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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 16, 2018 - 05:13pm PT
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You always believed in me, for that I thank you with all that I am. . .df
Edit, certified? Dude was a StoneMaster. . .df
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:21pm PT
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What?? Is this the Charles Cole who helped revolutionize sticky rubber?
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 16, 2018 - 05:21pm PT
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Founder of 5.10. . .
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Tony Puppo
climber
Bishop
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:24pm PT
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So sad to hear this.
We worked with Charles' rubber from the beginning. A true pioneer in the industry and the climbing world.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
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steve s
Trad climber
eldo
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:28pm PT
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My sincerest condolences to family, friends and the climbing community. RIP Charles.
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:32pm PT
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missed meeting him by a few minutes,
but his folks were super cool and fitted me with bargain blems.
they totally understood the situation.
so sorry, many must be suffering
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:39pm PT
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No Absolute Way! He's like way younger than I am. Please, what happened?
If this is true, so very sorry! Last saw Charles at the Indian Wells, CA tennis tournament with his wife and kids. Oh man.....
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 16, 2018 - 05:40pm PT
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Lynnie, it's unfortunately true, possibly a stroke or heart attack. . .
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:41pm PT
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Damn. Never met Charles but I'll share a story.
BITD I was bouldering at Rubidoux. I don't remember the place well enough to recall the problems there. I was maybe 23. Some young cutie (maybe 19 yo) pulls up in a car driven by her mom, and comes up and does some boulder problems. We chatted a bit, then she went back to the car and her & mom drove to another turnoff.
I ran around the hill as young men will do to catch her at the next stop. We chatted a bit more and she mentioned she was a friend/relative of Charles. I walked her back to the car; her mom sussed me up, gave me the evil eye and drove away. Never saw her again.
Condolences to those that new Charles well.
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 16, 2018 - 05:46pm PT
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Charles lent me his Pentax 6x7 twenty years ago to make StoneNudes. At least once a year he would call me up and ask me to bring him the camera, I would drive from wherever I was to Redlands and walk into his office. Charles would tell me to put the camera back into the car and go to lunch with him. . .df
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:49pm PT
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I never had the pleasure of meeting Charles Cole, but I always had a lot of respect for his company, 5.10.
My condolences to his friends & family.
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:50pm PT
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So sorry to hear this sad news.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Jul 16, 2018 - 05:58pm PT
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That's no good. A local Redlands guy. Last I heard of him, he was playing tennis with my dentist.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Jul 16, 2018 - 06:00pm PT
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Have to say I'm stunned, actually tears, tho I didn't know Charles really well. It's just that like at my house last night with my grand kids looking at pictures of their grandpa Dan, Charles grand kids will go thru his pictures some day saying, "I sure wish I could have met Grandpa."
Dang, life is so very hard at times, short and hard with some handfuls of glorious good times with friends and family scattered through like golden, green and red sparklers sizzling with fun .... then out.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Jul 16, 2018 - 06:04pm PT
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WoW, 63! that's. . . way to young
blessings & light
Really sad to hear , (?)
he was so inspiring, with a never say no kind of swagger ....
Any one know/saying what happened ?
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ec
climber
ca
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Jul 16, 2018 - 06:08pm PT
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‘condolences...
 ec
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Lassitude 33
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Jul 16, 2018 - 06:17pm PT
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Though we hadn't really spoken for many years, when I heard about this last night, I recalled the many routes we did together in the 1980s and the fun we had doing them.
It was Charles' standard poodle "Gus" who inspired the first (of many) "Poodle" route names (Poodles are People Too). Substituting "Poodle" into some well known, difficult, or pretentious route names, yielded surprisingly funny results. That same day, we managed 4 other FA's at Joshua Tree, such were the opportunities still available within a short stroll of the road.
Fred, at Tahquitz Rock, was another great line I had the pleasure of climbing with Charles. The last route we climbed together was on Cosmos, where I remember my smaller frame and spindly arms no match for the crushing big wall racks and trying to remove the pins and copperheads beat so powerfully by his massive arms.
In addition to being infamous for not loaning his gear, Charles actually would stamp his gear "CC" and mark it "Not For Loan." So zeolous was Charles in protecting the unauthorized use of his gear, that several items from my rack "inadvertently" were swept up in the marking frenzy. Somewhere, among my items of retired protection are a few that still bear "CC" - see below.
Rest in Peace Charles.
Gib Lewis, Maria Cranor, Dan Hershman & Charles
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johntp
Trad climber
Little Rock and Loving It
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Jul 16, 2018 - 06:27pm PT
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It was Charles' standard poodle "Gus" who inspired the first (of many) "Poodle" route names (Poodles are People Too). Substituting "Poodle" into some well known, difficult, or pretentious route names, yielded surprisingly funny results. That same day, we managed 4 other FA's at Joshua Tree, such were the opportunities still available within a short stroll of the road.
I always thought 'Poodles are People Too' was a great route name. Climbed it just for the name.
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Russ Walling
Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
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Jul 16, 2018 - 07:15pm PT
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Another one of the smartest guys in the room has left us and we are less for it.... RIP, though I know he wont! Always thinkng and always doing... Adios mentor and friend. Best thoughts going out to his great family and many friends... F*#k...such a bummer.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Jul 16, 2018 - 07:21pm PT
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So sad to hear this. Charles was a good friend once. We had a falling out, but always hoped to shake his hand again. Shocked and still in some disbelief. Among his many talents, he was a great big wall climber. RIP, CC3.
—John Middendorf
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