Largo Appreciation Thread

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Studly

Trad climber
WA
May 10, 2010 - 09:21am PT
Few men have left such an indelible impression on the climbing world, and fewer still the charisma and ability to put pen to paper and share it with us all.
Doug Robinson

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
May 10, 2010 - 10:58am PT
I just finished writing a second review of The Stonemasters. That's two of em from just this one writer in about 8 months since it came out.

I'm pretty high on this book, and a lot of it owes to John. Well, Bullwinkle's contributions rock too. And not to mention Gramicci for pumping up a publishing house to get the massive volume between covers and into the real world.

Those guys did something pretty cool that comes down to generosity, which has been a theme ever since this thread opened years ago. See, instead of hogging the pages, which would have been fitting for a good writer and a fine photographer, they opened it up to sweep in a lot of the best writing and even some of the grainiest snapshots -- but ones that captured their soul -- from the Stonemasters at large.

Long emphasizes the same thing in the opening piece, "A Short History of the Stonemasters," as they grow from geeky kids reciting Herman Buhl in a rat-shack in Upland, to a band of brothers who have all sent Valhalla, to becoming the emblem of a generation. Point is, they ultimately shared their name and their identity:

When the Stonemaster's gusto grew too much for us Southern Californians to contain, our original group burst at the seams and The Stonemaster mojo splashed over one and all. By 1974 there were easily 25 Stonemasters (an ascent of Valhalla w no longer criteria), and by 1975 most everyone in Camp 4 was a charter member of the most unofficial club on the planet....since the original movement diffused into the masses after a few short seasons.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
May 10, 2010 - 11:52am PT
I though 'Largo' was a nome de plume of Crimpie's.
Karl Baba

Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
May 10, 2010 - 02:02pm PT
If Largo had never climbed a rock, nor ever wrote a word, I would still be honored and delighted to know him.

More people like Largo and we'd have a better world

Much Love

Karl
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
May 10, 2010 - 02:17pm PT
Karl is dead on, John would be a wonderful person to know no matter what... and a very generous spirit

in an old thread I wrote:
...Pushing the boundaries means having to deal with uncertainty, it is the very nature of going beyond the boundaries. It is the feeling of the first time we walk down the street, alone, as a child to a new block. Some kids do this easily, some never do... some are in between.

In that sense, I was never a Stonemaster.

JL replied:
I think you have it wrong, there, Ed. The reason you weren´t a Stonemaster is that we somehow never ran into you, even though I went to college and grad school right there in Claremont. If we´d ever hooked up you´d have been drawn into the vortex of the thing, like it or not. But that was then and what matters is what´s happening now, and in that context we´re reading about your exploits and adventures all the time, so you got there without us after all. But it would hae been fun to have had you along back in the day.

And for a moment he had me there along with them all, a wonderful thing to imagine.
thanks John
Big Piton

Trad climber
Ventura
May 5, 2011 - 02:30pm PT
Hey John,

Can't say I am a fan. I do remember you hang out with us at Stoney one day. Waiting for us to spark up a bowl.

MMM
bubble boy

Big Wall climber
topanga, CA
May 5, 2011 - 03:18pm PT
About a month ago, hadn't been into the gym in ages, and now we're supposed to bring our own rope. Largo, hardly knowing me at all, has no problems lending a rope of his.

In addition, the book he and Middendorf wrote is how I learned to climb - thanks guys!!!!!
Anastasia

climber
hanging from an ice pick and missing my mama.
May 5, 2011 - 03:26pm PT
He is someone that you automatically like and respect. There is something in his essence that makes him a natural leader. You just know that no matter what he does, he will find a way to do it well and... Without a thought, he will create a path so that you can follow along.

You really can't say that about most people.

AFS
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
May 5, 2011 - 05:06pm PT
bump
deuce4

climber
Hobart, Australia
May 7, 2011 - 01:27am PT
"Hoo Man, quit it with that 'Hoo Man' stuff"
--John Long to his groupies who were saying Hoo Man all the time...
can't say

Social climber
Pasadena CA
May 7, 2011 - 10:23am PT
deuce, if I remember right, it wasn't just his little band of groupies, it was the whole freakin social scene. I think the two most imitated, mimicked, parodied people of that era were Largo and Yabo. But the Hoo Man, followed by any number of largoisms, was the common denominator when hanging around the fire.

Hoo Man, fire me a burger
go-B

climber
Sozo
May 7, 2011 - 12:34pm PT
Up High!
o-man

Trad climber
Paia,Maui,HI
May 7, 2011 - 04:43pm PT
I must admit that I think that this is really Cool!
ron gomez

Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
May 7, 2011 - 08:08pm PT
I do remember way back in the day Largo luggin' this Thunderbird around the campground and MAKING the low life take mandatory swills from it whether you wanted to or not and the consequences of NOT taking a hit were.....well I never wanted to find out so I drank the dreaded stank. He'll deny it, but it's the truth. I also remember hearing ALL frekin night...."Ho Man dig this...."
I also remember be intimidated by his freekin HUGE biceps and the fact that you dare not be caught taking a stare a look at his lady! Now a days the old man couldn't catch me if I was on crutches, but I LOVE ya John....you provided the needed motivation and inspiration to a younger punk to keep climbing. Thanks!
Peace
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Nov 23, 2013 - 02:54pm PT
I think this is him! Sure looks like Long's swagger...


jgill

Boulder climber
Colorado
Nov 23, 2013 - 03:54pm PT
John was very impressive back in the 1970s and 80s (he still is) - muscular and powerful, confident, a force to be reckoned with. And he weighed more than me . . . unusual among the rock jocks of the day!


;>)
jonnyrig

Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
Nov 23, 2013 - 08:15pm PT
Thanks for the how-to books. They've been very helpful.
dhayan

climber
los angeles, ca
Nov 24, 2013 - 01:11am PT
Don't know Largo well but have appreciated his generous spirit the few times I've got to talk wih him. I love how his recollection of his first ascents make them sound so much more attainable than they are... "Yeah totally, jump on astroman, you'll have no problem!" Lol... He could probably make you believe anything, it's easy to see how the frontiers of the possible were so influenced by that will and confidence. Thanks John!
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Nov 24, 2013 - 08:01am PT
Hi Steve:

Thanks for the trip report. I was always wondering about that ascent for this reason: The Prow was my second wall climb and we (Richard Harrison, Ricky Accomazzo and I) did this as kids shortly after your solo ascent, long before the climb was bashed out. We heard that you had soloed the thing and I was amazed, it being so steep and exposed and us being so green. You seemed very heroic to us just then. Still do.

JL


I was blown away by John's kind comment; especially since I've never had the pleasure of meeting the man.
telemon01

Trad climber
Montana
Nov 24, 2013 - 11:17am PT

Doug Byerly and I were climbing in Joshua Tree in the mid 80's, and had just finished a 5.9 somewhere near Hidden Valley. We noticed three climbers heading our way, carrying an assortment of gear and equipment. As we are packing our gear at the base, a big dude walks up to us and starts talking about the climb, asking us how we liked it. We said good, maybe a little gritty, but fun. He said yeah, it was pretty gritty when he did the 1st ascent 10 years or so ago.

We recognized him as John Long. The other two climbers, who were maintaining a low profile and staying about 30' away, was Ron Kauk and Mari Gingery. They were there to film a bit for the How To Rock Climb video. I can't remember the name of the route, and I never saw the movie, but we thought it was cool how friendly Largo was.

We hung out to watch the climb, and left after Ron Kauk's foot slipped at the crux. We were wondering if that was staged or not...
Messages 101 - 120 of total 136 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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