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cybele
Ice climber
finally, west of the Mississippi
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Jun 10, 2010 - 11:08pm PT
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"Sad day! He was a nice man who was very cool to me for the brief time I lived in Bishop. Hopefully it was quick, my condolences to his family.
SC "
I drove through there on the 395 the day after and the locals were talking a lot about it and warning motorists to be very careful. There are a lot of deer this year. There are warning signs now posted along the highway. Yes, the word was that it was in fact very quick -- he lost control after hitting the deer and veered into a rock, resulting in an instant death.
I am only reporting the local word on the road near the site, I do not know this to be strict fact.
Apologies if my post is too graphic or none of my business to report on, but perhaps knowing there was not suffering is at least a tiny consolation in the face of a shocking and disturbing loss for those who cared for him.
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10b4me
Boulder climber
Hell A
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Jun 11, 2010 - 01:43am PT
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Gordon, thanks for the heartfelt remembrances. I found them to be very touching.
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Jello
Social climber
No Ut
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Jun 11, 2010 - 02:20am PT
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Very sorry to hear of John's passing. I didn't know him well, but the last time I saw him, in the mid-nineties in Lee Vining, we shared some enjoyable time as we shepparded our respective flocks on the ice. I remember he sent me a nice card, commemorating some achievement of mine that he'd heard about. John was definitely one of the leaders of the guiding art in North America.
My condolences to John's family and many friends.
-Jeff Lowe
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Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 11, 2010 - 03:12pm PT
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John Fischer's Celebration of Life
Zane and Joy(John's son and daughter)got together yesterday and pretty much decided the Celebration of Life would take place on the weekend of John Fischer's 64th Birthday, Sept. 11 & 12 in Bishop. This will give them time to let everyone around the world know about it and be able to make travel arrangements. He sure reached a lot pf people in his brief stay on this planet.
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MICHAEL HOCK
climber
Albuquerque, NM
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Jun 11, 2010 - 06:10pm PT
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Doug and Gordon, thank you for your words and images about John. It is good to remember him, and I grieve his passing. I had dinner with him and Roger Schley a few years back while he was visiting Zane in Santa Fe. It was good to see him, see the light in his eyes again. Back in those long ago days in the Eastern Sierra, Doug and he inspired me to love the wild, and more, to join and become the wildness that is life. I have carried that learning with me, and use it every day to be bold and courageous, to step out into the storm, inner and outer. Thank you for your gift, John. And thank you too, Doug. My heart is with those who care for him, and with Zane.
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em kn0t
Trad climber
isle of wyde
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Jun 12, 2010 - 01:52am PT
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Early 90's, I had the privilege of a weekend mountaineering course and climb of East Ridge of Mt. Humphreys with John. A clear picture keeps coming to mind of John framed against a starry sky and a crackling campfire, rousting us newbies from our warm sleeping bags long before dawn for an alpine start. A great day of climbing, the joy of the summit.
RIP, John... and thank you for that day
Heart reaches out with sympathy to John's family and friends.
em
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jun 14, 2010 - 05:25pm PT
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Retouching these black & white images that have shifted so in temperature etc.
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Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 14, 2010 - 11:25pm PT
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Looks like John's Celebration of Life will be held in Bishop at Mill Creek Station on the weekend of September 11th. As things firm up, the exact information will appear on this thread.
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LesterR
climber
Carson City
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Jun 16, 2010 - 01:28pm PT
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Ive' been humming a dirge all morning for no reason, then a call to a friend, brings this great sadness.
John Fischer, thank you and bless you , were it not for you and Doug,and Kowles,that cold winter at camp 4 so long ago, i would be lost, thanks
John was a true Man of the Mountains, his eyes were like that first light on a distant peak, after a cold and sleepless bivouac. His love the cold a rocky places, His heros, Gaston,Muir, His old tattered copy of On Ice and Show,the Ropers, guide book we would pour over in prepration for a climb. the time Charley Browns Cat pulled all the lids out of Fischer tent and spread them on the trail. The bikes, Mike, Alex and Barrels. Years past and we met again,,and worked togather for a few months with wood, John was a great carpenter. he was so proud of a harpsichord he built with his father, he loved the clean lines of japanese woodworking.
He was piecing his life together again. His mom needed help and he was off again. Fischer was a hero to me, his patience,wisdom,and clear vision, inspireing, he had a restlessness which was edgy, as side of him i never understood. John, we are all less for your loss. Drink up, sing his song, burn the pyre.
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Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 16, 2010 - 02:40pm PT
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Zane just informed me that the Celebration of Life is NOT YET set at Mill Creek. This thread will announce the exact time and place when it is established.
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DrBenway
Social climber
Redondo, CA
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Jun 18, 2010 - 04:56pm PT
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I spent the most time with John in the Haight in the sixties; seen him only a few times in the last forty years of ups and downs, and always thought "this son of a gun is living right - I'm getting old and he follows his heart and stays young and real". And he did, and I wish I'd spent more time with him, and I'm sad he's gone. Thanks to those of you who posted those beautiful photos - especially the one with the Sherpas - a fellow man of the mountains. Love and condolences to all his family and friends. Bob Hill
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 18, 2010 - 05:12pm PT
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hey there say, Gwiltsie....
i just saw this thread afresh, and i wanted to say thank you for posting the wonderful pictures of your dear friend... it helps us learn, too, how special folks are to others...
god bless...
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Conner
Mountain climber
Donnelly, Idaho
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Jun 29, 2010 - 01:20am PT
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Just learned about the very sad loss of John. I first met him in the early 80's while managing the WLA A16 store. Then more in Bishop when working with him and the California Mtn Guides Assoc. He was a constant in the Sierra. Devoted to his craft and profession. He lived a good life with lots of ups and downs along the way, like most of us. I saw him John about a year ago while working in Bishop for a few months. He looked great! Healthy and happy! He was so full of life and still kicking!
My condolences to John's family and friends. The Sierra has lost a dear friend.
Peace Be with you John.
Connie Self
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snake
Mountain climber
sebastopol
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I met John in the late 60s when we were both guiding at POSM. Much to the chagrin of Bob Swift he and Steve Roper got me stoned for the first time in my life and gave me a thorough introduction to the dirt bag climber's lifestyle that summer. Virtually every week the 3 of us consistently drank up most of the wine that had been packed into base camp for our clients Friday night farewell dinner.
My lasting memory of John comes from the late 70s by which time he and Lois owned POSM. John walked down from Sam Mack Meadows (down that hideous talus slope) with me in the dark carrying almost all my gear when I came down with HAPE at 11,000'. I wasn't so far gone yet that I couldn't have gotten out to the road head by myself. John, of course, knew that, but insisted on coming down the mountainside with me until he knew I was safe. He then hiked back up to the Meadows and the next day guided clients on one of the Palisade Crest peaks.
Our last climb together was a few years later, a lazy summers day up the east arete of Mt. Darwin along with Steve Roper when Steve was researching his High Sierra Climbing Guide. We celebrated the summit by trundling a VW bus-sized block off the top into a nameless lake far below. Part of the price of living on or close to the edge is getting the late night phone calls and hearing the quivering tearful voice on the other end of the line.They all hurt,but this one more than most. RIP old friend. Walt Vennum
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David Sweetland
Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA.
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John once told me, "Don't just climb the mountain, be the mountain." I'm sure he got this quote from Gary Snyder (Practice of the Wild). 'Nough said.
Hope there are Temple Crags were you are now.
Just a Stone
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Michael Ambrose
Trad climber
Fresno, CA
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Terrible news. He was one of the nicest, coolest guys I knew. Even though I was not much of a climber, he invited me to go first ascent-ing with him up rock creek. We stopped when John couldn't lead any farther without harming vegetation on the route. What a cool and genuine guy who always had a smile and a positive word.
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olivier
Social climber
Hood River, OR
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I worked with John in Mammoth for about a year. He had amazing stories to tell, about the Haight, about climbing, but he was so easy going and down to earth. I remember when he got his moto and how far he would go out, cruising in the desert, exploring.
The pictures I'm posting are from a trip I took with John and my wife (to be), probably in the Spring of 2000. From the warehouse where we worked, or on the way down to the industrial park, we could see a beautiful line on a buttress that gained a small peak on the ridge above Valentine Lake.
