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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 1, 2006 - 04:25pm PT
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A ceremony was to be held today in Camp 4, officially placing it on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. (It was so recognized in 2003.) The event was to take place near Columbia Boulder, and include a plaque, reception, attendance by various poo-bahs, and no doubt speeches.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen, and to Ken Yager and the Yosemite Climbing Association for their work on the facelift this week, and the proposed museum. Not to mention getting the climbing community more organized and effective. Hopefully Camp 4 won't change much, despite its exalted status, although change seems in the wind for the Valley if not Camp 4.
Camp 4 has been an important place in the lives of many SuperTopo residents, which is why I started a thread commemorating this event. Perhaps people could share photos and stories about why Camp 4 is a special place to them.
There's lots of information about how Camp 4 came to be on the Register at www.bigwalls.net/climb/camp4yosemite/index.html.
I've spent a fair amount of time at Camp 4, but have few if any photos. To get things started, I have some Camp 4 memorabilia. For much of the 1970s, the parking lot was smaller than it is now, and there was only one parking spot/site. (Overflow parking across the street.) It sort of worked. Each parking place had a plaque stating "This parking place reserved for site #X". In the late 1970s they expanded the parking lot, took down the signs, and went to a more general permit system. The day they did it, they unbolted the signs, and left them lying around. I asked, and they said I could have one. So I have the parking sign for site #13. It's currently bolted onto my parent's garage door, to stiffen it, and so has a few holes, but is available for the museum if needed.
Anders
Other places in Yosemite National Park on the Register:
Acting Superintendent's Headquarters (Wawona)
Ahwahnee Hotel
George Anderson cabin (Wawona)
Bridalveil Meadow (Wawona)
Camp Curry
Galen Clark homestead (Wawona)
Crane Flat Fire Lookout
Degnan House & Bakery
El Portal archaeological district (a variety of things)
Glacier Point Trailside Museum
Hogdon homestead cabin (Wawona)
Chris Jorgenson studio
Lamon Orchard (Wawona)
Le Conte Memorial Lodge
Mariposa Grove Museum (Wawona)
McGurk Cabin (Yosemite Village)
Old Coulterville Road and Trail
Wawona Hotel
Yosemite Transportation Company office (Wawona)
Yosemite Valley Archaeological District
Yosemite Valley Bridges
Yosemite Valley Chapel
Yosemite Village Historical District (including "Rangers' Club")
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Hawkeye
climber
State of Mine
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brilliant ouch!
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2006 - 06:05pm PT
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Ouch: thank you. Though I don't entirely get your whimsical cartoon.
Your e-mail isn't accepting messages - full.
Anders
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Ouch!
climber
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Anders, it is nothing much of anything. Just a small tribute to Roger Breedlove and the chaos of the early years in Camp4. Well, maybe just impressions I gleaned from remarks by old dirtbags.
My E-Mail box is as empty as my head. Has been for days.
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Hey look everyone; I'm top roping the 'Nose'.
When did El Cap get so small, anyway? I remember it being really big.
Ohh, maybe it has something to do with Alice.
You're a goof ball, Ouch! How come Werner gets to hold Crimpie's bananas?
Anders, I think it is great that Camp 4 has been recognized as a historical monument so that it doesn't get paved over. I lived there on the YOSAR site during the climbing seasons in the early 1970s. It wasn't the best camping, but it was home. One late fall, a bear trashed my car and everything in it, ruining my plans. I ended up trying to live in Camp 4 all winter. It was a sorry-ass idea from the start. I found a renewed capacity, and urgency, to fall in love and move into a warm apartment.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 1, 2006 - 10:02pm PT
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Every and all stories welcome. Stories about a special place, and the special people that inhabited (and inhabit) it. Stories about bears, and dirt, and rangers, and friends, and memorable things that happened there. It's as much about the people, and the things that happened, as the place itself.
Camp 4 may be the only campground in the world which gave its name to a book.
Anders
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TradIsGood
Fun-loving climber
the Gunks end of the country
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Could fill volumes, and filling volumes - two different things.
