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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 7, 2010 - 06:27pm PT
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Hi Dennis,
Joe and Ken said you might join in. I know that you posted a few times last year and then took off, so to speak. I hope that with your recent post, and after the game, The need to watch the Superbowl, you stay awihle. Good to see you here.
Here is the list of Dennis' FAs in the Valley.
BHOS Dome, 1970, 5.8, A3, III, Doug Scott, TM Herbert, Don Lauria, Dennis Hennek
Higher Cathedral Rock, North Face, 1968, 5.9, A4, V, Chuck Pratt, Dennis Hennek, Yvon Chouinard, Bob Kamps
Mass Assault, 1972, 5.9, Ken Boche, Dennis Hennek, Judy Sterner, Russ McLean, Sibylle Hechtel, Tim Auger, Mike Farrell
Monday Morning Slab, Far East, 1965, Dennis Hennek, Ken Boche
The Mouth, Boche-Hennek Variation, 1966, 5.9, Ken Boche, Dennis Hennek
Psychedelic Wall, 1966, 5.8, A4, V, Ken Boche, Dennis Hennek
FA aside, many of us know Dennis for the iconic pictures (posted below) of him coming into view on an early top-out of the NA wall on El Cap and the cover of National Geographic climbing HD all clean.
Welcome to ST.
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Hi Dennis, Welcome to the campfire.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Welcome Dennis!
Bring on the stories!
I had to borrow this one. From the top of the N.A., right?
Not everyone has the best things to say about that route, but I loved it.
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TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
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This place so rocks!
Yet another of my childhood heroes steps into the virtual campfire light.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Hi Dennis
I've been one of your fans ever since the hammerless
ascent of Half Dome.
Grace us with some of your stories!!!!!
Thanks!!!!
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mark miller
Social climber
Reno
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Wow .....Hudon , And Dennis Sh#t next thing we known Sir "Bonnington" will drop by.
Thanks to my heroes of the 70's for stickin' it out and being real 30+ years later.
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That's Papajoto to you son!!!!!
Social climber
Oatmeal Arizona
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I bought many old DH pins from John Fisher back in the day..... I still have this thing called the crack tack on my key chain.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Dennis-
Welcome to the taco stand. I'm gonna go get some popcorn and sit back and wait for some stories.
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MH2
climber
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Man, oh man. Time travel.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Big hardy Welcome Dennis!
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 8, 2010 - 02:29pm PT
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Dick, I cannot help but notice that the campfire picture that you posted on "Weclome Ken Boche" had a nice warm feel of flames arising from a campfire while on "Welcome Dennis Hennek" your fire seems to have a demonic, all engulfing feel.
Are you telling us something about Dennis?
Hehee.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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I liked Dennis's one word post on one of Ihateplastic's contest threads.
Why?
Don't worry, I think he'll loosen up, once he discovers how many of his old partners in crime are hanging around here.
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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Dick, I cannot help but notice that the campfire picture that you posted on "Weclome Ken Boche" had a nice warm feel of flames arising from a campfire while on "Welcome Dennis Hennek" your fire seems to have a demonic, all engulfing feel.
Are you telling us something about Dennis?
Ken got the campfire picture because his thread came first. Dennis is good natured through and through. Even his devilishness is good natured.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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RB: "FA aside, many of us know Dennis for the iconic pictures (posted below) of him coming into view on an early top-out of the NA wall on El Cap."
The second ascent of what was then considered the world's hardest wall route, in 1968, with Don Lauria. The photo (taken by Royal Robbins) of Dennis coming over the top is remarkable.
As for satanic photos - I thought that was Harding's bailiwick?
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Dennis is a pretty cool character, and whether it is climbing or construction or fixing his classic GMC Carryusall, he really gets totally submerged in his project.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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I first met Dennis in junior high school, and we became fast friends then. Here is a photo from our school yearbook from about 1959.
Here’s a 1966 Stoney Point shot of him working with Goldline rope, that stiff, almost cable-like twisted rope that was often used before the specialized non-twisted and sheathed climbing ropes were developed.
Dennis worked for Chouinard, making hardware, between about 1964 when he was based in the “SkunkWorks” in Burbank (where he’d grown up) through Chouinard’s move to Ventura in 1966 and on into the 70’s. The 1969 “Servicio Particular” photo shows him driving one of Yvon’s trucks of the day.
