him in Yosemite for years. I hear about him often, and am sure my dad would want to share his stories. You can contact him through my e-mail if you'd like. Thanks! Amanda at luvebug222@yahoo.com
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Hi Amanda, and welcome! Because it's a weekend, and in mid-summer at that, your post may not get seen by a lot of people. So I am bumping it back to the front page.
You may want to contact John Long (Largo), who's working on a book on the Stonemasters. That somewhat overlaps with your father and uncle. John recently started a thread to ask for photos, and additional stories, for the book. It's at http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=647388
From it, you can also get John's e-mail address.
Other than that, a lot of your father's and uncle's old friends hang around here at times, people who spent a lot of time in the Valley in the 1960s and 1970s. There's a fair amount of dreck, but a lot of gems amongst the dross on SuperTopo. Maybe they should have a look?
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Amanda Bircheff
climber
CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 10, 2008 - 12:43am PT
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Wow! It's nice to see my father remembered so well. Both him and Phil live in Southern Cali, I know Phil does a little climbing in Joshua Tree. I passed on the message that people were looking for pics and stories of the old days with Bridwell, Petegrew, Bard and various others. I know he has many stories, and I will go through the photo albums (Dave Bircheff is not a computer savvy man )and see what I can get. Phil does have an e-mail address, if you google his name, you'll find some pics and the address. I will also tell them about the facelift the 23rd-28th. ( what is the facelift, by the way? )It will probably take some persuading, or a " dad I haven't been to Yosemite since I was 12" to get him there. We'll see!
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Aug 10, 2008 - 12:54am PT
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Hi Amanda! I know Phil quite well through Al Bartlett from down in Josh...Jim "The Bird" Bridwell has been an inspiration to us all for decades!!
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 10, 2008 - 12:12pm PT
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The FaceLift is a brainchild of the Yosemite Climbing Association (www.yosemiteclimbing.org), Ken Yager, and assorted unindicted co-conspirators. It's over five days at the end of September. The core event is a big public clean up of all of Yosemite Valley, and as much of the surrounding area as can be managed. Roads, trails, parking areas, camping areas, climbing areas, etc etc. Last year there were about 2,400 volunteer days, and something like ten tonnes of garbage got retrieved. (Mostly post-commercial/NPS development.)
There's also lots of fun - speakers and films every night, a big party the last night, seeing a ton of old friends, and meeting some new ones.
Last year, and again this year, a solid contingent from SuperTopo and of climbers were there, including a fair number who'd know your father and brother. Probably about 100 at one time or another. Many of us were in group camping together at Yellow Pines, which worked out very well, plus we had a "SushiFest" on several nights from one of the guys who's a full-on sushi chef, and other fun stuff.
For information on this year's FaceLift, see: Yosemite FaceLift - Two Months to Go - Are YOU Ready? - http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=640703&msg That thread (topic) in turn includes references to many threads from before, during and after the event last year, with incriminating photos.
You and your father and uncle would be welcome - if you need camping (free for volunteers), you need to contact Ken Y asap, as he's the mastermind.
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klinefelter
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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Aug 10, 2008 - 12:51pm PT
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Phil is the sculptor. He's considered one the best paleo-sculptors in the country. Here's a few of his works:
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 10, 2008 - 06:47pm PT
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Hmmm, I see from the website that both Phil and Dave Bircheff are listed as honorary directors of the Yosemite Climbing Association. Perhaps attending the FaceLift is somewhere in their job description. :-)
Small bump, so Amanda catches it.
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Aug 11, 2008 - 12:06am PT
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Hi Amanda,
I was climbing with your Uncle Phil and Ellie Hawkins a few weeks ago. I also hung out a little bit with your Dad in the 1970's. It would be great if they and you made it up for the Facelift.
Ken
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Aug 11, 2008 - 03:19am PT
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bump thread time because the Bircheff name is proud, especially in Books like Yosemite Climber. See Caption 32 where Ron Kauk is stemmed on the Bircheff/Williams route on Middle Cathedral.
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Amanda Bircheff
climber
CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 11, 2008 - 05:43pm PT
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Unfortunately I don't think my dad will be making it to the facelift this year. :( Which means I probably won't be either. He is having a minor surgery the day before it starts. Good news though, as I was listing the names of all of you who have sent a hello, or remember him and my uncle in general, I think I've gotten him excited enough to hear about everyone that he's actually going to get on here himself! It would be a miracle to see him use the computer. As for the pics Ostler, and Largo were looking for, I guess there are very few pics but LOTS of slides. In the next couple weeks I'll see what I can do about getting those out. I think I will be seeing Phil this weekend, maybe he can help...Meanwhile, Dave Bircheff says Hi to all of you!
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mbb
climber
the slick
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Aug 11, 2008 - 06:10pm PT
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not really much to tell really. Jim has climbed for a while and yada yada he is still alive.
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SammyLee2
Trad climber
Memphis, TN
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Aug 11, 2008 - 10:10pm PT
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I'm a pissant among many pissants, compared to many heroes of the "day". Just fyi, do you know who Largo really is? And I would LOVE to see those pics.
I missed bitd cause of vietnam and other obilgations, so I have this DESIRE to see and know about those days. 1970 to about 1980 and earlier because I love climbing. Your dad and uncle would be most interesting, esp. pics and stories. Please post up.
If you have any problems posting the pics, there are dozens here who will help you do so. Really, no bother.
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Amanda Bircheff
climber
CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 12, 2008 - 03:16am PT
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SammyLee2, I only know that Largo is John Long? Someone my dad knew who has a thread for more pics of the days. I am going to try my hardest to get some slides turned to pics, or scan the slides for everyone to share. Should be perfect timing because I think he stopped close to 1980, when I was born. sorry I have to do the talking for him right now, but my dad really hates computers. I am going over to his house this week to get him on this forum by himself - Then he can share his own stories, even though I enjoy hearing them from his old friends!
Amanda
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Smiley Cain
Trad climber
Hemet , CA
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Aug 22, 2008 - 10:13pm PT
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Hi, my name is Jim Cain. Amanda Bircheff is my son's girlfriend. When she told me about her need to digitize her father's slides I volenteered. I have finished the process but, I don't see how to upload the images to SuperTopo. Could someone direct me as to how this is done.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 22, 2008 - 10:40pm PT
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Your wish is my command. Instructions sent.
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Tan Slacks
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Aug 23, 2008 - 01:55am PT
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Saw Phil yesterday in the first site to the right of "pinched rib" He mentioned he would be seeing Dave soon I think. We had a nice chat.
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kunlun_shan
Mountain climber
SF, CA
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Aug 24, 2008 - 02:57pm PT
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Am taking the liberty of posting tags and links to the Bircheff photos that Jim Cain scanned and put online, so they show up here on ST. Simply awesome to see these!!!
[edit]Would be cool to have some photo captions. Amanda or Jim, if you want, email me and I'll send you the tags, so you can post up and insert photo info. I'll delete this post, if you want to put it up yourselves.
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