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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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Jan 12, 2005 - 12:22pm PT
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Largo, you rock. Thanks for the report. If I didn't own about every last damn one of your books I'd go buy another.
I'd drive him up for $75 (which would probably mean I'd take about a $50 hit on gas alone.
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Jan 12, 2005 - 12:52pm PT
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Crow...ya know I was just kidding about sending him some porn mags! that's freaking hilarious!!! They must have both been so embarassed...
Largo, way to represent the ST community for our boy James, thanks man.
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Jan 12, 2005 - 01:04pm PT
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One of my climbing buddies cratered from about 40 feet eight years ago -- several year before I met him. His ankles exploded and he shattered four vertebrae as a result. Ken had numerous surguries on both legs and after much titanium-screw therapy he left the hospital with two marginally functional fused ankles and a long road of recovery ahead of him. He spent the first year of rehab in a wheel chair, but eventually gained enough mobility to toss that aside and gimp around on his own.
Fast forward to 2000, when I met him. Ken joined me and another climbing buddy for a day of cragging out at Queen Creek. It was the first time he'd roped up since the fall several years earlier, and at the time, I knew nothing of his accident or resulting disabilities. I was impressed that this guy -- as far as I knew, he was a first time climber -- was able to keep up with us on nearly everything we climbed that day up to 5.9. It wasn't until later that day that I learned more about Ken's history and he revealed his scared and gnarled pegs.
Ken walks on those two fused ankles with hardly a hitch and I struggle to keep up with him on even the most rugged of approaches. Dude can climb better than me most day (which isn't really saying a lot), and frankly, I often forget that he has two bum wheels. He lives life like he's forgotten, too.
Here's to people like Ken and James whose attitude and spirit in the face of adversity set an example most of the rest of us would struggle to follow. I hope James' outcome from this accident is every bit as successful as Ken's.
Ed
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museman
Big Wall climber
Poway, Ca
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Jan 12, 2005 - 03:30pm PT
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I hope James recovers well enough to climb again. I know how it feels to have a bad accident and not be able to climb anymore. I hit a freeway divide at 65mph this April damaging my spinal cord and leaving me with two paralyzed legs. Rehab is restoring lost strength in my upper body, but I will never climb or ride my mt. bike again and that saddens me beyond words.
I was in hospital for four months and I cried every day as if in mourning, greving the death of my lost legs. I've been home now for five months with my wife and two kids and without their love and support -as well as my friends, especially Tommy Thompson and Big Jay Nelson- things wouldn't be so good for me today.
Believe it or not the forum on this site with all you characters spraying back and fourth telling about all things climbing and then some have brought back my interest in the game.
Good luck James! Your friends and family will see you through these hard times.
Steve
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Jan 12, 2005 - 03:49pm PT
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dude, sorry to here about that Steve. stay strong and keep your chin up bro. glad you stick around here with us!
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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Jan 12, 2005 - 03:50pm PT
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A buddy of mine - some might know Rodman - took TWO falls that were certain to do damage.
In mexico he was putting bolts in for an anchor. He got one bolt in. He clipped the bolt and hung on it to drill the second. At some point he decided to tighten the bolt he was on. *BINK* it pops sending him for a 100 footer. A tree softened the landing (no not a Lynn Hill rip-off story). He took a branch below the jaw. Apparently whatever they did to remove said branch didn't work 100%. Months later his chin started to swell and get infected. He had a chunk of wood removed.
Soloing a 12a that tops out on crappy sandstone marbles (not meant to be topped out). A pepple pops and sends him about 45 feet into the sand snapping his ankle. As this was in a canyon with water (Winslow Wall) they had to float him out. It took many hours. His ankle is fused yet he still climbs 5.14 and humps around some huge haul bags. He takes his time but when the day is all said and done he's endured as much as anyone else w/o a peep of complaint.
It's amazing what the human body can overcome.
Moral of my story is I guess... don't be surprised one day if James goes climbing on past you - fused body and all.
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David
Trad climber
San Rafael, CA
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Jan 12, 2005 - 04:44pm PT
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Sheesh...who was it that was recently posted a thread bemoaning the lack of a supportive climbing community? This thread is proof otherwise.