Yvon hosted several climbers’ parties at his first beach house in Ventura. It was at one of these gatherings that the pic of Dennis, Yvon, and Malinda was taken.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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The following, almost surreal, 1969 photo of Dennis (with twisted white nylon rope) seems to embody the spiritual aspect of life in The Valley that Doug Robinson captured so insightfully in his seminal article, “The Climber As A Visionary” which appeared in the 1969 issue of “Ascent.” Part of Stewart Green’s summary of Doug’s article reads, “Doug attempts … to look beyond the everyday mundane reality into the deeper reasons why we climb and how climbing affects both our brain chemistry and our soul.”
Very early one quiet spring morning, Dennis and I had entered a state of hyper-awareness, similar to what Doug expressed in his article, as we walked from Camp 4 to the Merced River. As we arrived at the river, quite alone, we saw an unoccupied bench facing the river. In very philosophical states, we KNEW that the metal and wood from which the bench was made wanted to get back to their natural states, and it was obvious that we’d been chosen to help them in this transformation. So we picked up the bench and threw it in the river! Every time I think about that morning I break out in joyous laughter!
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Dennis Hennek
climber
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Thank you Roger for the welcome to ST. Thanks also to Dick Erb for the campfire
photo and to Joe McKeown and Ken Boche for your photos, some that i've never
seen before, and others that should be placed on Dick's campfire.
Friends have been asking me to join this forum for some time, but until recently
I've been happy to just visit and read some great stories and see good photos.
Don Lauria just sent web links for copiers and scanners and information about
what's needed to begin posting here, so i'll start sorting slides, photos, letters,
and thoughts.
Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, Dennis
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 8, 2010 - 09:18pm PT
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Your welcome, Dennis.
I think it is very cool when climbers get interested in unlocking the joy in their old slide boxes. Tami could do us up a fine cartoon.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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Hey Doo! I thought it was a bit premature to welcome you when you hadn't even shown up yet, but now that you are here, I'm SO PLEASED. Now if we can only get the Big Black Dog to come out of his hole and bring his artistic talents, his stories, his photos, and his big nose to the campfire, the circle will be enlarged...
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Fritz
Trad climber
Hagerman, ID
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Dennis, Roger, Ken, Guido: I am very happy that you are all willing to share some of your climbing and partying history on this site.
Thank you.
More Please!!!!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Couple more shots of the lads in hopes of getting McClinsky to come up at least once?
And one I know you have all seen this at least once but I don't think Boo or Hennek have and certainly not Russ McLean. Pre Taleban
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
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Now, don't give me a bunch o' shite for this, but DH was a damn handsome lad! No problem with the ladies I bet!
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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Guido, that’s a memorable shot of us 3 in front of McClinsky’s tent cabin in the Tetons, the year he guided up there. What year was that? I’m thinking it was ’71, because later that summer, Guido and I went down the Colorado thru Grand Canyon with Mary Bomba, Jack Miller, among others on the non-commercial trip that spawned Central Fantasy Funding, the river equipment co-op which is now based in the Bay Area and of which I am still a member. We also did a day on the Snake River. Remember that fireball that sailed thru the sky over the Tetons? It was seen in 5 states. But having found a slide of Guido sporting an algal FuManchu bearing 1972, perhaps it was that year. If McClinsky would chime in here, perhaps he could help us figure it out. Which year did the AAC take over the Climber’s Ranch? Is that still available for climbers’ accommodations?
That’s a bet you’d surely win on the level that you are thinking of, Ihateplastic. But you have to remember that part of the reason that we got into climbing in the first place was that we were pretty shy around girls/women. Not Guido, of course, and DH got a real g.f. shortly after high school. But on deeper levels, almost ALL real relationships have some problems to solve, yes? Actually, I think the consensus among women at the time was that McClinsky was the best lookin’ except for this nasty habit of picking his nose… If only he were here, he could defend himself…
I doubt if I’ve seen THAT hemp pic, Guido. Seems like when I got back from Afghanistan and the Karakoram, you were pretty well packed up and off to Samoa, so I never saw your slides. But here’s one of mine… Ironic that I actually DID have a landscape nursery here in Paradise… More later…
Actually, he usually is better behaved. And better looking!
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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It's about time, Dennis. Welcome, man!
Here's a shot of us in the dirt, C4, sorting for that clean ascent of Half Dome. Let's see, hardware's fine, yeah whatever. Better double check the herb stash though.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Great stuff!
Thanks for posting that last one too DR.
Yo Guido,
Y'all don't look NEARLY so innocent in those last couple shots you posted...
