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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Feb 26, 2016 - 08:26pm PT
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Well done Bob Gaines.
Thanks for putting that together.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Feb 26, 2016 - 08:47pm PT
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Wonderful remembrance, Bob. Well done.
Coz was exemplary in his ability to help a brother find his best. He helped a lot of people, as well as found his own excellence in so many ways. Some people mistook his drive as competitive, but in reality he was the kind of person who would prod everyone to do their best in order to raise the overall ante of the day. A great man.
--John Middendorf
Ps. This one, too: http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=2755740
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Bushman
Social climber
Elk Grove, California
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Feb 26, 2016 - 09:23pm PT
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Going on by
I believe it was up on Higher Cath.
'Round eighty four or eighty five
My partner and I were plodding 'long
On Northeast Butt. with views on high
When two swift climbers a 'singing a song
Flew up the Mary's Tears I saw
Mr Cosgrove and Mr Middendorf
Casually vaulting up on by
T'wards ominous the Crucifix
And wondered I
As our traverse crossed past their route
But off they went and up they'd go
Before I could even say hello
They disappeared into the sky
-bushman
02/25/2016
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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Feb 26, 2016 - 10:20pm PT
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Since Coz was one of many banned, we have just a few quotes of his to re-post.
This one taken from Karl Baba's quote at: http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Hey-Coz-Sure-would-like-to-hear-the-story-of-Southern-Belle/t271n.html
Coz wrote
"I never set out to be a great climber, but the Belle threw me into another realm of self, an enlighten being if only for a moment. The run outs and the danger slipped me into a gap, I can not and do not want to find again.
I for whatever reason held that face as holy, beautiful and divine, the rap route (Growing Up), killed me inside, and Dave for that matter. It was if some one spray painted the Mona Lisa. But I know the same could be said for drilling period.
The Buddha said," you can not perceive what you can not understand," I do not understand why I climb, so I can not perceive an answer. I am just a climber, who loved climbing, I know not what I do or why. Do any of us? Really? Maybe that sounds simple, but trying to answer question with no answer, is a waste of time and thought.
As far as the future having value and morals, then yes, I am sad, when the last great places are tarnished what then do we do, what then do we value. I am no saint, I have my sins, if others feel different great. I still say we should leave the face alone from rap-bolting, so others one day, can swim with the red serpents in the golden desert of the South Face."
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old craghag
Sport climber
Bishop
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Feb 26, 2016 - 10:49pm PT
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Coz was always my hero. He came to my rescue when I was trying to lead Silent Screem and wigged 1/2 up the climb. I was paralyzed with fear unable to move up or down. My belayer was laughing at me for my failure but Coz took pity on me and soloed to the top and lowered down a rope. I also saw him catch a climber that whipped off the top of a boulder problem. He full on caught her in mid air. He was amazing and such a jokester. I'll never forget when he served me chocolates that turned out to be exlax. He was laughing so hard I couldn't get mad. He will b greatly missed. He changed my life for the better and I'm so thankful for all the time I spent with him.Truly one of the last Mohicans.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Feb 27, 2016 - 04:46am PT
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That was a fine obituary, BG. You were blessed to know such a gifted climber so well.
When I visualize "Coz" it is almost always with reference to the back side of Half Dome.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1306859/3rd-Ascent-of-Southern-Belle
"Scott had a penchant for free climbing big walls. In 1989, he and Dave Schultz completed the first free ascent of Southern Belle (5.12+) on the south face of Half Dome, which Scott called "the scariest, most beautiful thing I've ever done."--Bob Gaines
The Two Belle-ringers
You can rail at fate all you like, but
You may still meet your end while on a hike.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Feb 27, 2016 - 05:59am PT
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So true my friend, he heard the drumroll, refused the call, built back up, Still, the last frame iz-da final curtain call.
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shipoopoi
Big Wall climber
oakland
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Feb 27, 2016 - 09:02am PT
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so sorry to hear about my friend scott passing away. we spent many years in the ditch and meadows. we were on yosar together for years. we even compared notes on our girlfriends, who were friends themselves. we got to climb together, smoke and hang out for years. when project bandaloop made their second performance ever in cityrock, i even got to vertical dance with scott.
he was a great individual, with a big opinion that he always put forth. he leaves a legacy of difficult and classic routes. he was a talented climber, motivated to train and climb in the style that our teacher, john bachar, put forth for us. it is such a bummer that after all that healing and pain he went through to get better that he will not be around to enjoy it.
condolences from my wife heather and i to all his friends, and especially his sister and mom who were instrumental in his recovery.
steve schneider
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dhayan
climber
culver city, ca
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Feb 27, 2016 - 01:59pm PT
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So sorry for everyone's loss who was close to him. Although I never had the opportunity to meet him, I have great respect and admiration for Scott and appreciate the vitality he seemed to live with/embody. Best wishes to all his family, friends and loved ones. May we all be bold enough to embody the unique vitality we are bestowed, whether that means climbing with grace 100' out above gear on Southern Belle, or just living our "everyday" lives.
