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Disaster Master
Social climber
Born in So-Cal, left my soul in far Nor-Cal.
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 18, 2011 - 11:18pm PT
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I never met John "Yabo" Yablanski. I think I would have liked him. We have some things in common, including an off-kilter personality. We are both Preacher's Kids.
Why, though, do we seem to speak more fondly of those like Yabo who took their own life, or died doing something like soloing? Is it the music star / rock star syndrome?
I like wild stories. I tell them. And from what I hear, when I am not around they are often told about me. But I wouldn't want to be remembered more longingly because I off-ed my self than if I died old and happy.
http://www.joshuatreeclimb.com/members/History/Profiles/yabo.htm
Don't take this as a slight against a good man and great climber. I simply wonder if he would be as lauded if he had lived out the rest of his life.
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mynameismud
climber
backseat
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Jan 19, 2011 - 12:07am PT
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Just cuz
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Tom
Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo CA
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Jan 19, 2011 - 12:17am PT
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Don't you blaspheme in here - - - - DON'T you blaspheme in here!
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Jan 19, 2011 - 12:19am PT
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Kevin nailed it.
TY
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socalbolter
Sport climber
Silverado, CA
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Jan 19, 2011 - 12:21am PT
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Ditto what KW said above...
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Jan 19, 2011 - 12:26am PT
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Jan 19, 2011 - 12:52am PT
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Yablonski.
We don't.
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Double D
climber
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Jan 19, 2011 - 01:02am PT
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Kevin nailed it. Yabo had some incredible talents but I don't think anyone who really knew him idolized him, rather they tried to help him out of compassion.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland: what's not to love?
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Jan 19, 2011 - 01:10am PT
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OP: Read Lynn Hill's memoir? Good read, and some material on Yablonski from her point of view.
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Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
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Jan 19, 2011 - 01:12am PT
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Ditto for what Kevin said.
I remember Yabo as an enigma and a veritable force of nature with a huge heart.
He was someone to marvel at, not idolize.
Wish he didn't have to leave the way he did.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
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Jan 19, 2011 - 01:33am PT
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I met him. He could climb really well and did some bold things. He was not that friendly to me and perhaps to some others but his work has earned the respect.
We'd like him even more if he choose to stick with it and work through the difficulties and keep climbing.
In my garage, in a box of artifacts, I have a chalked up hold he pulled off B3 project he was working on: "Boy Elroy" on "Jetsons' Rock" at Stony.
In some future sci-fi scenario a mad scientist could use skin cells from this artifact to make an army of Yabo clones. He could release them on the world and all the boulder problems would be climbed leaving no FAs left for anyone.
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Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 19, 2011 - 01:35am PT
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Big ditto for several posts here. No idolatry here, just respect for a beautiful, yet troubled soul.
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ec
climber
ca
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Jan 19, 2011 - 01:45am PT
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I think the people who really knew John don't idolize him, seems the ones that do idolize him didn't know him
Says it all...
 ec
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Disaster Master
Social climber
Born in So-Cal, left my soul in far Nor-Cal.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2011 - 02:07am PT
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All excellent responses.
Post On. :)
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Anastasia
climber
hanging from a crimp and crying for my mama.
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Jan 19, 2011 - 02:13am PT
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From those who knew him, all I hear is how they still value his imprint upon their lives. He was greatly loved and they will not forget him.
As for Yabo the legend... Well, people need folk heroes which they can have a connection to. Especially ones that excelled despite their troubles. It helps us have hope when we face our own demons. Maybe with Yabo in mind, it will somehow help a person not fall as far... Especially since most climbers can see how much nicer it would have been if he had stuck around.
AFS
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rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
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Jan 19, 2011 - 02:23am PT
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I wouldn't say people idolize him. More like respect him, for being a bad ass climber. At least that's how I regard him. And I don't think the way he left, has anything to do with it. I never met him.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
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Jan 19, 2011 - 03:12am PT
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...in a box of artifacts, I have a chalked up hold he pulled off B3 project he was working on That itself, prettymuch debunked the op's topic title right there. Yabo's rep and all that was fully established long before he died. I don't know what you are trying to intimate with this thread. You could spell his name right while you're at it.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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Jan 19, 2011 - 03:27am PT
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My little brother shares a lot of personality traits with Yabo, including many of the dark ones that I am sure bore on him every day. All I can say is love the ones around you and hope they see it.
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mastadon
Trad climber
quaking has-been
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Jan 19, 2011 - 09:25am PT
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Yabo was a good guy (with self esteem problems). He'd give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it.
Mike White said it best, "Loan him 5 bucks? Sure I'll loan him 5 bucks, it might buy him the last meal he'll ever eat".
Yabo would always pay you back.
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