Wings of Steel - A confession-ALL with an olive branch

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Messages 81 - 100 of total 159 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
shipoopoi

Big Wall climber
oakland
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2011 - 01:57pm PT
wow, i'm pretty blown away. there is sure a lot of sweet people on the taco. thanks everybody for your support, especially richard and mark. i had heard that they were really a class act, and now that should be apparent for all to see. they really took the high road all the way. steve
Matt

Trad climber
primordial soup
Dec 10, 2011 - 02:13pm PT
Wow.
That was bold, done with surprising style, and will likely never be repeated.

You even made it look easy.





It's hard to not feel uniquely inspired after just reading that 1st 100 posts.
I also will take this opportunity to apologize to Mark and Richard if I ever piled on in any inappropriate or hurtful way, in threads past or distant past.

Rock climbing aside, and the rocks themselves aside, it's obviously humbling for everyone to see people genuinely putting the lives and feelings and real experiences of other people ahead of ego or tradition or whatever else.



Steve I remember a day when we surprised each other, and honestly I was even more surprised by you the day we later shook hands over that, but none of that ever really caused me to see you in a different light, the way this post has.



Namaste Steve.
After opening up in private, and then opening up here in public, I want to ask you, please, to do us all one more favor?

In particular for those of us who have long admired you, but also for those who may be just learning to admire you, and for all of the people in the World who care about you as a person and not just a legendary rock climber, I want to ask you please to continue this latest bold solo of yours, complete the trifecta, and forgive yourself.
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Dec 10, 2011 - 02:26pm PT
Well done Mark, Richard and Steve.

It makes me proud to be a rock climber and part of this community.



....especially after that thread with the masked a-hole. That left a bad taste in my mouth.
shipoopoi

Big Wall climber
oakland
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2011 - 02:28pm PT
matt, thanks for your words. as you personally know, i can still be a hothead...but i have gotten a lot better at apologizing. steve
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
WA, & NC & Idaho
Dec 10, 2011 - 02:34pm PT
Good for you Steve, way to man up and take responsibility!
ionlyski

Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
Dec 10, 2011 - 02:40pm PT
Good Job steve. Hopefully the rest of the bullys will come forward and make amends.

The rest of the bullys? That's not the spirit of this thread.

We could all use Steve's example in our lives.

Steve Sneider-King of Paine! That is the east face and complete Paine Tower traverse. Insane! Long Live Shipoopoi.

Arne
jack herer

Big Wall climber
Veneta, Oregon
Dec 10, 2011 - 02:49pm PT
hey poopi... way to finally get it off your chest. I remember when you told me this at the base of the slab a couple of years ago. I was like NO SH#T!! Glad you could finally get it off your chest =) Bummed I didnt get to see you this year... Lets talk soon, I'll give you a call!

Ty
krahmes

Social climber
Stumptown
Dec 10, 2011 - 03:11pm PT
Well that just about puts a bow on the whole WOS saga. Well done Mark, Richard, Ammon, Kait and finally Steve for coming clean.

That took guts coming clean, and as I get older the goal is to live life without regret, which I think is a common human thread.

Still I can’t help but wonder if that juvenile malicious prank (and Mark and Richard persevering after the act) didn’t add to mystique that has surrounded the WOS climb and has given some of us years of pondering about how we address the climbs we do, the form we do it in and our reaction to the people that occupy our alpine world with us. All’s well that ends well.
P.Rob

Social climber
Pacomia, Ca - Y Que?
Dec 10, 2011 - 03:14pm PT
Steve,
One cannot change the past, but with correct actions help redeem it. As we probably had only met in passing, what I have known of you is from the quality and boldness of your routes – and I believe that you now again have done the same with your confession.

Forgiveness is tough as it involves action(s) from the perpetrator and the victim. You have gone to those who were most affected and inflicted by this act, and true to their convictions have wholly forgiven and now embrace you as a friend. In this I counsel to take solace; for there are those who will see the passage of time between action and accountability as an excuse to become even more vitriolic and derisive.

I also hope that this spurs others to right actions, those who have accused, derided, and have also participated in the “Mob Mentality” that you so aptly chronicled – whether in person or on the Taco- Actions indeed do not happen in a vacuum.

A thought on pride; Pride is indeed the root of many a foul action. As you have alluded to, it was pride for your turf, your group and the collective rules that was a prime motivator. Being drunk is never an excuse, rather the reason why the demon of pride was let loose.

In conclusion Steve, thank you for being transparent and accountable. Thank you for having the courage of your convictions. May you prosper in every good way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

Rob Newell
karodrinker

Trad climber
San Jose, CA
Dec 10, 2011 - 03:57pm PT
+1 for thinking you should at least try the route (with the FA guys if possible) to attone for this. Also that would be a rad movie opportunity, you all sketched out on gnarly hooking with those guys cheering you on.
bhilden

Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
Dec 10, 2011 - 04:15pm PT
Steve,

nice job in finally standing up! One thing you might also consider doing(which you might have already done) is to personally apologize to anyone who might have caught some of the blame for your actions.
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
Dec 10, 2011 - 04:26pm PT
Impressive apologies. Well done.
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Dec 10, 2011 - 05:19pm PT
There are many kinds of courage...this is one of the best.

Way to drop that load (no pun intended). The future is all you can control.

Thank you Steve.
PAUL SOUZA

Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
Dec 10, 2011 - 06:18pm PT
"To fail is human. To resurrect oneself is an act of courage." - unknown

Risk

Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
Dec 10, 2011 - 06:43pm PT
Way cool. I like what I read. Thanks for your courage.
madbolter1

Big Wall climber
Denver, CO
Dec 10, 2011 - 07:30pm PT
Steve, thanks again. I am very happy to see how this thread is turning out, and it lifts me up to see people reacting as they are to this whole thing.

And, Matt, thank you also. It's a hard thing to change perspectives... perhaps the hardest. Thank you for your post.

It's very satisfying to finally have closure. Thank you to all who contributed to that!
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
Dec 10, 2011 - 07:54pm PT
I good lesson for those who would go off and take action based on rumor & assumption.


There is not much in the conflicts between men that could not be handled by direct communication with the intent to understand.
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
Dec 10, 2011 - 10:00pm PT
Reposting from 2006, now with added significance....















































I guess it's just my nature to look for the silver lining in things. First of all, (apologies to R&M, and S) but the whole incident WAS pretty funny. So childish. I hope you all can look back some day and laugh. Secondly, it gave the climb more notoriety because it was so outrageous. We ALL heard about it. Thirdly it gave rise to the apology and this thread... redemption! Fourth it was ONE more thing for the FA team to overcome. I think it was ballsy to say f*#k it, we're going to wash our ropes, regain our hight point and keep going. I think that was perhaps the best part of this whole incident, that Warren Harding doggedness displayed.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Dec 10, 2011 - 10:13pm PT
I've been offline a while but had breakfast with Maria and she told me about this.

Hats off to Steve. You have guts man.

But there is something I don't understand, if it wasn't them, then who's ropes did you sh#t on to get the nickname?

(kidding)
Peter

Trad climber
San Francisco
Dec 10, 2011 - 11:15pm PT
I am shocked and appalled.

Wasted off a six pack. Shameful.

Apart from that, great post.
Messages 81 - 100 of total 159 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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