"The times they are a changing"
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MH2
climber
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There is an incredible photo of that meteor streaking right over the Tetons, in full daylight, with foreground tourists and no doubt the camera person completely unaware. It is in the magazine Science but I can't locate my copy.
Well, maybe the foreground lady did notice it. This is from an astronomy site. It was 1972.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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WOW!! What a GREAT photo!! Someone actually caught that fireball in motion!
I believe Cragman may be right about his prediction.
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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I saw that thing burning across the sky in Golden Co., I was 17 at the time. I felt like I was in some Charlton Heston movie. My dad, a geologist, got out his Brunton compass and we calculated the coordinates of direction and the angle above the horizon of it's path, and then sent them in to some government body that was looking for info on the thing. It almost looked fake, like out of a B movie.
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Fritz
Trad climber
Hagerman, ID
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Feb 10, 2010 - 12:02am PT
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Bump for great stories-------and "great balls of fire."
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bmacd
Trad climber
Beautiful British Columbia
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Feb 10, 2010 - 12:14am PT
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Classic images and commentary ... awesome !
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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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Feb 10, 2010 - 12:15am PT
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Wow .....Hudon , And Dennis Sh#t next thing we known Sir "Bonnington" will drop by.
That's sort of a stretch, don't you think?
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Mittens
climber
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Feb 10, 2010 - 02:11am PT
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Hey Dennis-
Nice to see you on here- I've been climbing a lot with Stephen up in Santa Cruz... Trying to get him out to the valley soon!
Mark
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Feb 11, 2010 - 06:23pm PT
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Hennek was always our front- man when dealing with "Authority." He had such a smooth style and great respect for the law. No confrontations, very smooth and willing to accommodate was his motto.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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Feb 11, 2010 - 08:05pm PT
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I'm running a little behind now, but here are two pix of Dennis, one the same day (Guido's FIRST wedding day in the Cruz) as the confrontation with the law. The other is the same day and place as another of Guido's previous pix.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Feb 11, 2010 - 09:53pm PT
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Guido
I thought it wuz Geronimo with his headband!!!!
keep 'em coming!!!!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Feb 12, 2010 - 04:54am PT
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hey there say, dennis... not sure if i saw this yet...
welcome!... (will check, tomorrow)...
:)
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Feb 12, 2010 - 05:00am PT
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Yes, and the Heroes do keep arriving here...This site is all time! Welcome to you Sir!!!
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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May 18, 2010 - 12:29pm PT
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Since Russ (the beard puller) Mclintski -is and may remain silent until I unveil the provocative Halloween photos taken at Paradise Lodge in 1980 - I will post a semi-recent communication about his climb of The Shield:
"... but I do remember the early morning bleary eyed no coffee bad breath nesting into the dripping spring water running down my arms exiting at creaky elbows and clipping in standing tentative hop one last slurp from the mossy wetness oh sh#t what a spot high step and in went a knifeblade... but the pitch that lead to chicken head "ledge"... the wind was blowing 30 miles an hour up the face aiders flagging slapping a cold wind up my back trying to get my f*#kin foot into the loop it was so good to be alive reaching up to stand and no more crack a bolt maybe two slings akimbo slaps sting in the cold reality looks you right in the face and its hooks from here oh charlie you ass hole...
Yes I remember a little of it; it's etched...
Happy December, Russ
As Lauria stated, "He's always been a poet"!
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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May 18, 2010 - 01:55pm PT
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Hey there TC
I had forgotten about his predilection to rip and tear into any and all beards not of his own origin. You would think a man of such distinction and poetic license would be more concerned about throwing stones at glass houses.
I say, my all means post such photos of McClinski and we will all chime in until he has to make an appearance on ST to salvage any residual honor he may yet still retain.
It is always tough dealing with one who was a Samurai in past lives.
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
suspendedhappynation
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May 19, 2010 - 01:18am PT
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Dr Woo I have to say those are some great shots of you on the DAY way back when!!!!!
Let's rendezvous sometime this year!
I found a couple of shots - be patient.
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BooDawg
Social climber
Paradise Island
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May 19, 2010 - 01:13pm PT
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Sooner or later, McClinski may surface, but he's stuck in a dial-up connection, so he can't see photos, and it all takes SO long to deal with ST... We can only hope, but we can also post photos and talk behind his back (lovingly!).
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Hennek was into drugs big time...........
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Certainly a new slant on supplemental insurance...LOL
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| Messages 1 - 47 of total 47 in this topic |
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