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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Aug 15, 2009 - 04:12am PT
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hey there say, ... oh my, wow, ... as to ron...
say, this is the ron kauk that i have seen mentioned in some of the climbs that my brother did...
thanks for being you, ron... and god bless to you always...
:)
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
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Aug 15, 2009 - 11:05am PT
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I recall another nickname...."The Missing Link"
"Bundy" kills me.
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Aug 15, 2009 - 02:30pm PT
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Lots of truth spoken on this thread. Once when JB and I were doing a workout at the Olympic training gym, behind the rescue site, the subject of Ron came up. John said he had to do all these sets to be able to do what he did, and that Ron didn't, because "he is just naturally strong."
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, Oregon
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Aug 15, 2009 - 02:39pm PT
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When I was traveling with Bachar at his Colorado lectures I introduced him with the same story that was true with Ron. I have known Ron from our early teens in the Bay Area when we would boulder at Castle Rock, etc. But Ron (like JB) was on a different level. When I finally felt solid on 5.9 Ron was cranking out 5.10. I led my first .10 only to realize Ron had jumped to .11. And then, when I cranked my first .11 I hear JB soloed New Ds and the two of them had put up a beauty with Hot Line. Ron would always be numerous steps ahead of me on the rock but on the level ground he is a kind, friendly, humorous gentleman who holds no airs.
I know it's a bit of a stretch, but I see him today as a modern-day John Muir... he CARES about the Valley.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Aug 15, 2009 - 04:37pm PT
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I remember in the 80s RK coming down to Woodson and doing a tour with Rick Pickett before the big contest coming up.
I was climbing that day with my girlfriend and later we watched as Rick soloed "Mother Superior" and then turning to Ron and saying give it a go or something to the effect. And then Ron looking up at those of us watching from above on the road, smiled and said, "I think I'll tie-in and use the rope." Doing so he then proceeded to easily send it.
That contest at Woodson he dominated. He started early, did all the climbs and test pieces he wanted, racked up massive points and beat everyone before anyone knew what was going on. Awesome.
He was really easy going and talked with my girlfriend and I. Very nice guy. Casual dresser even in the 80s: 501 levis, Wallabees, Pendleton shirt. I thought maybe he thought it was the 70s. Really nice guy.
All woman who see him think he is really good looking. My girlfriend then, and my wife now, two different women, told me so.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 20, 2009 - 05:02am PT
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It's like 1982 or so and I'm the night housing supervisor in the Valley. In charge of not letting the climbers take over employee housing at night. Still, I'm a climber myself and let Bachar slide on living in his van, bailed Yaboo out of one of his fixes, and on night I get a call that some guys have fired off fire extinguishers in the Ahwahnee dorms.
Kauk is there and his "fingerprints" are definitely part of the scene. I had a friendly talk with him. He knew I didn't have proof and I didn't particularly want any, just get low key dude.
His words were something along the lines of "You guys can never catch me..I'm a coyote!"
Who'd wanna catch a Coyote anyway?
Peace and bump
Karl
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cleo
Social climber
Berkeley, CA
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Aug 20, 2009 - 11:05am PT
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I had the pleasure of meeting Ron last year when he offered to come out and give a slideshow here. He was a gracious and humble soul, and has a strong desire and drive to share his spiritual connection with the Valley and nature with others, especially kids. Conversations with him always took an hour, where I could barely keep up with his spirited thoughts, and I hope to have many future talks with Ron.
Thanks Ron, for being an inspiration.
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 20, 2009 - 12:02pm PT
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I have only great thoughts about Ron. He has remained
for years one of the leading lights of American and
world free climbing. Whenever I would ask Bachar about
a certain boulder, if it was repeated, or ever finally
done, he'd usually refer to Ron and say something like,
Yeah, Ron did it." I don't think John respected anyone more
than Ron.
Pat
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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Aug 20, 2009 - 12:19pm PT
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You can tell a lot about a man's character by the way he conducts himself around those he will never see again. I've had the fortune - sometimes misfortune - to be around a lot of rich and famous people from many different walks in life. I've seen a lot of people who honestly believe their sh#t does not stink, but you do......
My husband was surprised to see Mr. Kauk in Yosemite, said "Kauk", and corralled the man for a conversation. We went to his show at the visitor's center and were impressed that he truly wanted to engage the audience, and in particular the little ones, in a discussion. No matter what the question or conversation, he treated all with kindness and patience. There was a genuine "centeredness" there. For years, my dad could never understand why his daughter climbs. When we left the show that night, he came away with a new perspective and a far less judgemental opinion.
Like it or not, the ambassadors of the sport are not just an inspiration or example for those in the sport, but they also shape opinion of non-climbers (some of whom can make a BIG impact us) about climbing and its legitimacy. Many in the sport forget about that. Even from a far away place, I see that he is not just a taker, but he has done some giving, too. And that comes at the cost of precious time outside.
Appreciate those who can do, and those that give back in some way. Express that appreciation while they are still alive.
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho-dee-do-dah-day
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Aug 20, 2009 - 12:38pm PT
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A month or two after Bacher did the BY and he was pretty much peaking, I made some comment to him about being the best north American climber. He said, in his awe shucks kind of way, "Naw, it's Kauk". For some reason that respect that John had for Ron really stuck with me.
I think Kauk was working on the Yosemite trail crew that summer - he was pretty low-key about climbing at the time after the adventure on Uhi Biaho.
The next day, while my partner and I were thrashing up some trade route, along came Bacher and Kauk on solo, giggling like a couple of high school boys getting away with playing hooky.
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Mike Bolte
Trad climber
Planet Earth
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Aug 20, 2009 - 01:08pm PT
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A bad picture of Ron from a month ago. His climbing resume is really incredible for its breadth (boulders to frozen giant walls in Asia), length in time, and level of mastery. Someone who had the equivalent of Ron's accomplishments in some other higher-profile area of human activity (great scientist, business leader, political leader) would be a household name and in the history books.
I like what got said further up thread: Ron has become a part of Yosemite and Tuolumne almost like the bears and the coyotes and the domes.
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hashbro
Trad climber
Mental Physics........
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Aug 21, 2009 - 12:08am PT
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I've known Ron since my first trip to the Valley in 73' when he showed us knuckleheads around like without regard to our notoriety or climbing ability
Ron has a heart of gold, knows a lot about compassion and is a deeply spiritual person...and of course is an extremely honed athlete and rock-artist....
And, Ron is a dedicated activist on issues he cares deeply about.
Ronny gives us 50 year olds a true example of what is still possible and how to do it in style!
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 23, 2009 - 04:54pm PT
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Bump 4 "The Dude"
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CF
climber
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Aug 23, 2009 - 05:20pm PT
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Aug 23, 2009 - 07:07pm PT
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Classic shot Chris. Thanks for posting it!
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Brian in SLC
Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
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Aug 23, 2009 - 07:52pm PT
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A bad picture of Ron from a month ago.
Geez, 'bout ran that guy down last week in the A loop...
Ha ha. Not really. Sorta.
Lookin' great, Ron!
-Brian in SLC
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
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Aug 24, 2009 - 11:23am PT
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Okay Okay - all who know Ron love him.
But, relationships depend on a spectrum of shared episodes - right?
AND a number of Ron's friends share some rather, shall I say "off-color" experiences with "Boy Wonder, Bundy, Son-of-Yosemite, Link" etc.
Which makes his/our friendship "special".
For example, I recently heard a story recounted about the day Mastadon officially met RK.
The Warbler was there.
How about it Kevin - remember? It concerned crashing a Curry Employee dance and some "Off-time".
Mastadon remembered something about awaking to plastic stuck to his face and Ron's laughter from across the cell???
TC
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Aug 24, 2009 - 12:32pm PT
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No offense to the other Stonemasters, but, in the mid to late '70s, when I was a Valley semi-regular, I always thought that Ron was the most approachable of the masters. I'll never forget the appropriate gift he gave to me and Al Chase the night before we started up Tangerine Trip (no, it wasn't a tangerine).
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Fuzzywuzzy
climber
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Aug 24, 2009 - 01:15pm PT
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Kevin -
Classic, "You can go with him"!!!
Thanks for posting up.
Don may come on and explain the plastic. He was a bit rowdy as I recall.
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mastadon
Trad climber
quaking has-been
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Aug 25, 2009 - 05:50am PT
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Mr. Carter Sir,
Thank you for giving some of us the opportunity to air some dirty laundry on a public forum. Maybe some day you’ll tell us about the time you were discovered by the local police sleeping in the arms of a partially clothed mannequin under a southern California freeway……..
Concerning the incident you mentioned: I did indeed have the disturbing pleasure of waking up in the Yosemite jail one time (well…maybe more then once). A few of us spent a rigorous evening in the Mountain Room Bar enhancing climber/non-climber relations. Things became a little hazy after a while. The next thing I remember is coming to consciousness (you don’t really wake up when you’re in that condition), opening one eye and finding my face pressed against plastic. I turned the possibilities over in my mind and couldn’t come up with any rational reason for my head to be on a plastic coated mattress. I focused my one open eye a little further away and saw Ron Kauk sitting on a bunk a few feet away, pointing a crooked finger at me and laughing. Kevin Worral was sitting on a bunk above Ron. The previous evening started to come back to my fogged mind-being chased by rangers through camp 4, tripping in the drainage ditch, struggling with the ranger trying to arrest me, etc, etc…..
Ron and Kevin spent the next three days in jail for crashing a Curry Co dance and I was out the next day (after far more serious offenses). I remember that they were truly pissed that I got out before them. The rangers, at that time, had it out for some of the local color and Ron and Kevin fit that category. I, on the other hand, had maintained a lower profile, at least up to that point.
Ron and I still laugh about the encounter.....
--
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