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Ammon
Big Wall climber
The Mountains
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Jan 12, 2005 - 05:35pm PT
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Steve,
I too, am really sorry to hear about your accident. Keep up the positive attitude. I can't even begin to imagine what you have gone through.
Mike,
That's a great offer..... I'll match it.
Cheers-
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Nate D
Trad climber
San Francisco
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Jan 12, 2005 - 07:24pm PT
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To James, Steve, and any other injured climbers lurking out there - we're glad to have you around.
You've given us much to ponder, and I'm sure we (at least I can speak for myself) are the better for it.
Continually redefine "adventure".
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bkesser
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Jan 14, 2005 - 04:54pm PT
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I hurt when I read about a climber breaking their back. I broke my back in a 5-foot bouldering fall at the gym. The L1 vertebra (just below the rib-cage)shattered, and had to be fused with chips from my hip-bone to the the vertebrae above and below it. That was in August. Now it is January and I am back in the gym climbing, waiting for the doc to say its safe to go outside.
Keep the faith, James
ps Use a pad or a spotter in the gym. The shredded rubber tires in my gym broke my back, not my fall.
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pighumper
climber
Marin
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Jan 14, 2005 - 09:41pm PT
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Best wishes to Steve and James. Largo... what a kind selfless act maybe there is hope for us humans!
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socalbolter
Sport climber
Silverado, CA
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Jan 15, 2005 - 01:16pm PT
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Good Luck to you, James.
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Waldo
Trad climber
King City, CA
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Jan 17, 2005 - 07:22pm PT
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My old friend and partner Dave Gregory fell 35 feet or so off a gritstone edge nearly four years ago. He suffered injuries similar to James's. In addition, he was sixty-eight when the fall occurred. He did a great job on the rehab, though one or two problems linger. Last summer we spent a month in Tuolumne and Courtright. He took half the leads. Hang in there, James. You'll be back.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Jan 17, 2005 - 08:26pm PT
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James and Steve,
Never ever give up, or count yourself out. If I can offer any words of encouragement, just "keep on keepin' on."
My friend Tomaz Humar broke both his femurs falling down a hole in his backyard. They told him he'd never climb again, and when I read the stories of him hobbling round afterwards, I figured "they" were right.
Last I read, Tomaz was out putting up first ascents on the South Face of Aconcagua, and attempting solos on the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat.
So from one busted-up wall climber to a couple others, "cheers, beers and brassieres".
Pete
P.S. I busted my ankle pretty badly this spring, and they told me I wouldn't be able to much of anything for a while. A few weeks after they removed the diastasis screw, I was back on the Big Stone. I get "unscrewed" on February 7th. Can't wait to get the rest of that hardware out of me ankle.
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Gene
climber
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Jan 18, 2005 - 12:13am PT
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Klaus,
If you find out where James is, let me know. I emailed Matt, but haven't heard back. Does anyone know if James likes to read? I got a ton of books and would be happy to send some to our Miracle Boy if I only had an address. Anyone know his tastes in literature? I'll be in the Bay Area in a couple of weeks if he wants the company of a well-wishing stranger. If he wants to be left alone, that's fine, too.
Gene
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James
Gym climber
City by the Bay
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Jan 24, 2005 - 02:17am PT
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I'm not lucky if I was, I would have landed gone to vegas won 3 grand and f*#ked a stripper while blowing lines of coke.
Anyone who can't survive a 100 foot fall is light.
to my bastard friends, come visit or call.
James
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Jan 24, 2005 - 02:59am PT
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Dude, that's exactly what happened, You're in drug rehab right now. The money you won went to the doctors.
Folks just made up the soloing story to save face. Nobody had the heart to break the news about rehab to you until now.
The good news, The strippers gave you rave reviews.
Welcome back
Peace
karl
PS. Its the heavy ones who make a mess from 100 feet.
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Jan 24, 2005 - 01:04pm PT
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Hey James -- STFU!!! Ya damn cripple...
Welcome back. ;-)
Ed
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Jan 24, 2005 - 02:18pm PT
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hey tough guy, hang on a little tighter next time, eh?!
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Edge
Trad climber
New Durham, NH
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Jan 24, 2005 - 02:31pm PT
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James, I don't know you and only started posting here after your accident, but I have followed your story and recovery with great interest. I am glad that when things turned to plop, drop, fly, or die, that you chose to fly.
Good luck and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery!
Loran
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