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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 28, 2008 - 11:27pm PT
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Here is an obscure Yosemite Kroger route from Roper's green guide. Who is Kep Stone? Anyone done this route?
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Kligfield
Mountain climber
Boulder, CO
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Jan 31, 2008 - 12:59pm PT
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Chuck will be missed by all those who knew him. His achievements have been well documented by others. But the essense of Chuck was his sense of adventure. Stories abound of his enthusiasm to try new adventures--whether they be new routes on El Cap, sailing across the oceans, opening up new terrane in Antarctica, or hiking around the San Juans. A typical Chuck story (unreported) happened to me back in the early 1970s. Chuck and I were sitting on Heart Ledge on El Capitan, stalled out by rainstorms while attempting a new route on El Cap (which later became Magic Mushroom). After 3 days of testing our new rain tent fly and concluding it "just didn't work", we gave up and rappelled down to the valley floor. Now here is when the real Chuck revealed itself. Rather than mope about the weather or failure, we drove straight to Ventura. Only 12 hours after being on Heart Ledge we were now in the ocean in a small sailboat heading for the Channel Islands. Of course a major storm taught me the value of Chuck's needle and thread knowledge as he sewed up the ripped sail in an attempt to keep us alive! Moral of the story--Chuck was a true adventurer and never let anything get him down, not even his illness. Talented and strong, we will all miss his sense of adventure and insight into the world as he experienced it, and we experienced it with him.
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#310
Social climber
Telluride, CO
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Hi,
I am Chuck Kroger's wife. I don't know all the forum lingo, but I guess I am a "lurker" on Super Topo. I started "lurking" last spring to find out about the once and future book on the Airplane crash. I played a minor role as the ranger who took the first report of a plane crash found in Lower Merced Pass lake.
I am trying to adjust to life without Chuck. It is not easy. I have eagerly read the postings here and learned more about Chuck and his climbs from before I knew him. I am trying to figure out who many of you all really are. I drove the get away car for a lot of Shiprock climbs and have no clue of who Rockermike is and which climb that was.
To attempt to answer Steve's questions about Chuck's Baboquivari Peak climbs. Chuck spent parts of 1974 & 1975 living in Tucson doing construction work. I am not sure who his various climbing partners were. I think he might have done a first ascent at Cochise Stronghold in that time period. In December 1975, Chuck went to work for the U of A in Puerto Penasco and was there off and on for 3 1/2 years. During the Penasco time, he did at least one big wall on Baboquivari with Walt Venum (old Stanford climibing mate) and Pat Ellinwood (Pat's first Grade V climb, I think). I will see if Walt knows what other Baboquivari climbs Chuck did and with whom.
Thank you to everyone for sharing your Chuck stories and all the condolences. We will have a Celebration of Chuck's Life on August 2 in the Telluride Town Park starting in the late afternoon.
I am trying to laugh more than I cry. Chuck loved to laugh.
Kathy
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Pull up a chair and stay a while Kathy, if you please. Any thoughts or reflections on Chuck or yourself are entirely welcome here.
Thanks for the Babo info. I know Pat Ellinwood and would love to track down Walt Venum for more details.
Best wishes to you at this difficult time. I will be in touch soon.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Kathy,
My condolences to you and your family. I first went to Yosemite in 1973, so I never met Chuck, but I knew him by reputation and by the respect that was shown when the story of Kroger and the first ascent of Heart Route came up around the campfire in Camp 4.
You were a ranger around the time of the plane crash! I got there that spring right after it occurred. Did you ever man the entrance stations? And did you ever let dirtbag climbers get in the park for free because they claimed they were on the rescue team? If so, my belated thanks.
Rick Accomazzo
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slobmonster
Trad climber
berkeley, ca
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Though only having met in passing (as I had a number of friends who lived in the Krogers' rental units adjacent to their home) I can say that as a resident of Telluride, Chuck & Kathy's presence and tenure in the wacky little mountain town made the place even greater. I would walk by their home every morning and night from my own residence --a permanently-parked yellow school bus just uphill, and across the county line-- amazed at the tinkerings and interesting signage and, well, all the outstanding honest relaxed responsible generous vibes. It feels pretty hippy-dippy putting it that way, but I am certain that if such good folks had not staked their claim, Telluride would truly be in ruin. Thank you Chuck.
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Anne-Marie Rizzi
climber
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Just a reminder that the celebration of Chuck's life will take place in Telluride on August 2.
I'll be there!
Here's the info:
A CELEBRATION OF CHUCK KROGER’S LIFE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 @ 4:30 PM
IN THE TELLURIDE TOWN PARK. A POT LUCK DINNER AND MUSIC WILL FOLLOW THE CELEBRATION.
THE TWO FILMS ABOUT CHUCK THAT WERE MADE FOR MOUNTAIN FILM 2008 WILL BE SHOWN FRIDAY AFTERNOON 8/01, SATURDAY AFTERNOON 8/02 AND SUNDAY NOON & AFTERNOON 8/03 AT THE NUGGET THEATER IN DOWNTOWN TELLURIDE.
