Disaster Master
Social climber
Born in So-Cal, left my soul in far Nor-Cal.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 18, 2011 - 08:18pm PT
|
I never met John "Yabo" Yablanski. I think I would have liked him. We have some things in common, including an off-kilter personality. We are both Preacher's Kids.
Why, though, do we seem to speak more fondly of those like Yabo who took their own life, or died doing something like soloing? Is it the music star / rock star syndrome?
I like wild stories. I tell them. And from what I hear, when I am not around they are often told about me. But I wouldn't want to be remembered more longingly because I off-ed my self than if I died old and happy.
http://www.joshuatreeclimb.com/members/History/Profiles/yabo.htm
Don't take this as a slight against a good man and great climber. I simply wonder if he would be as lauded if he had lived out the rest of his life.
|
|
mynameismud
climber
backseat
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:07pm PT
|
Just cuz
|
|
The Warbler
climber
the edge of America
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:11pm PT
|
I think the people who really knew John don't idolize him, seems the ones that do idolize him didn't know him.
The question remains.
|
|
Tom
Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo CA
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:17pm PT
|
Don't you blaspheme in here - - - - DON'T you blaspheme in here!
|
|
TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:19pm PT
|
Kevin nailed it.
TY
|
|
socalbolter
Sport climber
Silverado, CA
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:21pm PT
|
Ditto what KW said above...
|
|
QITNL
climber
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:25pm PT
|
Some people like other people who are a little different. Climbers by nature are a little different. I didn't know Yabo, that's just a guess.
|
|
Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:26pm PT
|
|
|
Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 09:52pm PT
|
Yablonski.
We don't.
|
|
Double D
climber
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:02pm PT
|
Kevin nailed it. Yabo had some incredible talents but I don't think anyone who really knew him idolized him, rather they tried to help him out of compassion.
|
|
le_bruce
climber
Oakland: what's not to love?
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:10pm PT
|
OP: Read Lynn Hill's memoir? Good read, and some material on Yablonski from her point of view.
|
|
Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:12pm PT
|
Ditto for what Kevin said.
I remember Yabo as an enigma and a veritable force of nature with a huge heart.
He was someone to marvel at, not idolize.
Wish he didn't have to leave the way he did.
|
|
Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:33pm PT
|
I met him. He could climb really well and did some bold things. He was not that friendly to me and perhaps to some others but his work has earned the respect.
We'd like him even more if he choose to stick with it and work through the difficulties and keep climbing.
In my garage, in a box of artifacts, I have a chalked up hold he pulled off B3 project he was working on: "Boy Elroy" on "Jetsons' Rock" at Stony.
In some future sci-fi scenario a mad scientist could use skin cells from this artifact to make an army of Yabo clones. He could release them on the world and all the boulder problems would be climbed leaving no FAs left for anyone.
|
|
Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:35pm PT
|
Big ditto for several posts here. No idolatry here, just respect for a beautiful, yet troubled soul.
|
|
ec
climber
ca
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:45pm PT
|
I think the people who really knew John don't idolize him, seems the ones that do idolize him didn't know him
Says it all...
 ec
|
|
Disaster Master
Social climber
Born in So-Cal, left my soul in far Nor-Cal.
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2011 - 11:07pm PT
|
All excellent responses.
Post On. :)
|
|
Anastasia
climber
hanging from a crimp and crying for my mama.
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 11:13pm PT
|
From those who knew him, all I hear is how they still value his imprint upon their lives. He was greatly loved and they will not forget him.
As for Yabo the legend... Well, people need folk heroes which they can have a connection to. Especially ones that excelled despite their troubles. It helps us have hope when we face our own demons. Maybe with Yabo in mind, it will somehow help a person not fall as far... Especially since most climbers can see how much nicer it would have been if he had stuck around.
AFS
|
|
rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
|
|
|
Jan 18, 2011 - 11:23pm PT
|
I wouldn't say people idolize him. More like respect him, for being a bad ass climber. At least that's how I regard him. And I don't think the way he left, has anything to do with it. I never met him.
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
|
|
|
Jan 19, 2011 - 12:12am PT
|
...in a box of artifacts, I have a chalked up hold he pulled off B3 project he was working on That itself, prettymuch debunked the op's topic title right there. Yabo's rep and all that was fully established long before he died. I don't know what you are trying to intimate with this thread. You could spell his name right while you're at it.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!