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Matt J.
Trad climber
Castro Valley, CA
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Feb 27, 2016 - 07:32pm PT
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Though we had never met, Scott kindly shared an adventure story with me for my "Yosemite Epics" book in 2011. He described the perilous climb he and Walt Shipley completed with great difficulty in 1990. Here's a link to his tale, "The Affliction."
http://sierrasplendor.com/2016/02/27/scottcosgrove/
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L
climber
Just Livin' the Dream in Pacific Grove, CA
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Feb 27, 2016 - 07:53pm PT
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Scott was one of the best climbing instructors in Jtree. He got me up Dapple Mare the first time I roped up with him (no small feat), and had a way of making every climb fun as hell, regardless of how much suffering was involved.
Sitting around the fire at the end of a good day of climbing, listening to his stories, watching his quick smile...that's how I'll remember Cos.
My deepest condolences to his many friends and family.
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Dimes
Social climber
Retired from Everything
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Feb 28, 2016 - 03:34pm PT
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east side underground
climber
paul linaweaver hilton crk ca
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Feb 28, 2016 - 03:47pm PT
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very sorry to here this RIP coz .....bummer
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Feb 28, 2016 - 03:50pm PT
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Great photos, Kevin.
Thanks.
BAd
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Feb 28, 2016 - 04:49pm PT
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Wow.
Rest in peace Big Man.
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Bob_Banks
climber
Santa Barbara, CA
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Feb 28, 2016 - 06:06pm PT
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In the late 90s Phil Requist and I were staying at Cosgrove’s house in Joshua Tree for an extended climbing weekend. Scott was recovering from some foot surgery that he had done to correct some issues that he had from being rag-dolled out the back of a pick-up truck (or some sh#t, I can’t really remember) a couple years before. On day 1 of the trip, I took a bad bouldering fall, mangled 95% of the tendons in my right ankle and ended up in the ER and then crutches. Not wanting to bum out the remainder of Phil’s trip, I opted to stay on Scott’s couch. The two of us, Scott in his recliner and me on the couch, drinking beer and watching tv, both with our legs elevated above our hearts, we must have been quite a pathetic sight. On day 3, I was a bit stir crazy and Cosgrove needed supplies, so Phil and I offered to make a run into town. Coz gave me a list of sh#t to buy and one of the items was “quality bacon”. After he said it, he looked at me steely-eyed and serious and repeated it for emphasis, “QUALITY BACON”. He was so serious and so over the top, it felt like I was being tapped on the shoulders with Excalibur and being sent on the Quest for the Holy Grail. I thought it was so funny that I never forgot it, and to this day I don’t buy, or even see bacon without thinking of him. And unlike most people, when the name Scott Cosgrove comes up, I don’t immediately think of the hyper-talented badass that he was, I think of ‘quality bacon’. There’s worse ways to be remembered I am sure. I guess the moral of the story is that life is too short to eat shitty bacon. Spring for the good stuff.
I have a photo of Cosgrove and Steve Edwards bouldering in Joshua Tree that I'll scan and share tomorrow. A lot of the SoCal climbing community knew both of these guys and it was rough 24 hrs last week.
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Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2016 - 09:00pm PT
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Thanks for those great photos Kevin and to all who've posted in remembrance of Scott.
Cory's thread parallels this one very nicely as well.
I've been in touch with Scott's sister and some of his closest friends over the past few difficult days to discuss a gathering in his memory.
Pending confirmation, we're working on a gathering in Joshua Tree in late March and will provide details as soon as possible.
PB
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Feb 28, 2016 - 10:21pm PT
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After digging through the attic, finding my slides, and learning how to use the scanner, I can now contribute a couple of memories. Scott could pick the right line. We wandered out to the White Cliffs of Dover and he set up Quest for Fire. Somehow, I got up the climb and was quite pleased. Scott immediately decided that he could take it down without rock shoes. Bubble deftly burst.
I had my heart set on Figures on m first visit to JTree. He deemed it unwise to take someone he had not climbed with on that. A year and a half later, we climbed again. When I asked what he had in mind, he said that he was willing to do Figures with me. I was thrilled - and most amazed that he remembered that I mentioned that long before. My husband got a few good photos. I enlarged this one and it hangs in my living room. Whenever someone comes to the house, I play charades with this. Two tiny dots in the frame - Figures on a Landscape. ARGH - scanned it backwards.....
My next qwest - dismantle the home office to find that photo of Scott confidently yapping away, spewing beta as he styles it up Leave it to Beaver.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Feb 29, 2016 - 08:37am PT
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Those Kevin Powell portraits are truly Quality Bacon.
When Scott greeted me, his eyes would get big and round. He'd flash those big white teeth. You can see intention in the eyes. In those moments I could see his true nature. Completely disarming, playful, almost childlike in his sincerity. He was the archetypal "kid you grew up with on the block". Yes, he was also a true badass on the stone.
Hang fire Cozzy,
Roy
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