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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Jul 28, 2009 - 02:43pm PT
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Ron Carson
Mike Lechlinski
Daryll Hensel
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 28, 2009 - 02:44pm PT
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I believe that one of the things that Tyrus said was,
"My dad was 6% bodyfat, 72% water and 27% badass!"
The math works for me.
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L
climber
Somewhere with big rocks and tall trees...
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Jul 28, 2009 - 02:48pm PT
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Thanks for sharing John's memorial with us, JL et al. Many of us were there in spirit...but sometimes you just need the flesh-n-blood details.
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Jul 28, 2009 - 02:50pm PT
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I really wish I could have made it...God Bless you John and all of you!
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Jul 28, 2009 - 02:57pm PT
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Moria Cranor
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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Jul 28, 2009 - 03:09pm PT
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Jo Whitford
Jim Bridwell
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Jul 28, 2009 - 03:11pm PT
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Thanks for sharing, John.
Goodbye, JB. You'll be missed, but never forgotten.
see you further along the trail.
What can you say about Rick A. He's the best too.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 28, 2009 - 03:26pm PT
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Thank you for the moving report, and pictures. Even with all the sadness, it's good to see that an old friend was sent off in proper style.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
a buttery white sand beach... I wish!
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Jul 28, 2009 - 03:32pm PT
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The eloquent words, Stevie Wonder, the photos... much beauty has been shared... Amen. I'm quite moved.
JB may have left the place in which his being was temporarily residing, but man, his spirit is still creating and inspiring. Look at the beauty he's brought out in so many recently.
Now onward, each at our own pace.
In peace and gratitude,
Eric
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powderdan
Social climber
mammoth lakes
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Jul 28, 2009 - 03:36pm PT
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it was pretty funny walking up to the pokonobe lodge and seeing a half dozen stonemasters hanging out next to a volkswagon bus. i guess some things never change. amazing afternoon. rip jb!
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burp
Trad climber
Salt Lake City
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Jul 28, 2009 - 03:45pm PT
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Thanks for sharing, Largo.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 28, 2009 - 04:03pm PT
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Bridging the discontinuity
Pretty sure the Tibetan prayer flags were Jody's idea...
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F10
Trad climber
e350
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Jul 28, 2009 - 04:27pm PT
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Thanks JL,
Sounded like it was a fitting memorial,
I was in the area but unable to attend so I did the next best thing to remember John,
put on my Acopa's did some climbing at Clark Canyon in the am.
RIP JB
jb
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jul 28, 2009 - 05:25pm PT
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Hugely important event on probably hundreds of levels for us, and for climbing in general, one of the great gatherings ever in our art.
Here are some shots I took. Mostly I couldn’t raise the camera.... I felt it was all so sensitive, private actually. When I got there early, Dave Yerian was standing by Royal who was acting as an affable yet daffy parking lot greeter. As I approached the two, it was as if an avalanche of grief catapulted me into Yerian. Royal had to look away, even though he couldn’t remember me for awhile. Dave and I sobbed.
I also have to note that Tyrus, John’s 13 year old son, was spellbinding. He actually retold the events of those last few days, especially that morning. He also ruminated on the issue of "the why" in a manner that also required him to pause for about two minutes, staring at us in a way that was not void but full of content and an awareness that frankly I thought, spanned our entire event and the death of his father. It was just amazing and I think many felt that John was continuing on in this brilliant son.
Dale Bard was also amazing. Of all people there, he knows what it means to lose a loved one, having lost Alan 12 years ago on THE SAME DAY AS John died.... Dale and Alan were almost like twins. He stressed the importance of joy in the event, to celebrate John and carry on but he did this in a way that was still meaty, strong and loving rather than fey or oblivious. I was really helped out by this, as I am sure many were.
I could go on, maybe later. Anyway here is what I have:
Ricky Acomazzo emcing the event superbly. What a man.
Steve West, reading a letter that Roger Breedlove wanted to have read to us since he coud not come
Ronnie Kauk arrived just before the talking began, hanging out in the back feeling it all I am sure:
Dale Bard in mid talk:
Tyrus Bachar during his unforgettable recollection and soliloquy:
Royal contemplating while getting sunburned to bits during the talk:
Vern Clevenger who many probably want to have an update on. He is okay:
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 28, 2009 - 05:58pm PT
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Accomazo
Royal Robbins
John's dad John Jr
John's bro Dan,
Tyrus, the one, the only
Dave Yerian, giving the definitite, impassioned, 'come together' talk. That speech will be with me forever. Thank you, Dave.
(note shades loaned from Royal to protect emotional eyes.)
a third of the triad, Dale Bard
Lonnie's dad
Largo
The Artist formerly known as Gramicci
Croft
Sheryl Crow, er Lynn Hill;
"Hippy Gramma" Parker (her words) bringing it all around;
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Ottawa Doug
Social climber
Ottawa, Canada
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Jul 28, 2009 - 06:07pm PT
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Largo, you put it all so perfectly, others put up pics that all say a thousand words, and those pics of and quotes by Tyrus...wow
Thank you,
Doug
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rmuir
Social climber
the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Jul 28, 2009 - 06:12pm PT
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A singular moment that will live on in our collective and remarkably-intertwined lifetimes. This was a fitting tribute and memorial to the passing of a great man!
