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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Aug 25, 2012 - 11:46am PT
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I wrote the following paragraph in a post on the "what happened to rc.com" thread. But I think it belongs here as well (in spite of a promise not to mention it again).
Beneath the various controversies, struttings, preenings, posings, and teapot tempests one finds here---things that are pretty much the same as on other sites---there seems to be a deep and generous current of common decency, and that is not something that appears everywhere. Whatever age may have done to our climbing, it seems to have burnished our communal character.
I already know from experience that this site is likely to account for a vast majority of the contributions. We know how to extend a hand to our brothers and sisters when they need us. Many of us have been enriched by Pat's writing and music, and now we have an opportunity to offer our thanks.
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 25, 2012 - 12:10pm PT
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Studly, I bouldered with John Long one day in Yosemite. He
was in his hey-day, and I was pretty much moving fast over
my hill, probably the later 1970's. I showed him
some of the boulder routes I put up in
Camp 4 with Bates and Higgins not quite a decade earlier, and
he was astute and aware of some of them. The overhanging corner
people named "Ament's Arete" suited his tremendous dynamic ability,
and he hung low from the main holds and did a great,
flying double-lunge to the top -- something I've never seen
anyone do since. I have always appreciated his abilities,
as a climber and a writer. We've been friends for years, and
all this stuff that circulates about our being in some
competition never really existed with us -- only with others
who seemed to want it that way. I always thought of myself
as part of the family of California climbers. I climbed with
virtually every one of them, and many on dozens of occasions.
Bachar always made it a practice to find me when he knew I was
going to come to the Valley. He was a master at conjuring me
and making sure I did my first climb (each trip there) with him.
Rich Goldstone is just one of the best spirits that has ever walked
the beautiful earth. I cherish the many climbs we have done, but
none more than when we first met in 196...5, I believe, and
spent a couple days on the big walls of the Royal Gorge and Black
Canyon.... To see how well he still climbs, his mastery, which
is the result of decades, is truly inspiring.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Aug 25, 2012 - 05:15pm PT
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Amen Jody. We are not wealthy but we do what we can.
bumpers
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 25, 2012 - 05:33pm PT
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I am grateful to be able the give something back to the community
Wishing you good vibes Pat.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 25, 2012 - 09:56pm PT
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Front page Bump
Peace
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Aug 26, 2012 - 12:27am PT
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I cherish the many climbs we have done, but
none more than when we first met in 196...5, I believe, and
spent a couple days on the big walls of the Royal Gorge and Black
Canyon....
Pat at work in the Royal Gorge in 196...5:
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 26, 2012 - 10:29am PT
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Pat, some folks just love to kid around. That would be me. I've been reading your articles and hearing about you since I was 15 when I started climbing. Im 53 now, and I've still never done the Naked Edge, but one day I hope. Keep on keeping on, you're a rock star!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmeUuoxyt_E
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 26, 2012 - 12:12pm PT
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hey there say, all.... still thinking on this... just was busy with lots of kids here...
not sure if this needs a bump yet, as it's still on front page...
but this will keep it there, :)
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2012 - 05:35pm PT
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Great pictures, rgold!
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 27, 2012 - 06:05am PT
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Aug 27, 2012 - 11:17am PT
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I am happy and proud to participate in this fundraiser. The climbing community, and the supertopo family, has rallied to help my family;...It is my pleasure to help Pat out;..it's a small thank you to Pat for all he has done for the climbing community........check sent today;.....For my family, it's not just about the financial help;..it's about a community of climbings coming together to help each other out;...it's a damn good feeling to know that so many care about each of us, and that our fantastic group of "unique individuals" in the climbing community has "got our backs".
When I first started climbing in the early 70s, Pat's stories and pictures inspired me and facinated me;...he has giving alot to the climbing world. Through the internet and facebook, our climbing "heros" of our youth are now our friends and our brothers;....as it should be.
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 27, 2012 - 12:49pm PT
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Thank you so much, Todd. You have said it so eloquently
and perfectly.
Pat
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Roger Briggs
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Aug 27, 2012 - 01:51pm PT
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A Big Thanks to All of the Climbing Communities for Helping Pat Ament!
Less than a week ago the Boulder Climbing Community put out the call for help for one of our own, who was down and struggling financially for survival. We had never done anything like this before, but hoped the internet would help ignite the cause. So we posted fundraiser information on the BCC website and set up a PayPal, then reached out to other communities of climbers. Almost immediately, the SuperTopo community stepped up, and the Mountain Project community, and the American Alpine Club community, and apparently many others. Because the donations have been pouring in, as well as many words of appreciation for Pat on the forums. We’ll be able to give all of this money, so generously donated by climbers, to Pat.
In case you still want to donate, just go to: http://boulderclimbingcommunity.net/2012/08/22/pat-ament-fundraiser/
THANKS TO CLIMBERS EVERYWHERE FOR COMING TOGETHER TO HELP!
Roger Briggs
Boulder Climbing Community
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 27, 2012 - 07:09pm PT
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Thank you Roger, for all you've done and for those who have had
the faith and courage to participate.
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AE
climber
Boulder, CO
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Aug 27, 2012 - 07:11pm PT
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Actually Star Span, I believe (cover shot) halfway up Boulder Canyon on the S. side;
Radio Andromeda - isn't that an offwidth on Castle Rock?
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Aug 27, 2012 - 07:14pm PT
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yeah, I dyslexed them due to the 'spaceyness' of their names.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 27, 2012 - 10:23pm PT
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.check sent today;.....For my family, it's not just about the financial help;..it's about a community of climbings coming together to help each other out;...it's a damn good feeling to know that so many care about each of us, and that our fantastic group of "unique individuals" in the climbing community has "got our backs".
When I first started climbing in the early 70s, Pat's stories and pictures inspired me and facinated me;...he has giving alot to the climbing world. Through the internet and facebook, our climbing "heros" of our youth are now our friends and our brothers;....as it should be.
Well said Todd!
bump for Pat, who has set the stage for what many of us have performed on!
Thanks Pat
Peace
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 27, 2012 - 10:58pm PT
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When I first started climbing in the early 70s, Pat's stories and pictures inspired me
Yeah, that photo of Star Span inspired me and some friends, twenty-five-odd years ago, to go and wade Boulder Creek to visit a crag that, then and now, sees little traffic but looks real inviting. We got utterly spanked on Star Span; gear seemed poor, moves desperate. Left with tails between legs, unanswered questions and a heightened respect.....
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 28, 2012 - 12:06am PT
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That's a photo of Bill Briggs, as he tried to follow
Star Span, after I had led what
probably was the second ascent, though I'm not sure.
That was about 1975... or early '76.
I led the first ascent with Roger Briggs, and he was in
good shape at the time and thought it was fierce.
A whole slew of good climbers tried it at the time,
and all of them more or less met their match. I had gotten back into
half way decent shape, and that was at the time I did all the
5.10s and 5.11s on Castle Rock one afternoon, what Bill
Briggs and I called the Castle Rock Marathon....
This climb was what inspired Bob Godfrey to write in
his book CLIMB!, "Mistakenly identified as a has-been,
Ament got back into best shape and...." It wasn't
anything close to my best shape, but I realized I still
loved to climb...
By the way, the real crux of this climb is above where Bill
is, where the rock ceases to overhang and goes back vertical!
That's a surprise!
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steveA
Trad climber
bedford,massachusetts
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Aug 28, 2012 - 11:32am PT
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While I was soloing the Upper Exum on the Grand, a few weeks ago, one of Pat's songs kept replaying in my head, over and over. It was his piece "Stonecutter". One of his best, in my opinion.
Donation sent via Paypall
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