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Captain...or Skully
climber
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Sep 30, 2012 - 01:49am PT
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Sometimes, glorious things happen, unreported.
Grins all the same.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Sep 30, 2012 - 03:21pm PT
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hey there say..... ooops, werner, sorry that
post of mine sounded odd...
i read too fast... i THOUHT you were going to
hide that BEER there...
you sure could hide out here--but you're cover is blown now...
... :)
how is sunday at facelift doing?
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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Sep 30, 2012 - 05:36pm PT
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As Ed Abbey once said, "One word is worth a thousand pictures, IF it's the right word."
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Sep 30, 2012 - 06:22pm PT
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Thanks Neebee!
I just read your letter from last night.. I must say it rather touched me.
It reminded me a lot of my own grandmother... And how I cherish my memories of our past life experiences.
Jus Be'in Greatfull
BB
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Sep 30, 2012 - 06:33pm PT
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Fricking new puter has no port for a camera card! Lord am I getting old!
Think I found it...
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Sep 30, 2012 - 06:34pm PT
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Did you guys just see Werner loading kegs of flat tire into a golf cart and heading out of the valley? I'd swear it was him.....
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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Sep 30, 2012 - 07:55pm PT
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I just got home from my first Facelift. It was a lot of fun and I felt happy to help do something for the Park.
Y'all may have to wait another day or so for reports with pictures. I never remember to take any.
I spent my first day there (Thursday) doing trail work with a great crew headed by Steve/Stevie near Bishop's Terrace. After lifting heavy rocks all day, I was kind of trashed but I decided to check out the slide show action that night. Got there early enough to get a seat but the place filled up fast and was soon packed to overflowing. Tim was very funny doing the intro for the night as MC. The first talk was by the park geologist Greg (?) Stock and was fun and informative. But after the first talk the noise and heat were getting to me so I bailed and went home for a quiet evening.
I ran into Hightraverse at the slide show and we made a plan to do a little climbing plus trash picking around Pat & Jack's/Cascade Creek. It was really TOO HOT to be climbing in the sun, but I wanted somewhere we could get to quickly and still have some time for our service work. So on Friday me, Hightraverse, and Jim (Lucky) from So Cal had a fun day together.
Saturday I reconnected with an old climbing partner who is doing some volunteer stuff in the park for a few months. We had a short window to climb before her shift started so again I ended up climbing in the TOO HOT SUN. After a cold shower, I headed off to MEATFEST! That was a GREAT party and it was wonderful to meet in person a lot of people I had only interacted with on the Taco. Too many to name...
Someone was taking pictures - I'm sure they'll show up within a few days.
Most folks were staying through Sunday and headed out tonite or tomorrow.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Fumbling towards stone
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Sep 30, 2012 - 10:48pm PT
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Just back to my way station at my brother-in-law's in Clovis, then on to Altadena early tomorrow.
I had to laugh at Werner's update each night. Should be on a t-shirt or something. Ha ha! I was reading the posts in the ditch late at night on the darkness Curry Village lounge and almost posted, but was just to worn out from all the non-stop fun and good work. And it really was non-stop!
Some highlights that I can recall since I arrived Tuesday evening:
Riding my bike everywhere for events and my daily trash clean-up: Mirror Lake (got to hear mega-loud blasting of boulders from the rockslide twice... scared the bejeebus our me the first time!), Manure Pile picnic area to El Cap woods/boulders, turn outs on 140 from Pohono bridge on down, and yesterday, Wawona Tunnel lookout up the Pohono Trail about 3 miles and back. Definitely have quads of steel after all that.
Cumulatively, I found a complete outfit: socks (baby socks/2 pair on the same day), half a set of tighty-whitey's, a flip flop and water shoe (may have been the same foot though) and a t-shirt. Best booty for me was a chalk bag at the Snow Creek/Mirror Lake trail junction. If you think it's yours give me a description and I'll be happy to send it to you. Oh, and I found a small nut right next to my tent in UP.
