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doughnutnational
Gym climber
hell
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Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 9, 2007 - 04:18pm PT
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I see the names of many old time famous climbers mentioned on supertopo. I'd like mention an old time not as famous but very talented climber: Bill Price. I had the privelege of climbing a little bit with Mr. Price over the years and he was as good as any climber I've ever watched. He put up A5 routes on El Cap and 5.13 free climbs, all while managing to remain very humble. Let's hear it for one of the best Yosemite climbers of the 1970's and 80's.
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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That guys hands were as big as bear paws. How the heck did he get his fingers into Silly Willy?
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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Yeah, about time!
One of the mellowest, humblest, really hard crankin dudes I have ever known. A couple of years older, his example drove me hard in my teen years. Hearing that Bill had led butterballs at age 15 inspired me to do the same. How lucky was I to have a personal hero who I got to climb with. As I recall, he did the next send of Tales of Power after Mark & Max.
A memorable couple of days was when Steve Hong came to the valley in '79 to "learn how to jam better", (as we know, he learned pretty well) the three of us went down to Tales, with Bill giving me the encouragement I needed to send the lead, then went over to work on the Phoenix. None of us got very far, working on the opening traversing crux moves after the chipped corner. Soon thereafter Bill went back, went up to check out the crux moves again and to his surprise pulled the traverse, but had not taken any rack for the remainder of the stout crack. Hanging off the finger lock, he had his belayer tie the rack onto the rappel line and swing it into him. He hauled up the gear one handed, put it on and cranked to the top for the third ascent. No better effort was seen on that climb till years later when Moffat did it onsight.
Another great climb was the (probably 2nd) ascent of Sea of Dreams. He went up there with his new girlfriend Angie as a belayer and led every pitch.
Never sprayed, never slandered, always supportive of everyone elses efforts, he just quietly got it done, one of the very best climbers of the era for sure.
Peter
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Russ Walling
Social climber
Out on the sand.... man.....
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Bill Price = Bad Asssssssssssssss™
We got to talk to him about Bad Sign before me and Walt went up.... he told us some stuff that was a good recipe for snaileye, but was rooting for us just the same. Thanks Bill!
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Only met him briefly, He's done it all, all that counts, anyway.
Anyone know whatever happened to Tim Washik? Bill's bad sign partner that I went to high school with?
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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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I always thought Bill was one of the most talented climbers I ever met. Great guy also.
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Blitzo
Social climber
Earth
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Photos by Blitzo.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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cosmic debris. 'nuff said. the man.
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Blitzo
Social climber
Earth
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The last time I saw Washik, he was living in South Lake Tahoe. We used to ski at Kirkwood. That was mid 1990s.
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Blitzo
Social climber
Earth
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Angie 1982.
Photo by Blitzo.
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WBraun
climber
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Bill was and awesome climber, just fuking awesome and great guy with two beautiful sons and beautiful wife Angie.
Met him first time for real on Half Dome with Dave Dieglman (sp?) sitting on a ledge half way up cold and miserable. I rappelled 1000' some feet to them and there was Bill and Dave.
I said Hi, here's my radio, tell me what it says" hahahaha.
He saved my ass .....
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
hell
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 9, 2007 - 09:18pm PT
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Blitzo, Thanks for posting the great pictures. There a good reminder of how old I really am.
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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Great shots Blitzo!
Donut, who are ya?
Peter
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
hell
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 9, 2007 - 11:30pm PT
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Hey Mr Mayfield,
I'm a Kevin Ludwig. I first met you when I used to climb with the Zaccor brothers (mid 1970's?). I remember hearing about you as a "10 yearold kid from the Bay Area who could easily climb 5.10" and had the honor of talking with you from time to time over the years. My most recent encounter with you was with Andrew Stevens last year in Lee Vining.
I met Bill Price, Augie Kline, Dave Diegleman, Kurt Reider, Kath Besio and the rest of the Ravenswood climbers when I began climbing at Rattlesnake Rock. It didn't take long before I realized that these folks were special climbers. At that time my sister was going to Ravenswood and she told me "Bill Price said that if you want to be a real climber you need to come to Ravenswood". Well I never became what you would call a "real climber", but I did transfer to Ravenswood as soon as possible I continue to climb poorly to this day. I treasure the memories of the times I was fortunate enough to spend with those folks and other "real climbers over the years".
One of my fondest climbing memories is going to Little Wing with Bill on the day before my wedding. He enouraged me to lead some climb (don't remember which one) and when I was successful he seemed almost as pleased as I was. It certainly would not have challenged Bill, but his encouragement meant alot to me. (Later that day I fell off my bike racing A.S. Stevens and visited the clinic for stitches in my head. I guess he won)
As Gary Zaccor once said to me memories were the real reason we continue to climb.
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Nice shots Blitzo,
I have been meaning to look them up as they live in the same town that my Dad has retired in. I agree with all the above, talented, mellow, and one of the nicest people you would ever meet. They visited me in a South Lake Tahoe Hospital after I had major surgery and recovered while on morphine. I remember them visiting me but not very many of the other visitors. I have other memories as well under better circumstances.
Ken
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nita
climber
chico ca
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Bill & Angie = Wonderful, kind folks. I miss those guys, I hear they live in the Nevada city area.
Angie and Karen Slevin...L dorm/ or was it K dorm...........
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WBraun
climber
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Yeah Mark
Me and Kauk rapped to them.
Mike Graham I think was there along with so many others I can't remember who.
A lot of them were the Stonemasters.
Bev Johnson was Team leader.
What I remember the most was me and Ron were looking down the wall and could not see more than 10 feet down. Ron asks me where should we lower the ropes. I guessed "right here".
Bill or Dave (can't remember which one) said he felt this thing going down his neck and it was the rope, hahahaha
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can't say
Social climber
Pasadena CA
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Aug 10, 2007 - 12:35am PT
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Hey Kevin Ludwig, great to see you are still alive and kicking. Feisty as ever I imagine. It's been a while since we hung together at Huntington Lake with Mike Paul and Shawn Curtis. Hope all is well with you.
folks check out Kevin's climbing shoe of choice back then. He was doing his best to become at one with the stone:)
cheers
Pat Nay
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funky toes
Social climber
modesto
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Aug 10, 2007 - 12:46am PT
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I never could make my fingers small enough to do the Silly Willy crack!!
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Blitzo
Social climber
Earth
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Aug 10, 2007 - 01:21am PT
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Photo by Blitzo.
Bill told me that rescue story. He said they were really glad to see you SAR guys!
Nita-Karen Slevin! Wow, that brings back memories. Last time I saw her, she was working at Sahara Tahoe. That was around 1981.
I remember when she was hanging with Roger Bannister.
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