In keeping with our cherished tradition I, too, took very few pictures. The need to capture the time was far less important that the desire to live in the moment. JB's power has been even more evident over the last several weeks; a power to cause us to look forward into our reflection in the past. ...with a fondness and gratitude that I will never be able to fully express. A love, supreme.
RIP JB. Grow in love. Each one of you!
Jeff Lowe
John Long, Kevin Worrell, and Richard Harrison
Richard Harrison, Rick Accomazzo, and Mike Graham
Dale Bard and Peter Haan
Maria Cranor, Rick Accomazzo, and Gerry Accomazzo
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rmuir
Social climber
the Time Before the Rocks Cooled.
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Jul 28, 2009 - 06:30pm PT
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Ed... You old hippie, you! Who else would channel Mimi Fariña? To rephrase Richard Fariña: "Been up so long, it looks like down to me."
Stuff that's hidden and murky and ambiguous is scary because you don't know what it does.—Jerry Garcia
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Jul 28, 2009 - 06:42pm PT
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I am really sorry that I was not able to attend John’s memorial. Although John and I were not close, like all old soldiers, from the beginning of time, we have more in common than we could have ever imagined when we were young hotheads.
When I thought I might make it to the memorial, I started trying to work out my own thoughts of John’s history, fame, contribution to climbing. The letter that was read was actually my prepared notes to say something at the memorial, if it was appropriate, or at least have comments to make to John’s family in private. (I cannot image losing one of my kids; the grief must be unbearable.) Thanks to Steve West for reading it on my behalf.
Hello All,
I am sorry to say that I cannot attend the memorial service for John.
I have been thinking about John’s contribution to climbing and the out-pouring of grief and condolences. I knew John only a little in the first few years he started climbing in the Valley. He, along with other young climbers, mostly those who became the Stonemasters, was tearing up the place and extending the nature of free climbing in ways that astounded the earlier generations.
They were also loud and obnoxious, as almost all teenagers are, but boy could they climb.
We could see that it was still climbing, but it was very far removed from previous experiences: they looked like regular people and seemed to have the same basic qualities, but they didn’t seem to have any boundaries.
After a life time of watching that group of young climbers establish modern rock climbing, reflecting on John’s unique contribution to climbing is interesting: he made a specialty of free soloing hard routes, which he had done previously (more like art--a musician, an ice skater, a dancer—than sport), and he pushed bolt protected ground-up free about as far as can be done. He mastered the space within these stylistic boundaries and fostered a positive public image both for the benefit of making a living and, later, for being an accessible, and loved, member of a larger climbing community.
I think that those of us who know the inner workings of climbing most appreciate John’s life time of climbing. We know how difficult it is to climb so well on hard ground, to climb so smoothly. Many of us have mastered that for a few seasons. But it is really hard to sustain that over a life time, and pretty amazing to do it without protection, to force the mastery to uncompromising levels. Some of our tribe have followed this path for relatively short periods, sometimes recklessly, sometimes at extremely high levels of difficulty, but John maintained it for many years, a unique achievement.
It was his choice, his efforts, his creativity, his commitment. A stellar achievement.
He will be missed.
I am sorry that I cannot say this in person to John’s family and friends at the memorial.
My condolences
Roger
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Jul 28, 2009 - 07:11pm PT
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Felt blessed to be with a fine tribe of heros and misfits (the same guys) to send John off with respect and panache. I salute the community and especially those who showed their Heart.
Great to meet those whom I only knew by name or online and also great to reconnect with old friends.
Thanks to everyone who took part and made this happen. I know there are many who would have loved to attend. As it was, there was barely room for those who showed up so let me suggest that we climbers just choose a date or a place (Cathedral Beach? Tenaya Lake beach?) and have an "Open to all Bachar - Inspires us" event that we roll ourselves organically.
A while back I suggested those who buy my recent Bachar Images donate the profit portion of the deal to the Tyrus fund. At the time I hadn't met Tyrus but figured John loved him and I'm ready to support that.
After meeting him, I'm stoked to be a part of helping the Man jr. Out. Tyrus rocked the memorial by speaking the truth, and conveying what it was like to hang with John in a story-driven jazz ramble that made you feel like you were there with John eating carnitas and surfing radio channels on a road trip. The little brother is going to make us all proud with a bit of support from the community.
My Tyrus fund thread along with my thoughts on John are posted here.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=906230
I was honored that Ron Gomez made use of some of my words regarding grief in his address.
Kudos to so many for taking a high view of John and their relationships with him without whitewashing John's sharp edges in the process.
Thanks to Cashner for hosting a fine "after-memorial" to Largo and Jody for deferring the costs of prints I gave out, and to all those who buried hatchets or prioritized Love and Brotherhood over any petty stuff.
The event and the atmosphere reflected John's personal power. It was hardly a surprise that, when it was all said and done, a rainbow testified that John was in good hands, just out of reach.
Peace
Karl
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