The yoga at Yeller Pines on Wednesday to Friday... great each day in different ways. On Thursday, the class was just going to be me and the teacher. Then a woman shows up and the teacher asks her name and where she is from... When she said "Audrey" and "Boston" I knew immediately she was Lilabiene. The class and discussion afterward were powerful and moving.
Evening programs: yes, they were a sweat-fest and it smelled like a gym, but geez, climbers are stinky and sweaty a lot of the time we were together anyway. I did almost pass out during Conrad's Shark's Fin film from a combo of tiredness, hunger, a beer, standing up in sweaty stinky gym and see a guy in the film in the hospital just after he'd skied of a cliff in the Tetons. Got outside when I knew I was about to keel over. Some fresh air and complimentary Mariposa Coffee Co. hot beverage brought me back in a short while. So much so that I had another beer later after the Reel Rock intermission.
Greg Stock's geology talk was really interesting (nutshell: sh#t is falling down in the valley... who knew!). He is an entertaining speaker and is doing some really cool and important research. James Lucas' Lifestyle climber talk was hilarious. Unbelievably funny and creative that guy. And in general, I enjoyed all the programs. They were far ranging but I think everyone really appreciated that all these folks gave their time to entertain us each night.
Beer: the deal was you got a stainless steel mug for 25 clams and free refills for the whole week. I really am digging New Belgium beer (Fat Tire is my fave) and I don't drink beer usually, but this stuff was exceptional IMHO. The proceeds went to the YCA, so that made the deal sweeter. I forgot my mug one night, so now I have a matching set. Completely worth it!
But the peeps—you know who you are—are the best. So many faces, some I got to spend some time with some observed from afar. Met lots of new folks and some I already knew (but only on the taco stand). Really appreciate connecting with y'all! Meatfest was ground zero of course. The food was good, the spirits flowed freely, things got burned, and there was awesomely beautiful music. A few trains got derailed (including me!) but with the kindness of others, I think everyone ended up back o the right track.
I'm probably forgetting a bunch of other events and people, but hey, it was non-stop! Oh yeah, can't forget Ken, Jesse, Ben and Ken's core volunteer gang up at registration... those folks were really putting in the time, with a smile and a good sense of humor. Huge, huge thanks to them. These events, when well done, can look easy to put together when it all goes smoothly to the outsider. But I've organized events before (not on this scale... well maybe one!) and I really appreciate the untold and unseen efforts that go on behind the scenes to make everything go so smoothly... it ain't always pretty folks! Hats off to Ken and all those good peeps!
One last thing: Found this couple settling into the camp site next to mine early this morning and thought they looked kinda familiar.... after an 1/8th of a second, I realized it was MisterE and Justthemaid... had a great chat with them. And please wish them a happy anniversary... they are going to celebrate with brunch at the Ahwahnee with a gift certificate they got from last year's Facelift! Good on ya guys! I'm raising a beer to you right now!
OK, now I gotta go pass out! :-)
Cheers,
Eric
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Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
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Sep 30, 2012 - 10:51pm PT
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Here are a few campfire photos from Wednesday night at Yellow Pines.
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murcy
Gym climber
sanfrancisco
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Sep 30, 2012 - 10:59pm PT
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Great to see old and new friends. The campfire scene and meatfest at Yellow Pine were fun, with TimidTopRope and the Cashners in top form musically and with many, many interesting people to chat up. Just to rattle off a few handles with no pretense at anything like completeness: Sullly, Phylp, SCSeagoat & Ferretlegger, MalDaly, Nita, Fishfinder, GLee, OnTheEdge (and kids), Hartouni, Linda Jarrett (does she post here?), VegasClimber & Christina, Lolli, drc, yosguns, H, LuckyPink, Crowley, MightyHiker, Hudon and nephew, Lynne Leichtfuss, Fletcher, Harpo . . .
Fun climbing with JOEY.F, HighTraverse, and non-STers Ingrid and Julie getting their trad back on.
