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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 6, 2010 - 03:34pm PT
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A classic Rowell Sierra outing from Climbing #4 November 1970. Thanks to Jim Phillips for these early issues of Climbing.
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David Wilson
climber
CA
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That's a good read. Thanks for posting Steve
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 6, 2010 - 10:32pm PT
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The article really needs a shot of El Bravo but I have a feeling one will show up!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Nice find!
When we were young teenagers, the stuff these guys had been plucking inspired our High Sierra goals.
In the mid-70s we trampled the same canyons, groped the same walls, talked about rigging a VW bug with a soft top and roll bar just so we could strip it back to accommodate starlight drives on those late Friday night rambles, well out of LA, coming up into the magic of Highway 395.
Summer 1980, in downtown Mammoth Lakes, I finally met Joe faint. He was sporting a four-day-old five o'clock shadow and stood hunched over the grimy engine bay of a road weary Ford Falcon.
I knew Galen was a hot rodder: Clevenger spent a fair amount of time with him and if I have half the story right, he and Galen were out on Highway 120 near Mono Lake late one night, at speed, catching air off those big humps in the road.
'Would be really cool to see an archive of photographs from Galen's motorhead days.
El Bravo!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2010 - 08:33pm PT
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The photo resources are definitely present and accounted for! I have seen a shot of El Bravo somewhere. Have to check the AAJ.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Tarman-just a couple of shots of some Rowellmobiles I have owned over the years. You would have had to own one of Galen's creations to fully understand the intricacies of the design.
Galen loved to match out trans and rear ends for optimal efficiency and he loved to retrofit Chevs with Hurst "four on the floor" trans and he was totally mad about Overdrive. For some odd reason, quite often all the door handles were on either upside down or backwards. No sh#t, ask Hennek about this!
When the Chev 327 engine first came on the scene Galen was in 7th heaven. He finally had something with the Hp to match his energy.
I spent a lot of time with Galen cruising the salvage yards in the Bay Area. He was a master at wheeling and dealing and a natural horse trader. One time an old acquaintance stole one of his El Bravos and he had to steal it back. Best to keep the "man" out of such deeds.
My first Rowellmobile was a 56 Chev that I bought from Galen in 1963, after my 48 Chev died, coming back from Mexico. We painted it Corvette Silver, one of our fav colors at the time. Young kid stole it from me in San Jose when I was in college and beat the sh#t out of it.
Next, was to be a 56 Chev convertible which he was going to sell me for $300 but the deal fell thru when I was short on cash. Classic white with the turquoise/white interior. Luv to have it now.
Next was this classic 57 Chev.
This lovely 1964 Chev Carryall was one of my all time fav cars. Retrofitted with a 327 hp engine and matching rear end this baby could fly and still maintain excellent gas mileage. The front seat was large enough to sit four across and we recorded the mileage on the dash with a pencil in lieu of the defunct gas gauge. Had a couple of serious wrecks with this vehicle but she still ran like a charm. Had to retrofit a 8 x 8 fir bumper on the front end to keep pace with the minor things we kept running into.
One time, got in a wreck with the same truck, twice within a week on the old Baja road. Quite an achievement since we were about the only cars on the road. Guy gave us phony name and address.
I will try and dig up some more photos later. Harper, Faint, Harding, Mort and others at one time or another had various bastardizations of one sort or another of Galens mechanical genius.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Guido you are pure gold!
Wonderful photographs you've laid out for us.
This is exactly what I was hoping for:
Galen loved to match out trans and rear ends for optimal efficiency ... I spent a lot of time with Galen cruising the salvage yards in the Bay Area. He was a master at wheeling and dealing and a natural horse trader ...an old acquaintance stole one of his El Bravos and he had to steal it back ... [!!!]
Would love to see some pictures to go with; such as Galen belly up on a creeper half-underneath one of those creations, wrangling with parts, wrenches, grease and so forth ... in situ as it were.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2010 - 11:35pm PT
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Minor things...8 X 8...Great shots, Joe! How is Von Henneck's battle with the scanner going?
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BooDawg
Social climber
On the Road, Pacific Slope
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Steve, After spending the long weekend together at Lauria's, we are all more resolved than ever to DO some things to help preserve our collective legacy. Don't be surprised to see Dennis (and maybe Russ) posting photos soon. More to come. Tomorrow, I fly back to Paradise. Lots of cool opportunities here.
I did see Galen's gallery in Bishop for the first time...
Here's a pic of Guido:
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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Cool pics! That Carryall has the same front face as my old 63 Chevy pickup. That old thing had torque out the wazoo, I could be cruising up Monarch Pass in 4th, step on it, and it would jump up and pass whoever I wanted (maybe 8 mi to the gallon, but what the heck, gas was 50cents/gallon)
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 10, 2010 - 08:51pm PT
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Odometer Reset Bump!
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Sep 10, 2010 - 08:58pm PT
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moving to sea level has helped to appreciate galen's accomplishments.
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Chinchen
climber
Way out there....
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Sep 11, 2010 - 02:15am PT
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I passed this thread on to Tony, Galen's son. He digs it!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Sep 11, 2010 - 02:53am PT
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Well damn. Somone at Brutus' memorial (may have been Pat Brennan) mentioned that Harding had spent time in the Stone House too. Good to hear the story.
