Woody Stark appreciation thread

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survival

Big Wall climber

A Token of My Extreme

Mar 17, 2009 - 05:02am PT

Patrick Sawyer

climber

Originally California now Ireland

Mar 17, 2009 - 09:37am PT

RIP Woody.

Gary

climber

Desolation Basin, Calif.

Mar 17, 2009 - 10:30am PT

I feel very bad for Woody's friends and especially his family.

But not for Woody. He had a great run, better than most. He had special skills and a special attitude at a special time in a special place.

He had an opportunity to be a pioneer at one of the great climbing destinations in the world, and he seized that opportunity. That's really something.

My meager skills have gotten me up some of his climbs, and have failed me on others of his FAs. Now, I might even forgive him for the humiliation that is Penelope's Walk.

A year or two ago I saw him at Country Kitchen with Tia. I recognized him from all those Ouch! masterpieces. I said nothing, not wanting to interrupt their quiet breakfast, but really do wish I had just said "Hi" now.

Anastasia

climber

Not here

Mar 17, 2009 - 02:46pm PT

bump

Toker Villain

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Mar 17, 2009 - 04:34pm PT

I've been out of touch climbing and taping for a few days with a bunch of geezers in Arizona.

This is so sad.
Please be as careful as you can when climbing. I don't even know what happened but have been through these emotions before. That's the thing about climbing; risk is what makes it interesting, but the cost, well,..

My best wishes go out to friends and family.
I raise my glass to a life well lived.

Prof. Largo

Sport climber

Chino, CA

Mar 17, 2009 - 04:40pm PT

I knew him from Hangar 18. He used to belay Tia from about, oh, thirty feet from the wall, standing under the boulder cave. When I used to work behind the desk, a few years ago, I would have to ask him to not do that. And he would just kind of stare at me before complying. Then five minutes later he'd be doing it again. I had no idea, then, that he was such a legend.

He used to work his way across the ceiling at Hangar, and all the young guys would be wondering, "What the hell is this old dude doing?" But then we'd all shut up when he worked his way across. He would have to take, but hell, he's the only 60+ climber who could even finish it. I always respected him from afar. I wish I had talked to him more, all those days at the Hangar.

Prayers for his family and friends.

Vulgarian

Trad climber

Riverside CA. (at the base of Mt. Rubidoux)

Mar 17, 2009 - 05:02pm PT

So much living - So very sad.

I hope Al, his partner at the time of the accident, is hanging in there.

F10

Trad climber

e350

Mar 17, 2009 - 05:08pm PT

It all started with a thin little orange guide book by John Wolfe.

I kept seeing Woody Stark's name and the other Desert Rats in the guide. You were the guys I looked up to and you made an impression on me. Kinda like RR and all the sixties climbers from the valley.

Thanks for showing the way, you will be missed, R I P

James

JuanDeFuca

Big Wall climber

Stoney Point

Mar 17, 2009 - 05:30pm PT

Woody used to stick up for me all the time on the Taco.

God's Speed.

Jeff

JTwilly

Trad climber

joshua tree

Mar 17, 2009 - 06:27pm PT

Reading Woody's appreciation thread made me realize how fortunate I am to have climbed with him several times. Bill Briggs introduced me to climbing, to Woody, Dick, Don, Bud, and others. I didn't realize I was in the presence of greatness even as I listened to their stories of adventures past. Unless Woody climbed more than once with his broken foot in a cast (which he injured in a fall), I was the one belaying him in the photo as he ascended with one climbing shoe on. He was an amazing climber.

crazedoldguy

Trad climber

orange park Florida

Mar 17, 2009 - 06:31pm PT

I climbed with woody at Devils tower. What a guy. There were 4 of Us with woody being the oldest :) He lived his life of climbing to the fullest. I will miss him badly. He truely has a great heart

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Mar 17, 2009 - 06:38pm PT

Stern, is that you?

He filled me in on the race across Arizona. How are you doing?

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Mar 17, 2009 - 07:00pm PT

I wouldn't characterize Woody as a conservative or ideological in any form.

He was a realist, based on an encyclopedic knowledge of history. That there are parallels with "conservative" thought was only coincidental. "Just the facts Mam!"

His house looks like an old bachelors library with wall length shelves and books piled everywhere in various stages of completion. He was always working on reading a novel, history and one other subject at the rate of about three books a week, (when the weather wasn't so good, when it was good he'd choke it down to one or two a week and a Teaching Company DVD class.)

He was always on my ass to finish the latest library swap.

"have you finished it yet?" (400 page tome)

He was always done in a day or two and caught all the detail.

TGT

Social climber

So Cal

Mar 17, 2009 - 07:37pm PT

He was at Hangar 18 the day after he had the cast put on after the Toe Tip incident last year.

The next week he showed up and as soon as he got his feet about head height I noticed that he'd worn a hole all the way thru the heel of his one week old cast.

When he got back down (he was deaf in the left ear I'm deaf in the right. Communication over the music in the gym while climbing is almost impossible) I asked him what he'd done to his cast.

"Speed crutching!"

What's speed crutching?

"I went out and tried to see how fast I could do two miles on crutches"

Port

Trad climber

San Diego

Mar 17, 2009 - 08:07pm PT

Thats a great story Locker, must have been a great day for him.

drljefe

climber

Old Pueblo, AZ

Mar 17, 2009 - 10:46pm PT

bluering

Trad climber

Santa Clara, Ca.

Mar 17, 2009 - 10:55pm PT

Like father like daughter...Woody probably would have called you a puss, but I still love you Locker.

Woody taught his little girl well.

(I prolly would have pussed out too, to Woody's scorn)

That musta made Dad proud that day...among others.