I didn't see a whole lot of picture-taking. I managed to take one with my phone:
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Sep 30, 2012 - 11:02pm PT
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Found this couple settling into the camp site next to mine early this morning and thought they looked kinda familiar.... after an 1/8th of a second, I realized it was MisterE and Justthemaid... had a chat with them. And please wish them a happy anniversary...
Well hey! Happy Anniversary you two! Inquiring minds want to know: was bacon involved?
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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Sep 30, 2012 - 11:09pm PT
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Yeah, props to Khanom and then Hudon's nephew for manning the burger grill at Meatfest. The latter is a very nice guy named Peter or Paul (or one of the Apostles). At one point I brought him a big glass of wine since he was stuck over the hot charcoal; the next day I thought "gee I hope he was older then 21". I'd hate to be guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a minor!
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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just got back... great time as usual!
ran into a whole host of old friends,
and made a bunch of new friends...
fun times...
some quick images from the Friday event:
Beer!
waiting for beer!!
too much beer!!!
working for his beer...
many of the old generation attended...
...inspired by the feats of the younger generation!
the older generation had some pretty amazing feats too this year!
and inspired in their own way
inspiration fatigue?
or just overwork?
old and new engaged in their favorite past time, discussing climbing
catching up at intermission...
and some hats tell it all - NOT!
great times...
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Fumbling towards stone
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Yes, huge props to Khanom and all who helped create the great spread. Somebody (sorry, I forget who) made some superb homemade pickles. Made those great burgers even better!
I took some photos, but will have to wait until I get home to see what I have. Mostly I was out solo pickin' trash and was taking shots of Half Dome, El Cap, the Merced, etc. and sending them to family under the "reporting in from the office" guise. :-)
Eric
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, BB.... thanks for sharing the gramma note...
and johntp... thanks for sharing the pictures...
and jaybro...
wow, that werne is something, huh, :))
thanks for all the fun,you all...
really makes our day...
:)
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, wow... just saw that there's a whole lot moreeeeeeeee reports in...
phylp
fletcher
timid and more...
thanks so much!!!!!
will go back and read all of them!!!
:)
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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What a little pity party!
Gang That Did Not Go:
There's always next year, when LilaBiene will do her first 5.11 lead.
She DID NOT promise, but this person is amazingly capable. It won't be long, I think.
The photo of Mastadon and LilaBiene? It is a genuine Dolt, there were a couple of other goodies shown off at the time, as well, the rarest the channel Stoveleg piton Don found at the base of the Nose some time. He may have posted photos of it, or is planning on doing so.
As for myself, the meat was neat.
The Vegas Climbers (Bonjour, mademoiselle Christina) are a charming couple and I am so sorry to have missed meeting MrE and Skip.
Tom Rhorer, the 77-year-old Fart, has some great tales, some really bad-ass jokes, and great style. He is stuck out in Utah these days. He and LiilaBiene attempted to do some aid climbing on the Churchbowl test-piece but it was taken.
Ed Hartouni, the photo spread it really fine, man. The young gal in the photo is not fatigued. She is disappointed that young Alex Honnold would not remove his shirt. He is such a tease!
Presentations are not presentations w/o introductions by introducers, so here is my thanks to MalDaly, especially, who took one for the gang up there. He looked so cool and gave so much. And the borrachos were not up to his standards, but that's just a challenge for next year.
Ultimately, the best thing I did was to get rescued. My lips are sealed but my respect for certain old dogs in this group got a huge kick in the ass. My thanks again, my friend.
Brokedownclimber, so pleased to have made your acquaintance and to hear your tales of Culp and Ament and Kor and others. Hope to hear more next year.
We weren't all over at the East Auditorium drinkin' beer.
The Producers Dairy has stopped using the Hoppy's Favorite logo. But their buttermilk is still the best and it is ONLY 99 cents a quart, cheapest I have seen buttermilk anywhere.
Tom Evans' gift of two posters to me is appreciated greatly. I kept the one signed by Hiro and Hans. I gave the NA Wall panoramic shot to LilaBiene, the Taco posters signed it with their handles and I have to thank them for doing so. I know it took you away from conversations, etc, but the end results were very gratifying. There were something like thirty or more signatures, I think. As I sat down for wine and doob with the likes of Timid Tightrope, JoeyF, and Fletcher, the table where we were sitting was the one with the poster taped down on it. Someone, somehow, spilled wine on the thing, but we got it dried out. Later, when everyone crashed out but Me, the keeper of the campfire flame two nites running, DRC came into camp and we then proceeded to demolish not only Fletcher's flask of Jack, spilling some on the table bench and "forcing ourselves" to do the right thing and lick it up so as not to waste Fletcher's elixir.
As the poster was almost dry by then, I asked Victor to draw up a Nose topo, a Supertopo supertopo, if you will, on the back side of the poster. He obliged and he brought out a bottle of Jack of Tennessee which managed to disappear before our very eyes.
I am exhausted. I feel like I did after the Salathe, only even more satisfied. Thanks to one and all for your friendship and the liquor and the food.
Off belay.
MFM
Edit, but mostly thanks to new friends: Greatest news, shared gladly with the climbing community, is that JoeyF did his first lead, but I did not gather if it was his first lead of all time or the first 5.9 lead. Enquiring minds wish to know, so post up and tell everyone about it, dude, if you will. Thanks and MAJOR PROPS! Happy, happy, joy, Joey! And, I have the dregs of the American Spirit and hold it in trust till next Facelift. And Fletcher, it was my pleasure. Shy Slackline, Uke Rock and the Trashmen are super awesome. Thanks for the breakfast concert with Cashner and Reid. And to GregLee, the first guy I met, see you in the funny papers, it's apparently where we all belong! Dan Truong y Phillipe de SB, merci beaucoup pour polissage mon francais. And lastly, thanks to Lolly for setting me straight, a tough job, certainly, and thanks, lastly, for the parking spot in the Village Store lot, as LilaBiene was worried about her gasoline reserves driving around seeking an empty legal spot. We amazed people of all stripes and I managed on Sunday, waiting for LilaBiene and Tom Rhorer (at Churchbowl), to to get a mechanic (who also had been a stock car driver/owner and a black ops operator and goodness knows what else) visiting from Fresno over to the Registration area, where he had a great time, promising to try to make it to the Lift next year. Turns out that people come to Yosemite for all sorts of reasons, but 99% of them would like to spend more time there. We are so fortunate to be able to educate them and yet use them as targets for our humor.
Lastly, Nita's advice on bringing your own gloves and hand sanitizer is the best advice I ever heard!!! Fecal matter, yech!!!
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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nice photos Paul, Ed and Timid! Thanks.
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yosguns
climber
Durham, NC
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It was so nice to meet some of you and see some of you again. Great to put real smiling faces to names! My camera never made it out of the car, so I'm glad to see some photos here.
Another note, I was so impressed at the level of organization of Facelift and all the work that went in. Thanks, Ken, Harrison, George, etc. etc. etc. Job well done to all the volunteers and supporters. :)
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Climbski2,
I just read your post about Mr. Mark, the strongest climber on two wheels and the strongest skier on two arms. High Mark! Pleasure to have met you at long last.
I was fortunate to meet Mark's protege, Mr. O'Neill, and his mom, the lovely Mrs. O'Neill, who was visiting the Ditch for the first time. WOW!!!!!!!!!! There will be other days, no doubt, to accomplish your project. Learning curves suck but we need them, as not everyone has Mr. Corbett to generously donate his expertise.
Mike lives in Fresno Flats and may not have come since he was inundated by visitors like the Goldman clan. Speaking of which, it was a delight to share the flames and tequila, Chuck and Mary! Peyton Place, eh? And hello to the future slack-liner, Preston; and also to his elder brother,MC Goldman, USMC.
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