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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Jul 12, 2009 - 03:50am PT
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I'm right there with you. John was 'the best climber ever'.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jul 12, 2009 - 04:31am PT
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Measured Risks....Surfing Waimea on a Big Day, Indianapolis 500, Peak climbing, and so much more.
We all know what we are capable of. Lance Armstrong could have died on any of his Tours pushing it. Athletes know what they can achieve and "things" can happen at any time.
So it's not a matter of right or wrong here imho....it's life.
My husband would much rather have died in sport than in a fricking hospital from a disease that was much worse than a fall. Maybe it's all a matter of opinion Corniss.
So Peace to you Friend, Lynne
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corniss chopper
Mountain climber
san jose, ca
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Jul 12, 2009 - 04:56am PT
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Yes , peace. Go climb!
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Bruce Nyberg
Trad climber
Sheridan, Wyoming
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Jul 12, 2009 - 08:51am PT
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Peace be with you John. Bruce Nyberg
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morphus
Mountain climber
Angleland
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Jul 12, 2009 - 10:14am PT
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nice obituary by Ed Douglas:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/10/john-bacher-rock-climber
"He took up the saxophone, buying his first instrument after a previous owner threatened to turn it into a bong, and would serenade climbers high on the big granite walls above Camp IV"
i like this anecdote from the UKC thread
"According to a friend of mine was doing some runout 5.7 up in the 'Meadows', out of sight from his belayer he started to hear saxophone music,looking up he saw some guy walking down the 'slab'crux towards him calmly playing his sax!It was Bachar...Fires(first sticky boots) had just come out-he was testing them out apparently."
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jstan
climber
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Jul 12, 2009 - 11:35am PT
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You have to wonder what John would have thought of some of this dialog. But
he, just as we, cannot heal all that which is torn and broken in the world. There
is much damage, surely.
Shipoopi's thoughtful comment tells us during the last few years, John had
come home. Ultimately, if one is to pay proper respect to the power and
creativity possessed by ourselves and our friends it must surface as a
dedication to helping youngsters make good decisions and keeping their world
as beautiful as it was when we first received it.
John performed this function, as we might have expected he would. Now it is
for us to move on and continue the work.
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Hesser
Trad climber
Squamish B.C.
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Jul 12, 2009 - 11:55am PT
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I have been really bummed since I first got the news. Had the chance of meeting him a only a handful of times. Watching him climb was very inspiring. I will never forget these encounters and how gracious and engaging he was. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Mike
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Jul 12, 2009 - 12:01pm PT
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Camp 4 in Yosemite was John’s home for many years. On a warm summer evening in 1978, the residents were engaged in the usual post-climbing activity: sneaking a shower at the employee dorms and hanging around the parking lot.
It occurred to me that this was a moment to remember, so I got my camera out of the car and cajoled everyone nearby into posing for this photo. It captures just a few of the Camp 4 cast of characters, but it has some of the stars from that era, including John and some of his close friends.
From the left, Dick Shockley, Jim Bridwell, Tobin Sorenson with his girlfriend Maria, Mike Lechlinski, Mike Graham, John Bachar, John Yablonski, and Karl Mueller.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 12, 2009 - 12:20pm PT
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A wonderful photo - thanks, Rick!
When we were very young - only Bridwell looks like a "grown up".
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Mini
Social climber
Bishop, CA
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Jul 12, 2009 - 12:41pm PT
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Amazing assembly of talent & personality there.
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definitions
Sport climber
singapore
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Jul 12, 2009 - 01:20pm PT
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you're an inspiration and an a True legend .. john
take care and climb on!
your avid climbing student - singapore
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
OR
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Jul 12, 2009 - 04:12pm PT
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That photograph really is golden, Rick!
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Licky
Mountain climber
California
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Jul 12, 2009 - 04:17pm PT
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I just learned of the passing of John Bachar.
My heart felt condolences go out to John's family and friends.
During the past years as I do my research about the plane crash,
John has always been helpful with information as well as a source
for some great stories.
I make no attempt here to say that I knew him other than that of what
I learned from our phone conversations. The world could always
use a few more John Bachars. RIP
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Porkchop_express
Trad climber
the base of the Shawangunk Ridge
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Jul 12, 2009 - 04:52pm PT
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Having never met or even been replied to on this forum by JB I feel like a bit of an outsider posting this, but I saw his pictures, read about him and then read his posts here. When the whole Growing Up think-tank thread was going full bore I first realized that this JB was John Bachar! It was a thrill to me as a sort of Noob. I, like many others wish that I would have had a chance to meet him, but who he was to me made me a lot more conscious and aware of how my climbing can impact others- namely the ethics and style.
