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Rankin
climber
North Carolina
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Very shocking. Feels like the end of an era. Best wishes to the son left behind.
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Eric Meade
climber
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I remember meeting Bachar the day after he did the Nose and Half Dome in a day, the first time in the mid-eighties. I was in the Camp 4 parking lot sorting gear for a big wall. He didn't know who I was, but Bachar was animated and psyched to share his story with someone. I did not realize how notable that feat was for some years. In fact, I don't think many people relaize what a true bad ass he was for the world of climbing. I am truly saddened to hear he is gone.
Eric
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Ragz
climber
Tartarus, black hole of the internet
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Saddened deeply, JB was one of my climbing heroes. Never got the chance to know him except through a couple emails about shoes.
Still, there is a sense of the loss. Guys like him inspired me to climb, inspired me to keep climbing after I got hurt, and inspired me to keep a higher standard.I was headed to Dike wall later this week, not sure I want to go there now.
JB you will be missed.
Love and peace to his family.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
OR
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He was John Bachar, a freckled kid who's face gleamed joy.
Then he became John Bachar.
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chappy
Social climber
ventura
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Yesterday evening my wife wasn't feeling very well. She wished to listen to some music. I got the laptop out and put in a CD. It was a collection of songs by her favorite band the Rolling Stones. As the songs played I strummed along with my guitar as I often do. I hadn't listened to this particular CD before and had no idea what song would come up next. The familiar melody of Paint it Black started up. Wow, I thought I haven't heard this tune in years. I was messing around trying to figure out the chords while reflecting on the lyrics..."No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue I could not foresee this thing happening to you." "Like a new born baby it just happens every day." What's it like to lose a loved one I thought? How did the Stones deal with the loss of their band mate Brian Jones? As the song played my cell phone rang. Who could be calling? Should I answer our let it go to voice mail? I picked up. It was Joe Hedge. He had some bad news and I better sit down. With I want to see you paint it, paint it black, black as night black as coal playing in the background Joe informed of John's death. It sent chills down my spine. We all lost a bandmate here. One of our band of brothers of our climbing community. While John and I will always be connected by a punch thrown in the Camp 4 parking lot some twenty odd years ago there were a lot of other far more positive memories. Hanging out and climbing with him while he wintered in Joshua tree. Going to see Phil Woods play (an early sax inspiration). Hanging on a rope taking photos of him as he soloed the Nabisco Wall. Along with Ron Kauk he was the best climber of my generation. His soloing defined him as a climber and a person. He had such a mastery of unroped climbing its hard to fathom that he would ever fall. It was other wordly and was in part what made him a rock God to so many. I guess he was human after all. Perhaps this is the best compliment we can give him. A unique and special human being that will be missed by many. Rest in peace John.
Chappy
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ATS
Social climber
escondido, ca
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Wow. As one of the administrators for the JTree page on Mountain Project, I was giddy at 42 to receive an email from John about a bit of the content. In my mind's eye, he has been so revered over the last two decades, that I couldn't believe it.
Here is another link of John climbing, this time in Joshua Tree. Love the little show off hang on the Beaver.
My respect and admiration,
Adam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03udLvtNR6Y&feature=related
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Katie_I
Mountain climber
Wyoming
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John Bachar's climbing accomplishments were superhuman--that goes without saying. I knew him more as a writer, and he was one of the greatest thinkers I ever had the honor to work with--a sharp intellect, a wonderful sense of integrity, responsibility and humor, and a surprising humility.
I wish there was something I could say--but I always used to call him when I was at loss for words. I'll miss him,
Katie
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Echo
Trad climber
San Diego, CA.
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Unbelievably sad to hear this news. He was one of the greats and will truly be missed. RIP John...
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SooperCooper
Trad climber
SoCal
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Rest in Peace Sir. You will always be one of my heroes.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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the man didn't need wings.
on the edge of exchanging mediums,
i believe john would utter a sincere thanks to gravity.
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nb3000
Social climber
the hairy edge
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a real badass and true inspiration to so so many
rest in peace
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wbw
climber
'cross the great divide
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Though I never met him, John Bachar made me proud to call myself a rockclimber. I remember seeing him in the Valley and feeling like I was seeing God.
Derek Hersey was a very close friend, and this comes as a greater shock than when Derek fell.
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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John,
I'm going to miss you, my friend. Ever since I met you at Horsetooth in the '70s I've been a disciple of your honesty and integrity. As I got to know you over the years I learned that the bluster and pride that I bruised myself on at Horsetooth was really me seeing, for the first time, someone who encouraged and, yes, demanded honesty and integrity from all those around him. I'm a better person because of you; thank you for that. John, You had climbed so hard and climbed so high for so may years that I'd come to assume that you are immune to gravity. Sadly, today I learned that you aren't.
Bon voyage,
Malcolm
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tonym
climber
Oklahoma
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A great loss to the climbing world, sad day for all of us.
Heartfelt thoughts and prayers to John and the Bachar family.
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Double D
climber
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Today I sit saddened at the loss of an old friend, John Bachar, who attained legendry status through his super-human climbing abilities. He possessed some God-given gifts that very few have ever been blessed with and fewer yet ever exercised. John could make anything look easy and never had I encountered anyone with such smooth footwork. It was indeed magical to climb and boulder with John back in the day.
Although we had little contact over the past 30 years our recent exchanges over the phone and emails brought the reassurance that John was the same old mate. He was articulate, intelligent and most of all humorous. Whether it was sitting around listing to Coltrane, sitting around the campfire exchanging stories or hiking up to the base of Tangerine Trip to play music while the rain undulated like a curtain past the reach of the overhangs above, he always approached life with an uncommon zeal. Like Coltrane, I think John had a special connection with his Maker.
Yet in spite of all his accomplishments and fame he would be the first to admit that he was merely a man. And like the Bible says, “it is appointed once for all men to die but after this the judgment.” Salvation is between a man and his Maker. It’s my sincerest desire that John sits before a living God through eternity.
My deepest condolences go out to all of John’s friends and family, especially his son Tyrus.
Godspeed John. We’ll miss you bro.
Dave Diegelman
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russ clune
climber
new paltz, ny
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Whoa! I just heard about JB's death. Just can't believe it--what a bummer and loss for us all. We'll miss you, John.
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Robinson
Trad climber
Chattanooga
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Here's a shot of John cooking dinner for us at my house in November of 2008.
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