Hey Woody, tell us a story from before history itself

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Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 25, 2007 - 06:59pm PT

From the Climbing Memories by John Wolfe section of the 1979 "A Climber's Guide to Joshua Tree National Monument" by Wolfe and Dominick

The Riverside Bunch

In 1967 I got to know a group of climbers I refer to as the "Riverside Bunch." They were members of the crack Riverside Search and Rescue Team.

...

Thus began some cherished friendships. We rarely climbed together. More often we would meet at the end of the day, compare notes and swap horror stories. I learned that their history was much like that of the Desert Rats Uninhibitied.

Dick Webster - the strong man of the group who was always coaxed forward when the going got tough - began climbing in the Monument in 1956. He and his father Harold made the first ascent of ZIGZAG (F4) that year, THE EYE (F4) the next year, and the m ore significant NORTHEAST CORNER (F6) on the Old Woman in 1958. These may not be difficult climbs by today's standards, but it's undeniable that they are bold lines and exposed.

By 1966 Dick had joined the Riverside S & R Team. He began climbing with Dick Briggs, Woody Stark and others on the team.

Bill was a balding, scholarly-looking gentleman. He would often sit back and concoct grandiose lines, then surprise everybody when occasionally he actually led one. He was a very competent climber with a self-effacing manner.

Woody was conceded to be the sting of the group. He would prod and push until the group would climb "what they really wanted to climb all along." Woody was also conceded to be the best in the group at liebacks. In fact, he would lieback, or attempt to lieback, almost every climb they encountered.

Jim Foote, another member of the team, was coaxed into leading LEADER'S FRIGHT (F7) on Cyclops in 1966. Shortly after this episode, Jim retired from the climbing scene. Some top climbers today think that this route is grossly under-rated, that it should be as much as F9.

Often, Bud White and his family would be out with the other members of the S & R Team. He and his son Mike were marathon runners. They would run from HVCG over Bighorn Pass to Loop Road and return via Cap Rock during the time the others were climbing a new route. Bud only climbed occasionally, but had tennis shoes that would hold on steep slabs better than our expensive boots. Naturally he delighted in proving this during our nighttime bouldering sprees.

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Nov 25, 2007 - 07:03pm PT

Woody was conceded to be the sting of the group. He would prod and push until the group would climb "what they really wanted to climb all along." Woody was also conceded to be the best in the group at liebacks. In fact, he would lieback, or attempt to lieback, almost every climb they encountered.

Some things haven't changed.

DonC

climber

Nov 25, 2007 - 07:27pm PT

I remember meeting and frequently bouldering with a guy at Rubidoux that was tall, skinny, glasses, and usually white as a ghost. I thought his name was Woody. Is this the infamous Woody of ST fame?

My years on RMRU overlapped with Bud White - quite a guy.

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Nov 25, 2007 - 07:48pm PT

WoodySt

Trad climber

Riverside

Nov 25, 2007 - 08:03pm PT

Ed,
Well, I just saw this. It's been a long career in climbing for me. One by one father time has taken us down: Jim foote with a stroke years ago, Dick Webster Killed in Moab a short time ago, Bill Briggs suffers from Multiple Myleoma and is putting up the good fight, and yours truly still pecks away about once a week.
As time went on, we moved more into mountaineering and climbed from Alaska to Peru, all great fun with many adventures and lots of astonishing good luck. As a group, we were somewhat unusual: we had all been together since highschool in Riverside, and some of us since elementary; therefore we formed a cohesive group that worked well, particularly in mountaineering where it's essential.
Bill and his wife Karen split their time between two homes, one in JT and the other Santa Fe. Bill still does a little climbing when feeling up to it and is a member of the JT SAR team. Sometime this week, the Briggs and I will be depositing some of Dick's ashes in the park. Considering that Dick and his Dad first climbed in JT starting in the fifties, it seems a most appropriate place and what he wanted.
I turned sixty six on the twenty-third of this month and will continue beating the little drum as long as Mother Nature and Father Time are patient, compassionate, sympathetic and empathetic.
All in all, it's been a good tour through time for most of us. We were all, with the exception of Jim Foote, in our sixties before things began to go awry. Hell, it can't last forever. I get up each morning, crawl to the coffee pot and am damn grateful I'm still around to drink it.

Watusi

Social climber

Newport, OR

Nov 25, 2007 - 08:45pm PT

I was first inspired as a kid by The Desert Rats! I had met John Wolfe and Chris Gonzales on our early forays from San Diego. You guys we the real deal!

Jello

Social climber

No Ut

Nov 25, 2007 - 10:01pm PT

Here's to you, Woody! Your politics may have a limited future--or tend to limit the future--but your committment to the climbing life is exemplary. And according to Locker you're a good dude and a fun partner.

Via con Dios, Amigo!

-Jello

PhilG

Trad climber

The Circuit, Tonasket WA

Nov 26, 2007 - 12:17am PT

Hey Woody:
Give a warm Hello to Bill Briggs from Phil Gleason. It's been a hell of a long time since we shot the sh#t at the Highlander Store. Tell him I still have the Bivy sack he sold me.
What ever happened to Dominick?
And I agree we what you said. We're doing good just to make it to the coffee pot in the morning (not to mention getting out once and awhile).

WoodySt

Trad climber

Riverside

Nov 26, 2007 - 12:37am PT

Phil,
I'll be seeing Bill in a couple of days and pass your message.

Politics! What politics? I'm the soul of boring moderation.

Ed Hartouni

Trad climber

Livermore, CA

Topic Author's Reply - Nov 26, 2007 - 01:37am PT

happy birthday Woody, and many returns...
thanks for the update on the "Riverside Bunch," I had been there only a very short time in my climbing career but knew of you guys none the less.

Everyday we have is a celebration. Here's to you!

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

sorry, just posting out loud.

Nov 26, 2007 - 02:53am PT

nice post Ed, I got a copy of the old red guide recently from the gal that owns the climbing shop in Lone Pine, and as I read that I thought that it would be cool to post it up. Never got around to it, so thanks. Such a kewl book. Without having ever really climbed with the desert rats, the real ones, they did inspire me with their routes.

and here we are with our own woodmeister. (that sounds wrong)

anyways, Watusi's post reminded me of an earlier thread I started...

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=181143&msg=284907#msg284907

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

sorry, just posting out loud.

Nov 26, 2007 - 03:27pm PT

solid literature!

:)

Kastle? like the skis maybe?

very cool gal and cool shop.

she's moving to the signal soon, easier to see for visiting bolt clippers.

Moof

Big Wall climber

A cube at my soul sucking job in Oregon

Nov 26, 2007 - 05:38pm PT

Hey Woody,

Not sure if the timing is right, but did you know a Steve Stephens? He was in the Riverside SAR about that time.

Jaybro

Social climber

The West

Nov 26, 2007 - 06:46pm PT

Happy birthday Woody! and keep it going!

"will continue beating the little drum as long as Mother Nature and Father Time are patient, compassionate, sympathetic and empathetic."

"I get up each morning, crawl to the coffee pot and am damn grateful I'm still around to drink it."

-sorry, but those lines are too good not to steal! Thanks!