I don't know if it's just me, but each story of California climbing from years ago makes me feel more connected to those that have gone before. We cover that same ground, as was mentioned. We come up with similar crazy schemes. Not all of us had a 327. But aluminum blocks with 2 plugs per cylinder still carries a fair bit of hp for a light truck. hahaha
thx
M
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Inner City
Trad climber
East Bay
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Sep 11, 2010 - 03:18am PT
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this thread is a beauty...what a great bit of history to see...Thanks!
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dirt claud
Sport climber
san diego,ca
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Sep 13, 2010 - 12:27pm PT
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thanks for the post. Great reading.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Sep 13, 2010 - 04:01pm PT
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I later sold the Chev to Jack Miller with the understanding we could buy it back or use it any time. Hennek and I owned 5 acres next to Jack on Hastings Mesa near Telluride. Last time I saw the machine it was still running but needed some TLC.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 14, 2010 - 12:02am PT
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Them kids cuts a fine swagger next' that valiant steed they do!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 19, 2010 - 02:48pm PT
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Lignostone and AutoFunk Bump!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 17, 2010 - 02:32pm PT
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El Bravo Bumpo!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 6, 2010 - 12:12pm PT
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Another Mountain Lite, please!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 26, 2010 - 01:21pm PT
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Bumps on the eastside...
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 12, 2011 - 01:27pm PT
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Bumps to the south...
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 28, 2011 - 11:47am PT
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Bump for Chris Jones...
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 9, 2011 - 02:42pm PT
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Range of Bumps...
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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May 31, 2012 - 10:18pm PT
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The DORF van vs. El Bravo, power and traction.
Mouse vs. Galen, climbing.
Exactly the same odds.
My Econoline was home, though, and got better mileage and carried more.
I waw Galen deliver his slide show on the FA and the rescue on Half Dome in '70. Just about two years back his son showed up here in Merced to give a slide show of his own.
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Nov 12, 2013 - 12:18am PT
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Mega content bump!
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Blakey
Trad climber
Sierra Vista
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Nov 12, 2013 - 01:19pm PT
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Bump....
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Nov 15, 2013 - 01:39pm PT
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BBST cause this one is great
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 16, 2013 - 04:15pm PT
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And Glory Be, the Bump's Not Me, Babba!
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Nov 16, 2013 - 04:22pm PT
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more carryall
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RyanD
climber
Squamish
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Nov 16, 2013 - 04:53pm PT
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Does anyone know the status of the stone house? Is it still there? Sounds like a pretty neat place to be able to refuge & do some sierra climbing in the winter months!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 16, 2014 - 01:15pm PT
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Stone House Update Bump...
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Sebastopol
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Aug 16, 2014 - 01:32pm PT
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In the late '90s I learned to parallel park in downtown SF in Galens' old '83 Suburban while running film and test prints back and forth across the bridge. He drove a brand new one, and we carted workshop clients all around the bay area in those rigs. Folks would want to ride with Galen during the drive to the first field session. They would cram in tight, practically sitting on each other's laps so they could chat with the Master during the drive. He would drive like a bat out of hell, talking over his shoulder to the back seat while passing other cars and talking to Barbara on the cell phone. Scared the crap out of everyone, and on the drive back they crammed as tight as they could into my rig. Funny shit! Then one day we were driving down from Mt. Diablo when the power steering went out on the old '83 and I had all these people stacked in there. Galen was gone down the mountain and I was trying to fake it, not letting anyone know that is was 5.12 steering. Somehow we made it back to the gallery. Scary shit!
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Aug 16, 2014 - 02:36pm PT
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He would drive like a bat out of hell, talking over his shoulder to the back seat while passing other cars and talking to Barbara on the cell phone. Scared the crap out of everyone
BooDawg, do you need a new driver for your tour operation? You couldn't have better than GR.
We're all glad that you took the opportunity to come back to the mainland and set it up.
Hi, Lisa! See ya at Facelift.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Aug 17, 2014 - 09:29am PT
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Galen was a wonderful and talented man, and his Trango photo that was a "centerfold" in Mountain was probably the most inspiring landscape photo I have ever seen.
I still miss the guy.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Sep 25, 2014 - 10:18pm PT
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Bump...
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 21, 2016 - 10:23am PT
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Rowell Automotive Bump...
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marty(r)
climber
beneath the valley of ultravegans
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May 21, 2016 - 06:41pm PT
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Galen to Dick, "Don't be scared Dorworth, you've gone faster on skis!" (Or something to that effect.)
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Bodega
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May 22, 2016 - 12:29am PT
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Marty, As I heard it from the horses mouth, Galen was driving. Clevenger, from the passenger seat, turned and said that to Dorworth in the back. Dick, who had just asked Galen to slow the F- down, had previously set the land speed record on skis at something like 120mph.
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OfficerMahoney
climber
Bay Area, CA
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Aug 30, 2016 - 08:40pm PT
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inspiring read
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 14, 2018 - 06:45pm PT
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"This car may have been stolen"...bump
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Jan 18, 2018 - 06:27am PT
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Great read. I always appreciate your historic contributions (even if i don't post in them) .
Thanks again Steve.
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FredC
Gym climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jan 18, 2018 - 09:13am PT
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I started bouldering at Indian Rock in Berkeley in 70 and Galen was often there. I remember a white station wagon that was far from stock. I was a 15 year old kid hanging out with all these characters. Super cool days.
I never got to ride with him but we did some running together with his dog. I think climbers maybe drive faster than other people. I did ride with Vern and I remember going 115 once.
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