From a long way away, through the ethers, he made me want to do everything I do better, more responsibly. Actually that goes for quite a few of you all here. Just saying.
My sincerest condolences to those who lost a friend and a family member in him.
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Robinson
Trad climber
Chattanooga
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Jul 12, 2009 - 05:31pm PT
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This was a CD John put together for me while he was in hanging out w me in Chattanooga this last November. Some of his favorite songs. Maybe some of you who know him well will recognize a few of the tracks.
***
Like many of you who knew John ... I've had a million thoughts swirling around in my head since I first heard (on the morning of the 6th) about the accident. What went wrong?
John was still recovering from a terrible car accident ... he had permanent injuries from that. He told me on several occasions "I'm not the man I used to be." He was unable to rotate his neck (it had been fused), and as well had nerve damage in his left arm and hand. The ends of two of his fingers were numb. He could not feel holds with the tips. He had also had emergency surgery in summer of last year to have a ruptured appendix removed which he said had taken a lot of him. And finally, he had a ripped groin muscle that was still healing ... if he thought he might fall on something when leading he would back off because he was afraid it might rip again.
Although John was a wounded climbing lion, he was nonetheless a marvel, and a joy, to watch climb. Indeed, he climbed brilliantly while he was here: Totally solid...immaculate footwork...great flow control.
I haven't seen anyone post what route he was on, but I imagine it was something he had done many times before, that wasn't too difficult (a 5.8, 5.9 or easy 10), and that he had wired. I hope we will find out in time.
Regardless of what route he was on, whatever happened on the 5th ... I think it had to be his body suddenly and unexpectedly giving out on him. Perhaps we can take some solace in that?
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Gobee
Trad climber
Los Angeles
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Jul 12, 2009 - 06:20pm PT
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I know each generation has it's own heros, and the next builds off of them, but if I could build my own Mt. Yosemite (Rushmore)
It would include, Jim Bridwell, John Bachar, Ron Kauk,*(Lynn Hill), Peter Croft, and Steve Schneider(oop's that's five). On the tour bus, Werner would be are tour guide, John Long would be clipping tickets(so you better have one), Mike Lechlinski, John Yablonski,*Lynn Hill(on second thought I'd have to put her between Kauk and Croft), and the StoneMasters would be throwing stuff at them, and Erik Eriksson would be the park bum with a sign that said "Will climb for food!"
BUT WHAT A GENERATION! I love ya man!
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Jul 12, 2009 - 07:28pm PT
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New York TImes obit: http://www.deuce4.net/web/Bachar_Obit_NYT_July9-09.pdf
Same day the Times ran an article about Coltrane. John would have like that.
BTW, my impressions of John regarding his perception of his role in climbing were a bit different than some of the other first hand views expressed here. Of course he didn't like the way climbing changed in the late 80's, but I wouldn't say it affected his happiness. Rather, he always seemed to have a good sense of humor regarding the new trends, and always of course without compromising his own beliefs one iota.
It was a time where it was difficult for many climbers not to have bitter feelings about the way climbing changed, especially if one had put a lot of time and energy into perfecting the bolder ground-up style of climbing. John was one of the few that did not let the changing mainstream affect his own spirit towards climbing.
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AbeFrohman
Trad climber
new york, NY
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Jul 12, 2009 - 11:57pm PT
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Another great leader of our tribe gone.
This picture from up thread a bit, blows my mind.
Why don't you look a little more relaxed, huh?
RIP.
Peace.
Climb On.
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wayne w
Trad climber
the nw
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Jul 13, 2009 - 12:23am PT
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I've been on a road trip and away from cyberspace until tonight...
I can't imagine what life is going to be like without my dear friend John. For over 30 years now he has been an amazing fountain of positive energy and support. I cannot remember ever having anything but a good time with him.
I spoke with him on the phone a week or so before his fall. As I talked about the plan for the Diamond I have for next week with a couple of other incredible friends, he reminded me, twice, to be on top of my game, super safe, and let him now how it went when I got home.
If only I could make that call...
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