Discussion Topic |
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Emmalou
Social climber
Newport Beach, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 22, 2011 - 06:32pm PT
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I know today is the 22nd but I will be on the road all day tomorrow and wont get to post this so it's a day early.
Dan Osman passed away on November 23rd, 1998. It will be 13 years tomorrow. I can't believe it, as I am sure most of you can't either.
I was at my cousin, Steven Polito, Dan's nephew's house a few weeks ago and he gave me a letter/story that my dad had wrote 2 weeks before he died. This was a bit of a surprise to me considering it has almost been 13 years and I had NEVER seen or heard about this story until now.
Dan Osman had hand written this while he was in the Yosemite jail on November 9th, 1998. I have retyped it and I am going to release the first few paragraphs of this 7 page story for you to read. My dad was extremely intelligent but English was not his strong subject by any means so bare with me if there are errors. i tried my best to fix what he was trying to say. hahaha!
The rest of the story will be released in the next couple weeks but i thought this would be nice on the anniversay of his life.
//"Flossing the Sky
I’m about to embark on a journey that seen through the eyes of the norm has been called reckless and outtahand. I call it, roped free-flying. As contradictory as it may sounds, being that a rope doesn’t create lift. Much like a wing does. In this case, it merely trails behind you like a streamer, enabling the body to act as a foil while falling, channeling air over your limbs, becoming one with the sky, much like a bird in a high speed dive. Like that bird, the slightest movement of a limb will drastically alter the body position, hence changing the path of decent, thus creating flight.
Unlike other forms of forms of freefall toys such as the parachute or the ever so joyous bungee rubber band, both of which begin their deceleration towards earth high above the deck to allow a comfortable safety margin between our fragile body and the ground.
Rope-flying on the other hand, has no mercy on our gradual sense of relief as we hurl towards the earth at greatneck speeds.
Now at this point in my mad game, it’s all about tolerance, where one begins to consider using a feeler gauge to measure the distance between my body and the eminent point of impact at the end of the fall. So now it’s all about ground rush! An adrenaline surge that will take you higher than any rocket ship or circus ride ever could.
So after the fall, and a short rappel, your feet touch the ground and an automatic savings deposit into the endorphin account at a high yield is always there to be drawn on at any given moment. And what a fat withdraw you can play with… On long drives, doing laundry or strolling down the frozen food isle at your local supermarket.
Now I most certainly don’t do this sort of thing to impress anyone, as it hasn’t yet. I’m merely satisfying my own curiosity as to how and why it actually works. The only impressions I’ve made or questions I’ve raised are cock-eyed looks and questions of why? And so far my only cognitive answer I can derive is the pure fact that I am merely having fun with the irony of the physics involved.
As in this case, one plus one doesn’t quite add up to the normal equation. For instance, most people will say, “you mean you throw yourself off from 500 feet only tied to a rope?” Then the question, “don’t you snap your neck? Or break your back?” And answer (with a puzzled smile and shrug of the shoulders) is “NOT EVEN! It’s softer than any bungee or canopy deployment I’ve ever felt. Don’t ask me why, but it is.”"//
Hope you like it... Look for updates on the rest of the story!
http://www.facebook.com/DanObyEmmaO
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Nov 22, 2011 - 06:38pm PT
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So cool. Thanks for sharing!
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Nohea
Trad climber
Living Outside the Statist Quo
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Nov 22, 2011 - 09:56pm PT
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"Flossing the sky"
Pretty Amazing guy...
Thanks for sharing and Aloha,
Will
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Nov 22, 2011 - 10:01pm PT
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It goes without saying that Dan was not only unique, but a badass!!!!
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Paul Martzen
Trad climber
Fresno
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Nov 22, 2011 - 10:08pm PT
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Thank you for sharing. Really captures a sense of inquisitiveness.
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Levy
Big Wall climber
So Cal
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Nov 22, 2011 - 10:14pm PT
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It's hard to believe that it's been 13 years since Danno passed away. He was one of the nicest climbers I ever have known. Best wishes to you Emma & happy holidays.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Nov 22, 2011 - 10:44pm PT
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EM-O, I like this reply on facebook
I just wanna put on some purple spandex and go do something dangerous :)
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Ricardo Gonzalez
climber
El Cajon, California
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Nov 22, 2011 - 11:44pm PT
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Grat Climber for my humble opinion the best, is now in better place climbing in difrent horizon
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Dos XX
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Nov 23, 2011 - 08:10am PT
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Que Descanse en Paz, Dan O.
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DHike
climber
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Nov 23, 2011 - 11:44am PT
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bump.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Nov 23, 2011 - 01:05pm PT
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TY
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swam
Social climber
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Nov 23, 2011 - 03:52pm PT
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Thanks for the fairy flossing Emma.
thanks for sharing the chalk bag
Chalk with blackboard here.
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A5scott
Trad climber
Chicago
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Nov 23, 2011 - 04:37pm PT
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thanks for posting this
Dano was my favorite free/solo/sport climber/daredevil. I was crushed when i learned that he passed away. Such an amazing climber.
scott
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TripleS_in_EBs
climber
Poulsbo, WA
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Nov 23, 2011 - 07:04pm PT
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A couple of photos in salute.
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kennyt
climber
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Nov 23, 2011 - 08:03pm PT
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You have all seen it before but...
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Emmalou
Social climber
Newport Beach, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2011 - 11:59am PT
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Wow Ron! The Chalk Bag!!! I've always thought of that day in the cave rock parking lot as indescribable but the feeling was universal and you put it well into words.
The difference between my experience and everyone else's is that I had gone from having one father one night to having all of my dads friends as my adopted fathers the next. It was almost like everyone was so empty and numb from the lack of my dads physical presence but they still had so much love in them that they gave it all to me. It was a most unique rush of mixed emotions I've ever felt. I knew he was gone and I was sad but between my dad's spirit surrounding me and all the love I felt from everyone else, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of warmth and comfort... Once again, indescribable...
I have always loved large gatherings of good people and it was so amazing how that day brought everyone together.. New friends and old. I am truly so thankful for all those who took me under their wing and filled me with that love and courage.
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Conrad
climber
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Nov 24, 2011 - 06:15pm PT
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Thanks Emma. The spirit of Dan is with us each and every day. He was always so proud of you. I recall when laser etched wood made the scene. There was small box with the horizon of Yosemite on it. He bought it for you and shared it with us.
I have a photo or two just not in the appropriate format.
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gonzo chemist
climber
Fort Collins, CO
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Just watched Dano solo Purple Haze (Lover's Leap) and Blues Riff (Tuolomne) on Masters of Stone 3. The dude was as solid as they come. Smooth and strong. In reference to other comments made by Ron Anderson, I'm a little surprised that D.O. didn't try to go for the Nose speed record.
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Rollover
climber
Gross Vegas
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Nov 23, 2018 - 07:20am PT
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Bump for 20 years
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