Half Dome-On the Edge -Bard & Meyers 1975 Anyone Done It?

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 21 - 40 of total 112 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Nov 30, 2009 - 09:47pm PT
Dogtown to the rescue!
nutjob

Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
Nov 30, 2009 - 10:15pm PT
Add another vote to the "I really want to see these pictures" category. I've perused that topo a time or two, with the words "some day" on my lips.
Fuzzywuzzy

climber
suspendedhappynation
Dec 2, 2009 - 01:55am PT
I remember Dale saying at one point it was right "on-the-edge" = tremendous exposure.

Had dinner with the two remaining Bards last week. That look is still in Dale's eyes. He was doing great.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 29, 2009 - 12:06pm PT
Bump for the money shots!!!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2010 - 01:45pm PT
Gotcha Dog!!!

Kick down those OTE pics, Dude!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - May 29, 2010 - 01:28pm PT
I'm still Doggin' ya, Dog!!!
slabbo

Trad climber
fort garland, colo
May 29, 2010 - 02:53pm PT
Wasn't the rumor that you needed to bring a pistol for this route 'cause the snakes were so big in the flare ???? !!!!
TripL7

Trad climber
san diego
May 29, 2010 - 03:32pm PT
I vaguely recall George telling me that they were scared to death(something to that effect)secondary to the lack of pro and the abundance of exposure.

Of course now a days with all the wide cam sh#t...

EDIT: Meyers was one of the boldest dudes i new and of course that goes for Dale without saying...
survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
May 29, 2010 - 04:11pm PT
If those two were scared, I probably have no business there.....
TripL7

Trad climber
san diego
May 29, 2010 - 05:00pm PT
survival!

Like i was alluding to, you could probably protect it well with today's pro...
TripL7

Trad climber
san diego
May 29, 2010 - 09:14pm PT
I don't specifically remember him admitting that they were scared...he might have.

He might have just scared the sh#t out of me, and then asked me if i wanted to go and do it. I could never tell if he was serious or just messing with my head...probably both.

Which reminds me of a story...

George drove a V-dub van, and i would occasionally join him on an excursion to Bishop from Mammoth. First thing he would do was peel off a four or five foot length of dental floss(this was for his upper teeth)wrap one side around his left hand, then shift it into first gear and we were off. Steering with his knees, elbows when necessary. An occasional shifting of gears was about the only time he used his hands.

The highlight of the trip was Cadillac Curve(he took the side/frontage roads)at top speed. You might ask, how fast can a VW bus go? To damn fast, especially down hill while the driver is flossing his teeth and constantly checking the rear view mirror to see how his teeth are looking.

And then the whole process would begin again on the ride back. Peel off another 4-5 ft. of dental floss for his lower teeth...

The return trip being the hairiest.

Cadillac Curve was the highlight. With the passenger sitting on the right side, peering down the two-three hundred foot scree embankment. And there at the bottom of the canyon, amongst the variously displaced wrecks was the '59 Caddie for which the curve got its name. George giving it everything the van had on the swerving approach and downhill run pass C.C.

Did i mention that he would start the whole adventure with "The last time I did it in...so many minutes"(Mammoth to Bishop/Bishop to Mammoth)letting you know that he was intending on beating his previous record.

Rarely a word was spoken in between. George preoccupied with his teeth, and me acting nonchalant, as if i was oblivious to the whole charade...

There were never any dull moments on the ride to Bishop and back...it was definitely "on the edge"!!
TripL7

Trad climber
san diego
May 31, 2010 - 04:21pm PT
survival- "if those two were scared, I probably have no business there..."

But that would be all the more reason to go and do it!

EDIT: Thirty five years and only one ascent(2nd?). What a bunch of Chicken Shitz!
Largo

Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
May 31, 2010 - 08:18pm PT
I sure wish Bruce D. (Dogtown) would post up those pics of the 2nd ascent sometime soon.

JL
tom woods

Gym climber
Bishop, CA
May 31, 2010 - 09:56pm PT
Largo wants pics- how can anyone refuse?
nutjob

Trad climber
Berkeley, CA
Jun 1, 2010 - 01:06am PT
So what might the "Road to 'On the Edge'" look like?

What are some more accessible hard 5.10 flared chimneys?

Silent Line has some funky runnel things that can be attacked chimney style....

Maybe some photos or a modern reconnoiter can gather data for building an "On the Edge" simulator in Gary, Scuffy, or Zanderland?
ß Î Ø T Ç H

climber
Aug 10, 2010 - 05:24pm PT
Now that there's a trail to the Diving Board maybe this rig will see more action . P.S. Dogtown - come out of hiding and kick down the pics for crying out loud .
TripL7

Trad climber
san diego
Aug 10, 2010 - 07:18pm PT
Like someone already mentioned, JD perhaps, get your technique down and Generator Crack wired. First right side in, then left side in, then laps. Then solo right side in, etc. And be able to do it with a big smile on your mug after a long day elsewhere.

I recall Dale pulling up with Bridwell one afternoon, running down to the base of GC and flying up it in less than a minute. This was at the beginning of the season and the Bird got up to the crux and asked for a rope(although he had soloed it many times). It's about tech. and being in O/W shape. And Dale had/has the perfect strength to weight ratio for O/W's.

I remember the first time I did Peter Pan(not flared though)with Bob Finn, who led it with impeccable style. I assumed it was easy, because he made it look easy. You might add that to the above list of starters that the Warbler suggested.

With all the available pro for wide cracks these day's I am surprised this gem hasn't had more action. It's a beautiful hike up through L.Y. to the base. Maybe bivy there or near the base.

Edit: Ya Dawg, let's see the pics, or I'll tell another dumb/totally unrelated story(to late to nuke the one up thread)!
Zander

Trad climber
Berkeley
Aug 10, 2010 - 11:45pm PT
Bump for the pics!
50

climber
Stumptown
Aug 11, 2010 - 01:02am PT
Xres Studio has some nice images of On the Edge and vicinity...

http://www.xrez.com/divingboard_giga.html

Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 24, 2010 - 08:38pm PT
I'm back on ya Dogtown!!!

Post 'em if you got 'em!!! All of us are on the edge...so On The Edge! LOL
Messages 21 - 40 of total 112 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta