Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 20, 2011 - 03:18pm PT
|
Always wondered what the story was with this route's name. Anyone out there in the know?
cheers,
-JW
|
|
mattclimber
Trad climber
Chicago,IL
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 03:39pm PT
|
By David Evans
Jan 8, 2004
rating: 5.8
This route (Grand Theft Avocado) is named after a funny event that happened to Spencer and Alan Lennard when in high school. They, devout vegetarians, were visiting an Avo grove near their home in Orange, CA for the purposes of collecting Avo's (the fallen ripe ones on the ground, of course). While collecting, they were surprised by an Irvine Co. OC Sheriff who was not pleased by their trespassing on "Company" property (yes, the Irvine Co. has OC employees in their pockets). The officer insisted that they fill several boxes with Avos before he arrested them, Avos were about $1.00 each in those days (way more than they needed). Lo and behold while in booking they discovered they were being booked for "Grand Theft", a fairly serious crime (more serious than trespass). Luckily the judge threw the case out as it's merits were questionable! A couple years later Spencer mentioned a cool hand crack he had found over by Candleabra and we walked over to have a look. When we arrived I discovered that the crack fit my hands perfectly and I soloed it on site in my tennies while Spencer watched. He decided not to solo it and we joked that I had stolen it from him! Hence GTA.
Found this on MP.com
|
|
scuffy b
climber
Three feet higher
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 04:48pm PT
|
How long after Yabo and Matt Cox was that?
Just kidding
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 05:12pm PT
|
My memories regarding Figures are just fine. My own photographic evidence backs this up.
Dr. F could very well be correct about GTA. I soloed it in tennies (we had "Scat's" then, virtual climbing shoes) though is how I remember it. I just checked the records and I soloed several routes that day including "Slippery When Wet" which is one of his. I know he showed that one to me. That was in 10/78 (guide and records concur) and the guide lists the FA of SWW as 1978. Unfortunately my records don't mention who else was actually there, in retrospect I am (so!!)sure it was Dr. F.
PS. We are not "at odds" about Figures. Thats all old news!
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 05:42pm PT
|
Thankyou.
|
|
looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 05:51pm PT
|
An apology isn't equivalent to you being right.
Your so funny Craig.
|
|
J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 20, 2011 - 06:15pm PT
|
Thanks amigos. Good story. Spencer is a fun, cool guy.
|
|
scuffy b
climber
Three feet higher
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 06:39pm PT
|
But Spencer doesn't remember meeting me at the little red schoolhouse,
or climbing with me in the Valley...
|
|
hashbro
Trad climber
Mental Physics........
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 06:58pm PT
|
Spencer calling:
I admit I do have somewhat bad memory about such details.
I do recall committing the crime (with Al, Chris Robinson and Barry Talberg), but I do not not recall discovering or showing anyone the route (which does not mean it didn't happen that way); for that matter I don't think I've even done the route.
I also sorta remember going with Craig on our first visit to Figures on a Landscape, and we put in two to three bolts before I moved to Sonora. Nobody had been up on that route before that day.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 07:03pm PT
|
You have to keep the Comedy alive Yup, you betcha. As we can see on other threads, climbers do like to nitpick about these details. Some of which are important not just to the protagonists but to the peanut gallery.
|
|
looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 07:43pm PT
|
DE, Spencer and I took a great bike ride on Monday. DE took us a tour of bike trails from the hills to the ocean. Perfect for a group of old dudes, if I remember it correctly.
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 08:22pm PT
|
Sketchy....are you sure I was there?
OK Spence, now I am sure that Dr. F is correct. Your corroboration is appreciated.
|
|
Rudder
Trad climber
Long Beach, CA
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2011 - 08:52pm PT
|
I'd be stoked to be arguing about what part of the FA of Figures I could take credit for. :) Best route I've ever been on!!!! Thanks, guys!
Oh, and thanks for SAS, too, Craig... my 2nd favorite route at Josh. :)
|
|
Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2011 - 08:18pm PT
|
For me GTA is synonymous with Dave Evans.
He was one of the first Valley locals I got to know on my first trip in 76.
Totally encouraging, always telling me to just "go for it"!
I don't think I ever did climb GTA because I always tried to climb it in the style of Dave's FA sans cord and just never could feel comfortable. What a lightweight!
Bumped into Dave years later for a brief hello.
Hope you're doing well Dave.
Perry
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2011 - 09:01pm PT
|
Thanks Perry, I am honored by your comments. Long time no see. Things are good down here disreguarding the controversy about the GTA. I hope to correct this error on Mountain Project as soon as I can to set the record straight!!
Cheers
DE
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jan 24, 2011 - 01:09am PT
|
hey there say, J. Werlin, and all...
thanks for the neat "history" thread...
:)
|
|
looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
|
|
|
Jan 24, 2011 - 12:49pm PT
|
Craig, I know you like to think you remember everything perfectly, but no one's memory is perfect (or anything near so). Our internal "self-recitation" of events only further strengthen our imperfect and often revised recollections (even if they are false). There is a tremendous amount of research on the subject.
Now, lets take your post above where you state: My memories remember you wearing old worn out Fire's on GTA, not tennies...
This is a classic example of a false memory. Fires were not introduced into the US until 1982 (and were first introduced in Europe in 1980). GTA was first done in 1978.
So, perhaps you should approach your chastisement of others with a bit more humility (and humanity).
|
|
looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
|
|
|
Jan 24, 2011 - 01:59pm PT
|
I really have no opinion on (nor do I care) who wore what and when. My comment was more directed at your attitude which I find debasing to yourself as well as others and pretty unworthy.
|
|
dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
|
|
|
Jan 24, 2011 - 02:23pm PT
|
This route (Grand Theft Avocado) is named after a funny event that happened to Spencer Lennard, his brother Alan and friends Chris Robinson and Barry Talberg when in high school. They, devout vegetarians, were visiting an avocado grove near their home in Orange, CA for the purposes of collecting avos (the fallen ripe ones on the ground, of course). While collecting, they were surprised by an Irvine Co. OC Sheriff who was not pleased by their trespassing on "Company" property (yes, the Irvine Co. has OC employees in their pockets). The officer insisted that they fill several boxes with avos (way more than they needed) before he arrested them. Avocados were about $1.00 each in those days. Lo and behold when they arrived at the jail they discovered they were being booked for "Grand Theft", a fairly serious crime (more serious than trespass). Luckily the judge threw the case out as its merits were questionable!
A couple years later Craig Fry and I were out soloing at Josh. Craig mentioned a cool hand crack he had found over by Candelabra many years before and we walked over to have a look. When we arrived I discovered that the crack fit my hands perfectly and free soloed it on sight while Craig watched. He didn’t have his boots and was unable to solo it as his tennies were slipping out. He yelled up “you mother f-er” then ran back to camp, got his boots and did the second ascent 10 minutes later. Recalling the classic avo theft Craig named it “Grand Theft Avocado.” Then we had a big laugh about the name, since it was apropos.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!