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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Dec 13, 2009 - 01:27pm PT
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Nice painting Allen! Kor is right up there with JFK and Elvis as a black velvet icon.
The classic Galen Rowell shot of cover model Kor on the Salathe.
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Allen Hill
Social climber
CO.
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Dec 13, 2009 - 10:41pm PT
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I was going to auction this one off for Layton, I've already been offered a grand for it. I like this one a lot though so I'm going to contact Romero, the king of Tijuana black velvet artists, and have him paint another one to sell for some medical bills. I'm thinking maybe of the photo of him topping out on the Salathe Wall would be nice. What's your favorite image of the Great One?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Dec 13, 2009 - 10:55pm PT
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The photo of Kor at the top of the Salathe is classic, but for one thing - he's following, rather than leading. Not his usual position.
Edit: Werner, I'm not referring to the photo just upthread, but to the classic one of Kor manteling at the very top, one hand on each side of a wide crack.
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Allen Hill
Social climber
CO.
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Dec 13, 2009 - 11:00pm PT
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Good point. But the look on his face is almost transcendental.
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WBraun
climber
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Dec 13, 2009 - 11:09pm PT
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That does not look following to me.
Looks exactly like he's leading. Standing in his aiders his jumar is hanging on the haul line.
he's also holding onto the rope because he's not using a daisy type system which wasn't standard back then.
One aider under his ass as classic pose for holding ones self without daisy to the top piece.
He's leading .....
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dogtown
Trad climber
JackAssVille, Wyoming
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Dec 14, 2009 - 12:50am PT
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Kor is my Hero. Tuff oh, Tuff. ( old school ) He Don’t ever say much. He lets his leads do the talking.
DT.
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Allen Hill
Social climber
CO.
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Dec 15, 2009 - 02:46am PT
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Shameless bump. The artist has been contacted.
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BASE104
climber
An Oil Field
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 17, 2009 - 05:33am PT
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My regular bump. I am going to go buy an autograph tomorrow morning.
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BASE104
climber
An Oil Field
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 18, 2009 - 12:14pm PT
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Another bump.
I wish someone could dig up that pic of him staring straight into the camera as he tops out on the Salathe.
The pictures of him are kind of funny. You look at that Salathe shot and the one posted above, and you go, man, I am a straight dude and that guy looked gooood.
Then in other pictures he looks all goofy with giant ears. There are some hilarious stories that have been written about him.
I am sure that a lot of the young people on here don't know much or anything about him, but he was (from what I have always read) this sort of shooting star that blew through climbing and stomped on everyone. One of the true greats and great characters in American climbing.
If you have ever climbed in Eldo or the desert or many other places, you are doing his old FA's. He was some sort of steam roller of ability and turbo charged energy. His sheer energy is famous. I got a huge kick out of putting my hands on holds that he discovered. This may be sort of a cult of reverence, but hell, it is all true.
And he was a very reflective person underneath all of that. After Harlin's death on the Eiger Direct, he quit climbing for decades and became a deeply religious man. So I guess that underneath all of that he was, like a lot of us, searching for meaning in it all. Then, thank God, he pops up out of nowhere and starts climbing again, although much older. Which was like Elvis coming back to those who he was a hero to.
I doubt he feels he was some sort of hero to so many, but he was to me.
One of the most powerful climbers to ever scream through the American and world scene. And an unreal character. Not even bothered in the least by being some sort of hero. He just kept blazing along.
I never met him, so I am going from all of the stories. Ron and others know him well, and I hope that they read all of this and sort out the legend that I am recounting and show us the real deal.
It sounds like he burned the candle from both ends, and got full value from life. Should we all be so lucky.
When I was a kid back in the early seventies, there were a lot of hilarious and incredible stories about him. He climbed so much new stuff that he seemed like he was in two places at once. Anyone who has climbed much has place their hands on holds that he touched first, so in the brotherhood of the rope, we can all trace ourselves back to him, and owe him a tremendous amount of appreciation. Like any young boy, I attached myself to his legend and wanted to be just like him.
I love that story of him tearing into two heads of lettuce, sayin, "Lots of energy in lettuce."
Ron, straighten me out from the legend to the man.
I have been giving because he oughta be payed for putting up the Titan, Castleton, and a lot of the routes in Eldo and elsewhere.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Dec 18, 2009 - 01:21pm PT
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Not entirely accurate, but true, even if it didn't happen. lol
He didn't really ever quit climbing, but there were other things going on in his life.
The combination of medical requirements and the collapse of real estate values has created a situation that locks him into not being able to move though, no doubt, he'd love to live out his days and be back with his friends in Colorado.
If anybody knows of a situation there that would provide an opportunity, a caretaker's gig for example, it would certainly be appreciated.
As I've mentioned Layton is not prone to accept charity, an admirable trait that only makes things more difficult.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Dec 18, 2009 - 02:32pm PT
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Another bump for Layton.
Cam, how's the Bio coming?
Tony
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Dec 18, 2009 - 03:54pm PT
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Ron has it right.
One thing from Base's otherwise great post: "Not even bothered in the least by being some sort of hero. He just kept blazing along."
I'd disagree. Just as he hates the idea of being given anything, he is very uncomfortable with the idea of regarded as being a "hero." I think this attitude was one of the things that made him lose interest in the mainstream climbing community in the late 1960s.
Like his friend Chuck Pratt, he just wanted to go climbing and have fun.
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BASE104
climber
An Oil Field
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 18, 2009 - 04:32pm PT
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Hey, I admitted that I was recounting old stories and wanted it straightened out. Get after it.
Stories also get blown up over time. Much more entertaining than the truth.
All of those old stories of him with Dalke and Ament and stuff in the early days of Eldo are classic.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Dec 18, 2009 - 04:40pm PT
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I wish someone could dig up that pic of him staring straight into the camera as he tops out on the Salathe.
I remember that photo. It is amazing. He's just staring straight into the camera. His expression seems almost blank and at the same time it reflects the experience he's just had. You can see it in his eyes.
The text that accompanies the photo said it was his last big climb in Yosemite.
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BASE104
climber
An Oil Field
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 21, 2009 - 03:47am PT
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bump. This should never end up on page 4.
Buy something every month or toss in 25 bucks. Layton is still kicking, last I heard.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Dec 21, 2009 - 11:48am PT
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I believe that photo on top of the Salathe is in the Vertical world of Yosemite by Galen Rowell, 1970(?)
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JohnRoe
Trad climber
State College, PA
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Jan 23, 2010 - 02:25pm PT
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bump
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jan 23, 2010 - 09:51pm PT
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I was hoping that John would post up about how pleased he is with the package of hardware he received after sending a check for LK.
There are still a bunch of nuts, a pile of copperheads, and various other items to be had for donations.
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JohnRoe
Trad climber
State College, PA
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Jan 23, 2010 - 10:36pm PT
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absolutely delighted...
a box labeled "Kurosawa Sake" arrived containing a great selection of hardware... hexes, pins, other gear all looking like it had stories to tell!
please support LK and sign up.
JohnR
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jstan
climber
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Jan 23, 2010 - 11:28pm PT
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If you think about it a little, being a "hero" has to be the pits. Even before you get to the point of having to run from the paparazzi.
You are hungry and want a pizza from the (Circle K?)? Can't go down there. Be an hour before you can talk to all those wanting to be talked to and can order the pizza. Now with Layton being as big as he is, Layton knows anyone who grabs his elbow must need something really bad. Right? The person had to know there was a chance he might end up in the next county. So he has to try and read you to see what he can say and what he can't. What must go through his mind when people are lined up fifteen deep to "meet him?"
I don't think any of us can even imagine how wearing all of that is.
Kindest thing to do is just walk by. Get your pizza. Talk about the bobcats you saw that day.
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