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Richard Large
climber
sneaking up behind you...
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Nov 23, 2007 - 02:29pm PT
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Sometime back in the 80's, Sgt Liquor was having hard times and would do any variety of odd jobs to make ends meet. One day at the Deli he came up to me and asked if I would give him a dollar to grovel in the dirt. My entertainment dollars were in short supply but I thought it might be worth it so I agreed. In front of teeming flocks of tourists he got down and rolled around in the dirt for a few minutes, even pushing his face into it. Best dollar I ever spent in the ditch. Sure wish I'd had my camera.
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chez
Social climber
chicago ill
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Nov 23, 2007 - 09:43pm PT
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I've actually got a photo of Billy doin' a dirt bath in the camp 4 parking lot.i'll have to dig up. Don't hold your breath it's under the house.
Chez
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Nov 23, 2007 - 10:09pm PT
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As much as I love these stories, the next time ya'll start a slander/love fest, ya might think about using nicknames only. I hear they're googling people's names at the border now. Can just imagine Bill trying to get into Canada and having to march down memory lane with the authorities with this thread in front of them
(it's not too late to edit down to nicknames in individual posts)
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=410748
Peace
Karl
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LB4USC
Trad climber
Long Beach
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Nov 25, 2007 - 01:42pm PT
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Bill Russell is the finest climber and most giving man in the Valley.
Biff Burwell
Old English Regional Sales Mgr.
Central California
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scuffy b
climber
The deck above the 5
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Nov 26, 2007 - 09:31pm PT
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I tried to find a cool photo to insert into this thread, but I
failed.
The one I have in mind is simply Bill demonstrating a hand/fist
stack, standing around at a party, I'm pretty sure at the JT
reunion a couple years ago.
I think the photo was originally posted by Maculated.
When I searched the Reunion thread, Maculated's post showed the
special red X instead of the nice picture, which suggested a
warm, caring nature (sometimes I'm suggestible, but what the
heck)
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Nov 26, 2007 - 10:13pm PT
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hahaha!
great thread - dat swilliam he done schooled me sum...
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chez
Social climber
chicago ill
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Nov 26, 2007 - 10:37pm PT
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say that reminds me,
One day in the 70's, or night i should say our "little buddy" decides to go on a sail.
Sooooo, he and a freind ( you can call him scipper if you like ) decide to procure a boat and lurk quietly into the middle of a dark lake in Wisco.
Stealth as this team thinks it is at this time of night (late) our hero decides to climb up the mast.
Belayed by his cohort to the top of the mast and about to release the sail they were having a hard time with, suddenly the boat capsizes with our "little buddy" tied to the top.
The scipper waits quite awhile watching bubbles come up from the deep and is about to call a self rescue and low and behold our little buddy finally floats to the surface and off they go unscathed.
Chez
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prunes
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 26, 2007 - 11:09pm PT
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How about the time are little buddy goes to visit a friend of his(lets call him The Dutchman). The Dutchman opens the door in a houserobe waving a loaded Glock and tells are friend to go away before he shoots him.
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chez
Social climber
chicago ill
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Nov 26, 2007 - 11:22pm PT
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Dat dere little experience wounded our little buddy. I do remember that the Dutchman wanted to make amends as of late. circa 07'
chez
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susan peplow
climber
www.joshuatreevacationhomes.com
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Nov 27, 2007 - 12:31am PT
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Not exactly a handstack but this little gem was taken just a few days ago on W I D E Friday™ .
Six Pack Crack, J-Tree
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:55pm PT
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Tuolumne, 2007:
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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Jan 11, 2008 - 02:22am PT
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Billy told me about how Walt and he went mushroom hunting, found some exotic caps, and subsequently got the "dropsies". His hands kept falling off the steering wheel while he was driving and to pull over he threaded his forearms through the wheel and steered the rig off the road with his arms. 18 hours later he woke up, tangled up with his feet over his head on top of his kayak.
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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Jan 11, 2008 - 01:10pm PT
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There are characters, and then there are characters...
Bill is definitely the latter. I've already said on some other thread that BR, Fish, Tar, Walt and DM could have had their own show. After a day of climbing to get in a weakened state, and then some serious refreshments, if those guys got on a roll I would laugh so hard I would have trouble breathing!!
Thanks for bringing so many laughs to so many.
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mikeyschaefer
climber
Yosemite
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Jan 11, 2008 - 01:39pm PT
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10 years ago I remember showing up in the valley meeting bill, well it wasn't actually like I met him, I huddled in the corner of the cafe hoping he wouldn't notice me so I would be saved the ridicule i feared.
Well 10 years have gone by and Billy has become one of the greatest friends I have in the valley. A few years ago i got the honor of guiding a disabled Brit up T.Trip with Billy, that ascent was one of the most memorable climbs I've had on El Cap. If I am ever in need of something random, likes tools to work on my van, a drill bit, a beer, whatever it is I know Bill will always hook me up, he is that sort of guy. A great friend.
