Who is Desert Frank?

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 20 of total 35 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 5, 2007 - 12:38am PT
Anybody know the identity of this partner of Warren's on Keeler Needle?

Thanks,
Ken
Loom

climber
The Whiteboard Jungle
Jul 5, 2007 - 12:46am PT
I just googled this.
10b4me

climber
bitd
Jul 5, 2007 - 12:47am PT
just the story. he was a hitchhiker that Harding picked up. had never climbed before, but ended up on the fa of Keeler Needle.
Jaybro

Social climber
The West
Jul 5, 2007 - 12:52am PT
Yeah "A hitchhiker who went farther than he ever dreamed," or words to that effect.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jul 5, 2007 - 01:03am PT
If any of you Banff or Canmore folks have a chance to ask Tim Auger about the mysterious Frank, it would be interesting to hear his recollections. The warden might know.
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 5, 2007 - 01:09am PT
I know what he did. I would like to know who he really is (real name)and talk to him. Any clues?

Thanks,
Ken
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jul 5, 2007 - 02:52am PT
this is a better link to the AAJ article..
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 5, 2007 - 04:07am PT
Ed, Do you know him or who he really is? I have seen the write-ups, thank you so much for your help,


Ken
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jul 5, 2007 - 11:18am PT
Ken - I don't know the identity of "Desert Frank" and the number of people who might is getting smaller...
...Rowell didn't seem any closer to knowing back in 1973. The only other person who may have an idea might be Beryl Knauth, but I have no idea of her fate. My guess is that Harding didn't know himself.

Another thought would be that Steve Roper might know or have researched that bit of climbing history.

Have Harding's climbing papers, etc, been collected by someone?
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 5, 2007 - 12:06pm PT
Ed, Are you going to the East Side C4 reunion July 13-15? Beryl will be there. Thanks for your suggestions.

Ken
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jul 5, 2007 - 12:44pm PT
won't be at the reunion, July is brutal for me at work, I feel especially guilty already trying to procrastinate on what has to get done.

but this is just whining...
Jaybro

Social climber
The West
Jul 5, 2007 - 02:34pm PT
That would be amazing if you could really find that guy. I wonder if he's still alive.
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 8, 2009 - 01:21pm PT
Guido, DR, BBA, anyone?

Ken
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 9, 2009 - 11:09am PT
I wonder if Powell would know? I never asked him about Frank.
Gene

climber
Mar 9, 2009 - 12:00pm PT
Ken,

Does Glen Denny know?

This is from the history of the route written by Roper in the ST High Sierra guide.

Any peak as spectacular as Keeler Needle is
bound to attract the big names in climbing.
Warren Harding, the most accomplished
big wall first ascentionist in Sierra Nevada,
was joined on the first ascent in 1960 by
Glen Denny, Rob McKnight and Desert
Frank. The ascent took four-and-a-half days
in 1960. Twelve years passed before their
route was repeated.
The ascent led to much gossip, especially
concerning how Harding coerced Desert
Frank to join the expedition. Rumor had
it that Frank never climbed before the
ascent and Harding solicited him from a
local bar for the sole purpose of carrying
the team’s wine. Harding staunchly denied
these allegations, saying the two actually
met in Yosemite’s Mountain Room Bar and
that he “personally gave Frank quite a few
hours of instruction.” Harding could never
remember Frank’s last name, though.

gm

survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
Mar 9, 2009 - 12:09pm PT
What a great Freekin' story.
Man I hope this one plays out rather than dead ending....
Midzone

climber
San Francisco
Mar 12, 2009 - 06:44pm PT
Desert Frank is Frank Gronberg, very much alive and well in the Seattle area. He was sited at Glen Denny's slide show at the Mountaineers last fall.
Melissa

Gym climber
berkeley, ca
Mar 12, 2009 - 07:02pm PT
Awesome.
jstan

climber
Mar 12, 2009 - 07:16pm PT
Alright. Enough of this easy stuff.

Who was on the grassy knoll?
mooch

Big Wall climber
The Immaculate Conception
Mar 12, 2009 - 08:27pm PT
Even harder....

Who is the grossy noel?
Messages 1 - 20 of total 35 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta