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Dick_Lugar
Trad climber
Indiana
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Dec 31, 2007 - 01:04pm PT
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Mark Morrison, Jeremy Griffiths, Wade Griffith, Kevin Seibke, Pat Parmenter, Jonathon Waters(sp?)
Honorable mention: Albert "Sunny" Korfanta
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atchafalaya
climber
Babylon
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Dec 31, 2007 - 01:21pm PT
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Rusty Baillie
David Lovejoy
Mike Goff
Syndicata Granitica crew...
Robbins
Matt Perlman
Dave Shotwell
Todd Kearns
I started climbing in ariz, so those folks putting up climbs in Az were who we looked up to. Robbins came thru and put up routes at the Granite Dells and thumb Butte. Barber came thru too...
Oh yea, that old bearded f*#ker in jeans and Ebs who walked all our topropes in Sullivans canyon in 1987. That dude could climb!!!
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MSmith
Big Wall climber
Portland, Oregon
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Dec 31, 2007 - 02:26pm PT
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Jim Bouck, if you're out there, thanks for your time taking kids like me to Joshua Tree, just hanging out and being intentional about character.
Tim Hall
Robbins
Harding
Bridwell
Jensen
Largo, via a cool poster I had on my wall as a midteen. Largo is making a wild leap for a jug with lots of air and the following poem:
A true adventure flouts one's common sense,
Like swapping life for one's experience
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Dec 31, 2007 - 02:43pm PT
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Mine are split between early mentors (real and virutal) and regular partners and a couple of people that I know less well but whose approach to weekend warriordom is something I do try to emulate.
J
Lawrence G.
Bernie R.
Kate R.
Allen C.
Leo B.
Ed H.
Eric G.
Jo W.
Clint C.
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Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
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Dec 31, 2007 - 04:02pm PT
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Doug Weins; After all of my early adventures, my partner and I went to the Fresno Robbins Mh. Shop to report and get advice from Doug. A wonderful encouraging, calm and confident man. Taken far too young. He still inspires me, not so much for his achievements, which were considerable, but for his attitude and manner.
Larry Zulim; My mentor and still my hero. Enthusiastic, fun, encouraging. I am proud to have followed him around Yosemite like a puppy dog!
Mike Latendresse; A brilliant and incredibly competant man, with whom I have had the most amazing and fun adventures. Always pushes me and anyone else who teams with him. Many of my best techniques and habits were learned from Mike.
Mike Borrelli
Tuckess Menchu; Two partners who have taught and encouraged me through friendship and caring.
Richard Leversee for pushing me into some adventures that I probably would not have done otherwise. And for appreciating some of the weird stuff that got me sidetracked from climbing.
Walt Shipley, for his wild attitude, but solid friendship.
Barry Chambers, who I helped influence from caving to climbing, but who now takes me under his wing.
Numerous partners whose names I can't remember.
All the explorers who came through Fresno and gave inspiring slide shows at the old Robbin's Mt. Shop in the '70s and '80s.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Dec 31, 2007 - 04:06pm PT
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Gotta second (and steal) this one;
"Richard Leversee for pushing me into some adventures that I probably would not have done otherwise. And for appreciating some of the weird stuff that got me sidetracked from climbing. "
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Dec 31, 2007 - 07:49pm PT
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started to make a list and realized it was impossible to narrow it down without thinking about it. I may have a list in another thread already and man names already mentioned that taught me the stuff about climbing that matters.
for sure over the last several years, the SPH crew.
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Chippychopperone
Social climber
SLC, UT
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Dec 31, 2007 - 07:52pm PT
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Ron Olevsky: for engineering routes in Zion in which I could safely learn wall climbing
George Lowe: for doing routes so far ahead of his time
Charlie Porter: for inspiring me to solo big walls
John Middendorf: for writing a book in which helped me learn wall climbing
John Long: for writing a book in which helped me learn wall climbing
Harvey Carter: for putting up some damn good desert routes
Layton Kor: for putting up some damn good desert routes
Calder Stratford: for being a humble badass
John Otto: for being a nut with a big drill and some steel pipe
The White Harlem Crew: for being the raddest dudes ever to climb with!
TDA
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Dec 31, 2007 - 07:54pm PT
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It's great to see how many people were influenced by others that they met and climbed with. That's what I was going to do, give some props to the unknown/little know climbers that are great or greatly influenced us. For me its a mix.
Greg Scopazzi, between greg and mountaineering freedom of the hills we survived the early years. Greg taught me to keep going and not give up on our first successful wall even though nothing went according to plan. With his encouragement, we beat the urge to bail and a whole new world opened up.
This guy named Wade. I don't remember his last name, but when I was starting out we had some great times. I went from climbing 5.8 to 5.10 in a week becuase he showed me that I could. It was strangley simple. I hope he's out here on the Taco somewhere.
Werner and Merry Braun, both taught me everything abount yosemite climbing and a whole lot more. Lot's of how to live right from these two. Heck I quote Werner all the time, "It's not the boots, its the guy in the boots."
My buddy Peter, probably the worst influence a climber could have. When we get together, we shoot the sh#t until noon, decide not to climb roped, then go bouldering and get almost nothing done.
Most of my best days have been with Peter.
Jake Whitaker, for showing me that guys that I know can climb really hard.
Gaston Rebuffat for the book that opened my eyes to the whole deal.
I was always impressed with Scott Burke's work on the nose. It was too hard, but he stuck with it like no one should.
Is that ten? Don't matter no one will read this far anyway
Tom
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hashbro
Trad climber
Mental Physics........
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Dec 31, 2007 - 08:09pm PT
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Well my personal list is gonna be somewhat southern Cali-centric.
Of course I'll start with a Graham (Mike), then jump to an Accomazzo, move on to a predictable Long, move sideways to a somewhat trendy but important Barber, then hop backwards to a Muir (Robs), hop again forward to a Cox followed by a big jump forward with an also popular but critical Bachar, a tippy lurch back again to a Harrison (Richard), then way into the future again with an equally important Kauk and then finally a most critical and inspirational (and 50 year old) Aidan Maguire.
Oh yeah and I can't forget to throw an all important Erikson (E) on the stack (though I'm now at 11).
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NinjaChimp
climber
someplace in-between
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Dec 31, 2007 - 08:49pm PT
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Mark Leffler
Eric Schmidt
Alan Moore
Tommy Caldwell
Beth Roden
Ron Kauk
Kevin Cuckavich
Vic Copeland
Tim Doyle
John Sherman
-Justin
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 31, 2007 - 08:49pm PT
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10 climbers?
Rich Simms??? You start at 0 for suggesting this impossible list.
Good on yah mate.
TEN, That ain't gonnah cover it, not by a long shot.
I'm quite certain 150 would be a squeeze.
1) Doug Munoz aka AKDog:
Because when we were but 13, he suggested we start climbing.
2) Royal Robbins:
Yah, well, Basic Rockcraft kept us alive.
3) Larry Stone aka LLoads:
Would pick me up every Friday at High School and drive us to JT in his Dodge Power Wagon, with his Colombian gold and a Heineken sixer at the ready.
4) Al Bartlett aka Big Al:
Who let us in on the idea that Yos wasn’t all and that Sierra high country granite beckoned.
5) Darrel Hensel aka Henny:
Toted the rope for me on my first good string of 5.10 slabs.
6) Erik Erickson aka E:
Extended a rack of 4 nuts and tossed me out on lead on one of my first 5.10’s.
7) Kevin Powell aka Dimes:
Showed me the beauty of Jim Morrison & The Doors and granted entrée to the Stonemasters
8) John Long:
For his suggestion to get on with it and throw ourselves up on things NOW.
9) Dan Michael:
It was his idea we do Astroman, in spite of the fact we’d put few Valley standards under our belts.
10) Bachar:
Who came up with the silly idea, backed by copious example, to go full bore, full time.
11) Eric Patterson aka Goatboy:
Who this year supplied the chiba and held the rope for my most recent forays into the high crags. (NEVER underestimate the influence of your current ropemates, that means YOU Chiloe & Stich.)
And all the rest of ya, you know who you are -Jeff Sewell, John Freriks, Russ Walling, Mike Paul, Mike & Mari, DEEE, Randy Vogel, Craig Fry, Spencer, BVB, T Gordon Guy Kesee, Nick Badyrka, Shawn Curtis, Maria, Dick Shockley et al, just for starters...
…*WAY* too many to list here and it’s a CRIME that I have not done so (may have to do some ongoing editing):
Thanks & Happy New Year!!!
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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Dec 31, 2007 - 10:18pm PT
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Justin,
Tim Doyle's an amazing climber, so static and strong. You ever climb with Ben Harden up in Squampton?
Jake Whittaker's another offensively strong climber. Freerider in a day is pretty proud.
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Levy
Big Wall climber
So Cal
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It's so hard to limit it to just 10 but here goes:
Ted Polk- he sponsored me at age 14 so I could enroll in the Sierra club's BMTC, which started it all for me in 1977. He would drive to my parent's house & drive me to the classes & back each week & to whatever outings were on the weekends.
Gaston Rebuffat- authored the book the Mont Blanc Massif, which I poured through & devoured & inspired me to venture into the mountains.
Randy Leavitt - his friendship & all around honedness were something to aspire to.
Royal Robbins - for bringing Yosemite wall climbing to a high art & redefining what was possible.
Matt Oliphant - his incredible footwork & mellow manner helped me immeasurably. Climbing with Matt raised my climbing to a new level, and made me realize that ratings were just numbers & not to be intimidated by them.
Erik Erickson - pairing up with E helped me to refine my aid climbing to a much higher level than I ever thought possible. He even tolerated the couple times when I "went snail-eye", on the big stone and didn't want to lead my pitch. E pushes himself harder than anybody and never blinks or shows fear, even in the scariest of situations.
Tom Gilje - for boldness beyond my comprehension.
Mike "Mo" Lechlinski - for calculated boldness beyond my comprehension.
Steve "Lucky" Smith - for showing me that 1 day ascents of El Cap routes were doable for mere mortals.
Dan Hershman - for being the most reliable, open minded , solid partner one could ever want to share a rope with. Many of my best ascents were with Dan
Special mention***
David Tidwell - for lowering me off the end of the rope & dropping me 25 feet at Rock Creek, injuring me pretty seriously. It taught be to me much more selective in whom I choose to climb with from then on.
There are easily another 10 worth mentioning but these are the biggest influences for me.
Levy aka Bill
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NinjaChimp
climber
someplace in-between
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James- never had the pleasure to climb with Ben Harden unless I did but did not know his name. Word on the Jake Whittaker call. I'd actually include Nunnely in that mix too. Who would expect a guy like him to climb as hard as he does coming from where he's been.
-Justin
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Good time at the end of the year to ponder such things......
Kent Maddin; Took me on my first climb in 1972 while on an "outward bound type " course........I liked the feeling from the get-go
Tim Heatherington Introduced me the real world of climbing, leading, going for it, and road tripping. (Tim had a stroke in his early 20's, and never recoved his strength, mobility, or motivation to climb again....he was bad-ass during his short reign....)
Ian Carter/Mike Brown/ Reggie Thompson/Shari Brown This crew taught me that you NEVER miss a weekend of climbing, and ALWAYS climb every free day you have;....NO exceptions. We did our first big walls together. Great climbing partners.
(left to right; Todd Gordon, Ian carter, Mike Brown)
Kelly Vaught (AKA The Troll). Couldn't ask for a better climbing partner; Strong, confident, talented , experienced, brave, and smart. As good a climbing partner as anyone on the planet.
Dave Evans; Probably the best climbing partner I roped up with;....With Dave, I would try any climb and know that 99% of the time, we would kick ass. His motivation, drive, focus, and talent were awesome, and even in dicey times, I would still just think to myself...." If I'm gonna die today, at least I'm with my best bud....."......
Tom Michael; Another exceptionally talented, motivated, experienced , and confident climber. I have traveled and climbed in many places with Tom, and always had a great time. I feel the same about Tom as I do Dave Evans;....I am lucky to have such great friends and climbing partners.
Tom Burke; Loud, crazy, fun, funny, motivated, dedicated, and outrageous. When Tom was around, EVERYONE had fun. He was a pied piper for fun, and had a string of groupies/fans/friends that loved his energy. He died of cancer about 2 years ago.....I think of him almost daily still;....he was maybe 46 years old. Tom climbed all over the world, in many countries, and on most continents.
Al Bartlett. One of the most prolific climbers on the planet. He has dedicated his life to climbing and climbers. We don't always see eye to eye, but we did alot of climbing together, and we both love climbing....maybe too much. Big Al and I have shared a rope together hundreds of times.
Cyndie Bransford. For about a decade, I climbed about 150 days each year with Cyndie. She was tough, experienced, well traveled, and motivated. When you climbed with Cyndie, you got up your climb. Her climbing resume' is quite impressive;....and she worked her ass off too, struggling through all the grades until she was on top of her game. A great climbing partner for me; one of the best.
Michael Paul. Again;...Mike took me on my first 5.10 climb, my first F A, and taught me what it is like to be a real rock climber. His talent, drive, and motivation we almost unmatched during his hayday; He set the foundation for me to build an awesome climbing career on; I learned so much from Michael.
Brian Povolny. I did some of my most outrageous and wild climbs with Brian. We made a great team, and had fun too. We survived our adventures together;....this is a good thing....With Brian, it was sort of like David going after Goliath with the sling shot.....but you knew that together we could always kick Goliath's butt.....
Tony Sartin. I took Tony on his first climb, his first road trips, first nail-ups, first Yo and canyonlands trips,....first FA's......took him by the hand, and now he is one of So. Cal's best , most talented, and motivated climbers......and he still is my bro, keeps in contact with me usually weekly, and didn't get scared off by my marriage, or my children and "new" lifestle. My friend for life. We did alot of really awesome climbs together too.
Mike Lechlinski. Mike is one of the most talented climbers I have ever roped up with. Strong, brave, confident, talented, and pretty casual about it all too. Always fun to climb with, and always shreaded. Mike is a WAY better climber than I ever was or ever even dreamed of being, but he was a great friend to me and a person I learned alot from and I always respected as a true climber and true friend.
Greg Epperson. Talented, motivated, strong, and brave. Greg is a great climbing partner, and a great friend. I can always count of Greg to always be there for me. I have had many great trips and climbs with Greg, and many more to come, I am sure.
Kyle Copeland. Kyle is another friend like Lechlinski;...sort of out of my league as far as talent and ability, but still my true friend and someone I always respected and enjoyed to be around. Kyle is very ill presently, but will cash in his chips when the time is right for him. My life is much richer from our friendship and adventures together.
Andrea Gordon. My wife, who taught me that climbing is just for fun, and that it's not a religion. She showed me another way to look at the world, climbing, myself, and others. She climbed for fun, had fun climbing, and climbed for all the right reasons. She is an awesome mother to our children, and the one for me.
George Armstrong. Great guy, great climbing partner, great friend. George, like myself, has turned the page, and now is daddy more than climbing machine. I have the greatest respect for George as a climber, friend, and parent. He is awesome. I went with him one one of his many expeditions to Pakistan.
Tucker Tech. I've done about 400 F A's with Tucker; We make a strong team. I love to climb; Tucker loves to drink beer and climb. He's my true friend and my climbing partner until I croak. Tucker is a very talented and strong climber, and not too many people on planet earth climb as much as Tucker.
Tim Pinar; Great guy, great friend, great climber. Tim is one of my main climbing partners, and will help me remain a climber as I grow older and weaker.
That was more than 10......ooops......I have been very lucky to have lots of great climbing partners;...these are some of the ones who have influence me the most. When you are old, you just have more friends, I suppose.
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Ammon
Big Wall climber
El Cap
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In no particular order:
Dean Potter
Jim Bridwell
Steve Gerberding
Eric Kohl
Fred Beckey
Scott Stowe
Chris McNamara
Brian McCray
Conrad Anker
Jose Pereyra
Honorable mention:
Timmy O’Neill, Kevin Thaw, Ivo Ninov, Charles Cole, John Long, Ron Kauk, Dale Bard, Chuck Pratt, Mike Ousley, Ric Cashner, Werner Braun, Dan Osman, Jason “Singer” Smith, Sean “Stanley” Leary, Russ Metrovitch, Walt Shipley, Todd Gordon, Tucker Tech, Bryan “Coiler” Kay, Ryan Frost, Mark Synnott, Cheryl Seger, Jake Whitaker, Bill Russell, Charlie Porter, Bryan Law, Ron Olevsky, Warren Hollinger, Joe French, John Middendorf, Kelly Cordes, Peter Mayfield, Jeff Lowe, John Rzeczycki, Cedar Wright, Eric George, Al “Dude” Swanson, Lynn Hill, Wally Barker, Tom Frost, Wayne Wiloughby, Jeff Hornibrook, Mark Garbarini, Jon Blair, Andres "Chili Dog" Zegers, Steve Snieder, Dave Bengston, Jay Smith, Bob Jensen, Brent Armstrong, John Bachar, Brian Jonas, Pat Brennan, Brad Bond, Tommy Tompson, Jonathan Thesenga, Hans Florine, Dave Yerrian, Dean Miller, Matt Wilder, John Dickey, Russ Walling, Andrew McGary, Eric Odenthal, Grant Hiskes, Kevin Conti, Larry Harpe, Micah Dash, Mike Schaffer, Scott Burk, Sean Jones, Chris Van Lueven, Dave Grisham, Stoney Richards, Leo Burk, Layton Korr, Scott Cosgrove, Mike Pennings, Jeff Hollenbach, Doug Heinrich, Joe Puryear, Galen Rowel, Kyle Copeland, Eric Ericson, Greg Epperson, Mugs Stump, Brian Smoot, Xaver Bongard, Linus Platte, Peter Croft, Alex & Thomas Huber, Gabriel McNeely, Steve Grossman, Rob Miller, Warren Harding, Royal Robbins, Joe Auer, Chongo, Bernie, Jay…
Ok, I could go on forever with the honorable mentions… you guys know who you are. ;)
Like others have said, ten is just not enough…
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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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The Gleason brothers, both generations.
Largo, from all his books.
Vermin, for making it seem OK to just wanna go boldering.
Dano, from his incredible video spots and for being so cool in person to a total nobody.
Marcos, for showing me what a strong climber really was.
Mike Lewis, for dragging my carcus up the WFLT and forever curing my aid jones.
Anyone who ever caught my whippers, and that d00d Kurt who dropped me. Actually, he should be #1. Bastard.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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10 is impossible
but Rich gets some extra points for mentioning Dennis Kemp
happy New year, all!
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SuperTopo on the Web
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Unknown climber -- (appeared in a film called "Challenge" that I saw as a little kid -- his calm demeaner was stamped in my mind -- "How could he be so calm while climbing?" I often contemplated which piqued my interest in climbing for the first time.)
Let us know!