He would also be my first choice of drunk belayers, sometimes I think he actually gets a little sharper a few OE's into the day....
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jan 11, 2008 - 02:23pm PT
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It's all smoke and mirrors.
I'm quite certain Billy has never taken a drink.
Yet, he HAS been taken down by a few bad olives...
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couchmaster
climber
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Jan 11, 2008 - 03:09pm PT
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I've never met Bill before, so this may seem unusually presumptuous and ass*ole like of me.....
but here it is....
[Rant] If you dudes really care for the guy, you friends need to step up here. It sounds to me like Bills on the path to alcoholism. I was once on that path after drinking everyday in the Army, then doing it for like 5 or 6 more years in construction and at college, and it's a road to hell that is so insidious that the one on the road doesn't know they are on it: and he could use your help.
Everyone has different reactions to possible things and ways you can pitch it, as I don't know him or you all I won't tell you what to say or how to do it, but as a minimum you should be pointing it out to him. Maybe an outside perspective will help Bill figure this out for himself. This alone once pulled me out of another DEEP hole for instance (THANKS RANDY!)
I climb with a good guy occasionally who appears pre-cancerous to me. Having been and worked in a VA hospital, I see it. So I told him this very thing just straight up, and offered to pay for patches if he wanted...dude thanked my for caring enough to point this out and he's trying to quit now cold turkey. He has asked me to keep on him, so I do when I see him backsliding. I don't have to be rough or rude, but I usually say something...and he appreciates that I like him enough to say something.
Instead of enabling it and laughing at Bills antics....well, you get my point.
As far as the point above that Bill got slammed here so he won't post (I think I remember a thread somewhere on this site where he removed someones convience bolts in Toulome once and some of folks got angry or something like that) well, sounds like he was there a long time before the bolts were and gets to dictate that on that one. I mean, if any of you think you can just show up and stuff some bolts down someones throat where they never were before, then anyone offended (like Bill) gets to yank them if they choose, and he did. So don't get on his ass about it, cause thats just the way that usually works (Dingus has propagated this idea over on RC.com and it made sense to me).
So I don't want this to be a flame on Bill or a bolt thread as he sounds like an awesome dude and one of the kind of folks we all want to keep around in this world. I hope I don't sound like a total prude or asswipe either but I suspect otherwise. I've done about everything out there at one time or 'nother except horse tranquilizers (I think I haven't done that one anyway) and I still drink occasionally (carefully) as well, despite shaking uncontrollably for 4 days when I stopped my regular daily drinks about 20 years ago, thus learning of my own addiction.
I'm pointing this out to you, his friends, because anyone this good is worth keeping around. These are great stories which are even better told about a living friend, and not to a cold uncaring headstone at a memorial service. If you care, spend some time on this issue with the fella anyway, he may not even be aware that booze is running his life now. [/Rant]
Warm regards to all!
Bill
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deuce4
Big Wall climber
the Southwest
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Jan 11, 2008 - 04:07pm PT
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Bill's like a fine wine...
An intelligent, funny guy.
He's kind of like the glue that keeps it all together--past, present, and future.
Here's to Billy Bob Russell!
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Gagner
climber
Boulder
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Jan 11, 2008 - 06:21pm PT
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Summer '87, Bill and Walt's vans are parked in old camp 6 - Bill's is up on blocks. The water project is going on at the time so there are some big empty wood spools around - big as in 5' tall. After the usual night of heavy drinking at the MR bar Walt, Crouse and myself stumble back to Walt's van. I jokingly mention to Walt that we should torch one of the spools. Walt of course locates a jug of white gas in his van and pours it on one of the spools and lights it. After a few minutes it's shooting flames 10-15' in the air - and it's pretty close to Bill's van, which is immobile. Crouse and I bail before things get worse - though we can see the flames from across the river as we drive up towards housekeeping. Walt passes out in his van, and after awhile the flames died down, sparing Bill's van. Evidently Curry security showed and put the flames down, but the rangers never showed.
Paul
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prunes
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 11, 2008 - 10:30pm PT
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Bill and myself where on the NF of Edith Cavell on the mixed bands above the Angel glacier when we where caught by a big thunder storm. It was just pouring rain and I was following the pitch. About half way up the rain stopped. When I reached the belay Bill was belaying in a waterfall. He did not realize the rain had stopped and could have moved the belay to a dry spot. He looked like a drowned rat and he had to take hs boots off and pour the water out. We reached the top about 10.00 at night and then descended the East Ridge all night.Back then Bill did not believe in water,much less food. We had 1 quart of water and a can of peaches for 30 hours of climbing and descending. Upon are triumpant return to the parking lot my girlfriend gave us the finger and took of with my car. We had to hitch hike to the bar in Jasper and then rehydrate with many,many glasses of fine Candian ale and french fries with vinegar. Billy I salute your Jak-nes
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jan 12, 2008 - 01:00am PT
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"Upon are triumpant return to the parking lot my girlfriend gave us the finger and took of with my car. "
Damn Prunes!
Ruff duty = good story.
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