Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 5, 2009 - 01:55pm PT
|
Pictures of John on a call out in Wales, sent by Jed Stone.
Thanks Jed!
John in blue helmet on the left.
Smiling and keeping things level, as usual.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 6, 2009 - 09:00am PT
|
A nice note I just got from PJ Jim Muelchi.
"Thanks for all your in put and the really great postings on SuperTopo. I have sent everything to Lynn and Tony Jones and they are very grateful for all the messages from around the world."
Jim
I was hoping that Lynn and Tony had seen this thread.
God Bless you all.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 6, 2009 - 11:27am PT
|
THE PJ'S ARE IN DANGER TOMORROW!!
They've been put on notice by the lovely Pauline, who sent two absolutely priceless images of John from his final Denali summit trip, number FOURTEEN.
"Hi Bruce,
I am Secretary for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, John's Team here in Wales. I am also Incident Officer, Advanced Cas Carer, Trainee Team Leader and tea-maker extrodinaire ------ and we have drunk some tea this week! (aswell as beer)
I have also been a personal friend to John for nearly 20 years and shared many climbing adventures, so this has been totally devastating.
Tomorrow we set John free to return to his beloved mountains, it will be a celebration of his life when we drink the PJs under the table at Cobdens, John's local pub.
I would like you to post this favourite picture for me taken in Talkeetna before the boys went on the mountain in 2007 for John's final time on the summit of Denali. Also a photo of the summit team on John's return from the top.
Stay safe,
Pauline "
What a great letter. The bitter with the sweet. Tomorrow's celebration of John's life is going to be magic for sure.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 6, 2009 - 11:31am PT
|
Photos submitted by Pauline Hallett.
Thank you Pauline.
I took the liberty of adding cropped images to get good shots of Johns face.
#1
#2
#3
#4
And last but not least....
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 6, 2009 - 03:57pm PT
|
Celebration of life bump.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 7, 2009 - 02:10pm PT
|
Today is the funeral. Already over, because they're 11 hours ahead of us...or something.
Should be well lubed at the pub by now. Some have already gone down for the count.
Looking forward to an update.
|
|
Swerv's Son
climber
Issaquah, WA
|
|
Time to leave work, pick up a few Newkie Browns and tip them back for John.
|
|
Fly boy floozy
Mountain climber
Snowdonia, North Wales
|
|
What a day. The sun came out for the first time in days, the PJs looked great, there were MRTs from Llanberis, Swaledale, Cairngorms, NEWSAR and Dublin, as well as nearly the entire Oggie Team.
Back at Cobdens the drinking began, along with arm wrestling and other challenges between the PJs and the Oggies.The PJs gamely took all their clothes off, ran across to the river, jumped in and downed a bottle of Neuwky Brown carrying out an old tradition. The ex-Oggie troops were singing songs in a corner of Cobbie's back bar.
Friends were made, old friends reunited.......
......and John would have loved every minute of it.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 7, 2009 - 10:48pm PT
|
Thanks Pauline!!
Sounds like it was as good of a send off as any of us could ever ask for.
John is smiling.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 8, 2009 - 11:12am PT
|
A beautiful story, sent by Russ Hore:
"Hi Bruce,
Yesterday went as well as can be expected. We estimate 300+ people were at the funeral.
As the hearse approached the chapel the last few yards were lined by Ogwen Team members in bright red tops. A fantastic sight.
David, John’s friend Ian and myself along with three other team members carried the coffin in to the chapel. We placed an Ogwen team jacket and John's PJ beret on the coffin. The flowers on the coffin where in the shape of the skyline view of Foraker, Hunter and Denali from Talkeetna. As we entered the chapel the six PJs were lined up saluting at attention. That was a tear jerking moment knowing how proud John would be.
I managed to get one photo of the PJs with Jim Mulchie which I will send when I get back home t/m.
There are a lot of sore heads in Wales today.
All the best.
Russ"
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 11:36am PT
|
Pictures of the SETTING FREE OF JOHN'S SPIRIT.
Once again, sent by Russ Hore.
OGWEN VALLEY MOUNTAIN RESCUE HONOR GUARD OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL.
PJ HONOR GUARD OUTSIDE OF CHAPEL.
CELEBRATION OF JOHN'S LIFE AT HIS FAVORITE PUB-COBDENS.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 01:10pm PT
|
Photos shared by Pauline Hallet, teammate of John's.
PJ'S AND OGGIES, DRINKING BEER AND ARM WRESTLING.
F*CK, JOHN WOULD BE PROUD!!
RECONNCTING OLD BONDS ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS, BROTHERS FOREVER.
IT DOESN'T GET MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.
(Can you say beer?)
(Grrrrrrr.)
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 01:55pm PT
|
THE PARARESCUE FLASH.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT MAN.
|
|
drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
|
|
R.I.P
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
I weep for you, John, and for all of your friends.
Good bye, safe travels.
|
|
mooser
Trad climber
seattle
|
|
This is quite a thread, Survival. Thanks, and best to you, his other friends, and family.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 08:33pm PT
|
Photo's sent to me by PJ Jim Muelchi.
Thanks Jim.
Maybe an Oggie can explain the tradition of stripping to the birthday suit and drinking Newcastle in the river.....
A bit blurry, but worth it to see a PJ in a dress....errrr...I mean kilt!!
PJ's getting "Newked" in the river.
Skillfully cropped to protect PJ "modesty".....
Hey Oggie, what are the blue cords for?
|
|
Jed Stone
Mountain climber
OVMRO
|
|
Don't knock these guy's, they came to North Wales, to mark the passing of someone they did not know, but who had chewed the same dirt, swallowed the same water and breathed the same air doing the same job under the same principles of what they beleive in, nothings changed.
They made their mark and did not let John down, they where exactly what we expected of them, in fact it reminded some of us to be what is expected of us, hope they keep up connections with us.
Jed
|
|
Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
|
|
Sounds like a cool guy! Wish I'd met him.
|
|
survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - May 9, 2009 - 09:25pm PT
|
Thanks Jed,
I would NEVER knock them, only tease in good fun.
They and John, deserve all the respect we can give them!
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!