THE FOLLOWING TELLURIDE HOTELS ARE OFFERING SPECIAL RATES FOR PEOPLE COMING TO THE CELEBRATION:
Mountainside Inn 970-728-1950
Queen Bed or Queen Bed plus twin - $107.00 - 22 units
Kitchenette Queen Bed or Queen Bed plus twin - $107.00 - 53 units
One Bedroom Suite - King Bed or Queen plus twin - $152.00 - 7 units
*Riverview rooms available for $10.00 additional per night*
The Victorian Inn 970-728-6601
Queen bed room - $119.00 - 14 units
2 Queen bed room - $129.00 - 14 units
Deluxe room with Kitchenette - $139.00 - 2 units
Cozy Guest Cottage - 1 Queen and 2 twins, full kitchen - $199.00 - 1 unit
San Sophia Bed and Breakfast 970-728-3001
15% off regular room rate for an average of $145.00 - 16 units
Telluride Town Park has a nice small campground but no reservations – if anyone wants to camp, let me know and we will try to move into a few campsites mid week when they might be empty.
Remember the celebration will be an outdoor event – so dress casually and have warm jackets/raincoats with you.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Thanks for the info Anne-Marie. Planning on attending myself.
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Anne-Marie Rizzi
climber
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Aug 18, 2008 - 01:54am PT
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Chuck's celebration of life was a grand and emotional blast, with hundreds and hundreds of people attending in the Telluride town park.
The park was decorated with strands of prayer flags made by Kathy, and flowers from Chuck and Kathy's home; several tents housed "memory boards" with photos of Chuck, Kathy, and friends captured during various adventures.
It was primarily an informal affair, but included several tear-jerking speeches made by friends and family, which Steve Grossman filmed.
Some friends arrived earlier in the week to finish up portions of Chuck's Via Ferrata routes (I think there are two).
The Nugget Theater showed several viewings of a film made about Chuck for 2008 MountainFilm. My understanding is that the film will be available on DVD at some point, price undecided, to raise funds to build a bridge in Chuck's name on Bear Creek.
When I get further info on the DVD distribution, I will post up.
We should all be so loved...
Anne-Marie
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Anastasia
climber
Not there
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Aug 18, 2008 - 10:36am PT
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Condolences...
AF
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Aug 19, 2008 - 02:17am PT
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Two weeks ago many wonderful friends of Chuck and Kathy gathered to celebrate the world according to Kroger. What an inspiring life he had, full to the brim with adventures and memories shared with the folks in attendance. I was fortunate in so many ways to attend on behalf of the YCA and record lots of tales and reflections especially with Chuck's Stanford Alpine Club pals and Kathy Green herself.
A few snapshots of the August 2 event held at the town park. Please help me add names to faces or correct errors.
Tim Kudo and Lito Tejada-Flores.
Clay Wadman on the right and George Bracksieck (far left).
Curt (in hat) and Bernadette Chadwick.
Dwight Olsen, his son, and Anne-Marie Rizzi from the right.
Lito Tejada-Flores and Hugh Kimball in the blue shirts.
Dave Calfee in blue with Scott Davis to his left.
Walt Vennum on the right and Dave Calfee under one of the fabulous storyboard tents that Kathy had put together.
Norm Weeden with arms crossed.
Chuck's dad.
Clay Wadman made my visit possible through a donation of El Cap posters on which I collected signatures of FAer's.
The wonderful evening was capped by the Dust Storm from Silverton, CO featuring the event MC Timmy O'Neill on drums, Ken Sauls lead, and an all-climber lineup playing your favorites at the Fly Me to the Moon Saloon.
I have seen a lot of shows and never watched a cymbal get tacoed! Raw power and big fun to watch.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Aug 20, 2008 - 12:12am PT
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Railbike bump!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Aug 24, 2008 - 02:56pm PT
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Buttboard bump....
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Sep 13, 2008 - 12:23pm PT
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Chuck bump....
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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My sincere, belated condolences to all, but beautiful ripples are formed by the wake of this unique talent, his achievements, and imagination.
I guess I was a "weekender college boy." Kroger and Davis were concrete examples to me that I could strive to continue my academic goals and still scratch rock.
In the late sixties at the impressionable age of thirteen, I hiked the Half Dome trail all night long carrying three days water from Nevada Falls for an attempt on the NW
Face. My partner who was waiting at the base, decided against the attempt. Returning down, we were met by Kroger and Davis heading up, really tearing up the trail, humping huge loads, and dripping sweat. I recognized them from magazine mugs, but in the flesh, they were no mere, sitting portraits.
That was my only "interaction," non verbal, and less that a minute. But the contrast of our timid retreat and their "set jaws" remainded in my psyche for years and tutored me on the subject of "determination."
To his family, friends and wife, I hope the pain of his loss will be offset by the privilege of his memory.
Bruce
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 25, 2009 - 11:15pm PT
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Chuck had some kind of moxy. He somehow managed to break two Yosemite hammers and wrote Chouinard a nasty letter in the early seventies clearly accusing him of shoddy craftsmanship. Not long after this exchange, he had the pluck to ask YC for a job! While he was there he made a set of his own bamboo ice tools and hammers.
He also had a big hand in designing the Peapod Hammock around 1972.
Kathy Green donated a well worn prototype to the YCA this summer. Thanks again.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
Monrovia, CA
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Jan 25, 2009 - 11:57pm PT
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I went to the Pamirs with Chuck in '78. I didn't know him before that except vicariously through Scott Davis who I worked for. We hit it off quite well on the trip and he was a real joy to be around. I really regret not getting to know him better afterwards but it is a long commute from Seattle to Telluride.
Thanks, Chuck, it was a privilege.
Reilly Moss
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Jan 26, 2009 - 12:01am PT
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What a lovely thread! Though I never knew Chuck, I've enjoyed reading about him. My condolences still to his wife and family.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 26, 2009 - 10:49am PT
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More details Reilly! Who else was along and what were your objectives? You must have a few stories from that jaunt?
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