Waiting... :-)
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Ouch!
climber
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"When did El Cap get so small, anyway? I remember it being really big."
LOL! Roger, some climbers stand so tall, they make mole hills out of mountains.
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WBraun
climber
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I lived in Camp 4 for almost 30 some years. More than 20 of those years all year round. The winters and the hot summers were the best. In the hot summers everyone would leave.
They were climbers you know, they were fixated on this so called climbing business. So when it became to hot, or to cold, they would disappear into the world.
But at those times the valley was bliss, especially in the deep winter when the storms raged on and on. Camp 4 would be completely empty at those times, nobody.
So peaceful, the worldly distractions would fall away and one could see the real Yosemite, it's power, beauty and grace along with the wonderful Merced river that runs through its heart.
Without this river, life there would be so incomplete. That river saved my soul from the outside world. I spent hundreds if not a thousand hours sitting by its side watching it flow by in its innumerable different phases.
The place, Camp 4, is nothing special, unless one makes it so ......
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Pierre
Big Wall climber
Sweden
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I have spent close to three years in Camp 4, loving it and hating it, but always returned because of the amazing people I have met there.
To say that Camp 4 has made a huge impact in my life is an understatement, I have met my best friends there and I have even found love in that dirty little campground.
Camp 4 - and Yosemite - has changed my life (for the better).
I could probably write many, many pages - even books, about that place...
Pierre
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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I was in Camp yesterday for the plaque dedication. A nice event though the afternoon was cold and rainy. Robbins, Steck, and Nick Clinch were highlight speakers. The speakers all came back with a rotation of short Chuck Pratt stories. Ron Kauk spoke about community and stewardship, I gave a little ramble about the families formed from the climber - Curry waitress interface- introduced Chelsea Cashner and Lynda was there and got a kick out of it. and briefly remininced of the later 70's stonemaster younger brothers times. The weather dampened any climbing enthusiasm for the aftenoon, but Ken's facelift party was a rager, or an enjoyable long raffle with good friends and beer. Over 20,000 lbs collected! Go Yaeger! My meager half bag is still in the car, but I did clean many small pieces from Cascade Creek all the way up to the base of the Crimson Cringe, sadly too wet for a 28 years later reunion ascent.
a sweet grey morning in El Portal.
More later,
Peter
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10b4me
Trad climber
California
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But at those times the valley was bliss, especially in the deep winter when the storms raged on and on. Camp 4 would be completely empty at those times, nobody.
So peaceful, the worldly distractions would fall away and one could see the real Yosemite, it's power, beauty and grace along with the wonderful Merced river that runs through its heart.
Without this river, life there would be so incomplete. That river saved my soul from the outside world.
Werner,
you paint an awesome picture.
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CathC
Social climber
Wyoming
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Werner does paint an awesome picture of the valley, I am glad I had a few moments in time there. thanks Werner
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Jorge
climber
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Thanks, Werner for the memories...
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WBraun
climber
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The car right behind Mike Gramiici (the red one with the wire spokes) was Bridwells sports car back then.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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ok, aside from all the gear there are at least 4 boxes of Kodachrome..
would it not be awesome if Jim's photos somehow could be shown?... I know it would... and even more awesome if Jim could benefit directly.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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The river during a winter storm....
Columbia boulder...
Yosemite Point Buttress...
Lost Arrow Spire...
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Ouch!
climber
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Why Werner likes Camp 4.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Great pic of Bridwell, Mike Graham and Dale.
I think that the winter time in the Valley, when it is full of snow, is the best time. The last time I was there, back in December 1992 (sob, I have to get back) was when I brought my ex-fiancee to California to meet my family. I took Marie up to the Valley, bought some 'snow disks' (or whatever they are called) and had several hours of good fun sliding down the slopes in the snow.
Yosemite draped in snow is something special.
...and Camp 4 cuts quite a solitary figure, sans climbers and all covered in snow. Beautiful (understatement).
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