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climber
Texas
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Mar 20, 2009 - 02:29pm PT
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Outstanding thread. That Southern Belle attempt was one for the ages...
Also, as a Texan, I second Tarbuster's idea: the 5.11 slab soloing binge while in Austin is a tale I'd like to hear...
EDIT:
Also: "The 3rd worst moment of my climbing life was on the Belle."
What were the first two?
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Mar 20, 2009 - 03:04pm PT
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this particular post is not right.
Whew! Pass me one of those Sierra Nevadas. No, make it two.
I was going to go skiing, but I'm glued to this boulder by the fire.
Singed shoe smell lingering
Acrid by the tale telling fire
Keeps me from swooning
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Prod
Trad climber
A place w/o Avitars apparently
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Mar 20, 2009 - 03:50pm PT
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Here's to you Hank!
Prod.
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James
climber
My twin brother's laundry room
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Mar 20, 2009 - 04:13pm PT
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Wow. I better get my goretex. This here's some serious spray. Can't say I mind it as much when it's mixed with such a good sense of humor, and exciting story telling. Cool stuff Caylor.
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Mar 20, 2009 - 05:13pm PT
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Come on Hank there is more, so much more.
Here have a smor and a mocha.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
here to eternity
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Mar 20, 2009 - 05:19pm PT
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My ass is freezing and my boots are melting... but I'm not moving from this campfire.... bring on more!
Eric
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Mar 20, 2009 - 05:44pm PT
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A little intermission vignette on the doings of SWANK HANK.
In the early 90s I used to organize these mass outings to the dance clubs around Boulder.
Below is a typical shot snagged from one of those evenings featuring myself, Hank, Sue and Jane.
The morning after this picture was taken, the four of us lounged most of the day in bed,
Making cookie sandwiches with ice cream in between and drinking red wine while watching rented movies:
But that isn't the story....
On a particular evening aside from the one mentioned above, we were en masse in our usual inebriated raucous mode about town and there were more than a few "hookups" by the end of the night.
Prod went home with Allison (there have been two and I'm not saying which one).
....and Hank bagged this little dish named Anne, a 'hot to trot' blonde number who we all knew fairly well. She was a few years Hank's senior, then enduring a long stretch of rocky marital seas, altogether qualifying her as single and somewhat the wanton "older" woman, at least standing next to that green bean Hank...
We usually ended the party evenings and started our cragging days on the "The Hill", in the vicinity of Café Roma. So the next morning I'm strolling up for the usual late morning coffee extravaganza, when up pulls Anne's sporty little red four-cylinder and it sort of nudges up cockeyed to the curb.
She kind of fumbled out of the car, dazed, all akimbo and accosted by the bright sunlight and vainly checking her coiffure...
JUST WHAT DID YOU DO TO THAT WOMAN HANK???
Well, clearly she needed it and got it, in spades.
Anne paid me that sort of look: "no point in keeping any secrets", she was totally disoriented, sorely in need of a cup of coffee, and had an aura like she'd just pulled an all nighter going backwards on the ferris wheel, having also devoured ALL the cotton candy...
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MisterE
Trad climber
One Place or Another
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Mar 20, 2009 - 06:07pm PT
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Juicy!
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 20, 2009 - 06:14pm PT
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Hankster, that could almost pass for the Tarbuster man himself,
standin' next to you in that pic!!!
'cept we know it isn't, cuz it's not a cowboy hat. . .
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couchmaster
climber
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Mar 20, 2009 - 06:19pm PT
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So I'll probably screw this story up as it must be over 30 years old in my mind cause I heard it from Gary @ 1980 I suppose. but here goes anyway. My friend Gary (Gary Rall, owner of Portland Rock Gym) had just turned 16 and got his license. He and his younger buddy decide it's time to learn to drive pitons. So they pile in Garys rig and head to the local boulder for the shess.
Gary's up high on this thing, when the intersection of knowledge, youth and stupidity coincide and the words "Expanding Flake" entered the youths lexicon. the pin he was on fails -and as it was an expanding flake, a boulder split down the middle so to speak, no pro was between Gary and the deck which he hit much faster than you did Hank.
Broke his foot.
His left one.
It was a clutch.
His buddy was too young to drive and again: it was a clutch. So Gary drove to the hospital where they casted it.
His belayer? Could have it wrong, but I'm thinking it was Alan Lester. If you see him, ask Alan if that was him too. Tell him Bill Coe says hi.
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MisterE
Trad climber
One Place or Another
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Mar 20, 2009 - 07:49pm PT
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"Get ready, I have to clear some stories with ChrisMac though. "
"...and here. we. go."
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Mar 21, 2009 - 04:16pm PT
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Bumpski
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 21, 2009 - 04:39pm PT
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hey there hankster... wow, after a story like that south face half-dome... whew... the two of you made quite team... (i am working backwards to see what stories are there, well, strickly climbing stories, at any rate... as i saw the list...)
how'd the ankles heal up?
as to your quote here:
"I begged and pleaded for a YOSAR rescue, a helicopter or whatever. Alan then looked me straight in the eyes and said "dude, were from Boulder and we won't be rescued in Yosemite". Alan literally carried me on his back to Little Yosemite Valley, a coupla miles. I then took a horse ride down to the bottom. Another crazed experience."
my oh my... somethings a man's just got to do, and... his ol' buddy take's the "back" seat...
:)
say, how WAS that wild horse ride... :)
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 21, 2009 - 04:52pm PT
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hey there hankster... say.... after reading that ol' base jumping story... say, you were lucky to be still walking around this here "neck of woods"....
my you sure DO have stories...
but, wow... as to that half dome one, sure am glad you both made it, as well....
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Josh Higgins
Trad climber
San Diego
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May 19, 2010 - 06:14pm PT
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Bump for one of the better threads ever....
Josh
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tahoe523
Trad climber
Station Wagon, USA
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Alpinist Magazine just posted up Hank's account of Southern Belle.
Do you wanna take a 200' fall and blow out your legs, or do you wanna hold a 200 foot fall as the belayer? Behind every earthquaking leader is a bold unheralded person holding the other end of the line. The belayer of freaks should be recognized!
A bump for Alan Lester, the unsung hero. Thanks, Hank, for the incredible story.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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^^^^^^
Best use of "canoodling" in a SuperTopo thread.
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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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*quietly pulls up a chair in behind the big guns so as not to intrude too much, after setting another case down for everyone to get into*
This. is the best. Thread ever.
Hope we get more tales!
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Hell of a last story, (the inch deep drill holding the fall) and heck of a thread!
thanks all!
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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better'n a wolves' foreskin bump
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