We started before daylight and the hike in was longer than I had anticipated. It was a mixed line, mostly 3rd and 4th class with a short roped section, maybe easy 5th. We had never discussed who was leading or guiding but obviously we deferred to John's experience. What surprised me was the relative ease with which he navigated each situation when in reality (for me) the moves were not so easy. He was always relaxed but also very persistent. I was surprised at how much more difficult the route was than I had anticipated while he seemed to know exactly what it would be, even though he had never been there before. We didn't get back to the car until after dark.
The other thing about our climb that struck me was the simplicity of his systems and rigging. I had never seen anything so simple and yet perfect at the same time. Everything went together seamlessly, and the gear never slowed us down.
Thinking about it now I realize just how lucky we were to have spent that time there with him. Working with John was fun, entertaining, and all, but the time we were climbing it was like witnessing a different person. The mountains were more familiar and welcoming to him than any other place.
We miss you John
O and P
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Anne-Marie Rizzi
climber
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Jul 10, 2010 - 02:42pm PT
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I am so saddened to hear this news.
John, Doug Robinson, and Barry (don't remember his last name) were early friends in Camp 4, and instrumental in me eventually moving to the East Side.
John would occasionally visit me when I was attending UC Berkeley, around 1973ish.
By the time I moved to Bishop (1979?), he'd married Lois, had the PSOM thing going, and I didn't see him much, just occasionally at parties. I remember his sister Kitty. Eventually, I moved other places and never saw John again.
He had a lot of exuberance in him, and so much love for the mountains, one of those people that always radiated energy.
Condolences to all.
Anne-Marie
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Mitch Parker
Sport climber
Miami, FL
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Jul 16, 2010 - 11:48am PT
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Just found out last night from my Dad that sadly, John is gone.
I was 14 years old in 1976 when I asked my dad to take me to climbing school after learning to rock climb at a summer camp in North Carolina. Fortuntely my dad found PSOM and I attended the basic mountaineering course with my father.
My first encounter with John was meeting him on the way down from base camp above 5th lake while we were struggling our way up. Keep in mind that we are from Miami where mountains and altitude are not a factor. John was literally running down the mountain when we first spotted him about 100 yards above us on the trail. He ouf course stopped to introduce himself and with a big smile on his face told us to keep going, that the hardest part was over and we would be there soon, all of which was untrue. In fact after grabbing some last minute supplies at the trail head, he caught us before we reached base camp. On day one, my very first impression of John was of awe.
Over the next week I had the pleasure of climbing with John, Mike Ferrell (Mike's Dog) and a the only female tug boat captain/mountain guide (cant recall her name)in the US. That week was a real turning point in my young life. I met my first hippy, made a bunch of good friends who I climbed with years later, was treated as an equal (not a kid), made my first lead climb, got mountain sickness, saw the most beautiful skyful of stars ever, and bonded with my dad.
Throughout it all, John was an inspiration. He was a perpetual free spirit that I had never encountered in my life before. He even convinced me to eat pea stew (I still hate peas) when I had mountain sickness at high camp.
My dad and I became good friends with John and returned the next year for the Advanced rockcraft course where thanks to John and Alan Rouse I really excelled and was forever attached to the mountains. Both my dad and I continued to climb with John and Alan for years to come.
Partly because of John and PSOM, I went to the University of Colorado to be in the mountains and to continue my climbing. I even made a side trip after graduation to climb with John and my best friend. Even on that one day climb, John made a lasting impression on my buddy Frank. I think he scared Frank a little when as I lead the climb, John free climbed next to us chatting, hanging out, and laughing when I couldn't make a difficult move, where the solution was of course right in front of my face.
Although I didn't keep in touch often with John as I grew up, had kids, and fell into the working life, I did follow him through my Dad. I am truly sad that I dont have the chance to bring my sons on a climb with John that would have changed their lives as well. I will definately miss him, and will always remember his smil and love for life. RIP John, I know your smiling down on us all.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jul 17, 2010 - 12:09pm PT
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Rest in Peace, John.
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