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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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May 10, 2010 - 09:21am PT
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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.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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May 10, 2010 - 10:58am PT
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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.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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May 10, 2010 - 11:52am PT
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I though 'Largo' was a nome de plume of Crimpie's.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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May 10, 2010 - 02:02pm PT
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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
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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May 10, 2010 - 02:17pm PT
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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
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Big Piton
Trad climber
Ventura
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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
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bubble boy
Big Wall climber
topanga, CA
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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!!!!!
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Anastasia
climber
hanging from an ice pick and missing my mama.
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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
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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"Hoo Man, quit it with that 'Hoo Man' stuff"
--John Long to his groupies who were saying Hoo Man all the time...
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can't say
Social climber
Pasadena CA
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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
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go-B
climber
Sozo
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Up High!
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o-man
Trad climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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I must admit that I think that this is really Cool!
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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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
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Nov 23, 2013 - 02:54pm PT
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I think this is him! Sure looks like Long's swagger...
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jgill
Boulder climber
Colorado
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Nov 23, 2013 - 03:54pm PT
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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!
;>)
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jonnyrig
Trad climber
formerly known as hillrat
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Nov 23, 2013 - 08:15pm PT
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Thanks for the how-to books. They've been very helpful.
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dhayan
climber
los angeles, ca
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Nov 24, 2013 - 01:11am PT
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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!
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steveA
Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
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Nov 24, 2013 - 08:01am PT
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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.
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telemon01
Trad climber
Montana
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Nov 24, 2013 - 11:17am PT
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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...
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