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ground_up
Trad climber
mt. hood /baja
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 3, 2010 - 09:03pm PT
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Climbing is often about achievement , and often those are only known to
others by word , often stories. Most climbing literature is somewhat dry\boring even if the events themselves were epic. Over my years of climbing ( since '75 ) I have read most anything I could get my hands on
..... most of it reasonable , but most a " butt shot" drawing an analogy
to photos.
Over the years , John Long's books always ,well kicked ass over everything
else ... plain and simple IMHO
Having recently purchased a copy of the Stonemasters book I am again amazed
at how his writing can at one point be so touching and in tune and moments later is so damn funny I'm blowin beer through my nose.
When I can't climb , I love to read about climbing.
Thank you Largo for providing this climber with so many years of great
written word when I couldn't be out there.
Shawn Darris
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martygarrison
Trad climber
The Great North these days......
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here here!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Great writer, climber and person, just needs to do a little body work so people don't kick sand in his face.
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pc
climber
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I agree. And he's a jazzer too. Dig.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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John is the Mark Twain /Samuel Clemens of American climbing lit.
There's always the Mark Twain getting down with the local dialect and the telling of the tall tale. Opposed by the Samuel Clemens Intellectual Philosophy buff side.
Hard combination to beat.
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Anastasia
Mountain climber
hanging from a crimp and crying for my mama.
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Yup, I completely agree. Largo has the gift.
AFS
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Fritz
Trad climber
Hagerman, ID
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From a "wanta be" writer to the real thing.
Your stuff is classic!
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Anastasia
Mountain climber
hanging from a crimp and crying for my mama.
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Is John Long is still alive!? Wow, new levels for a troll.
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J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
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Five stars for Largo, a man of literature that doesn't need suede elbow patches.
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guyman
Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
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The best campfire storyteller of all time.
Thank you for all the belly laughs.... ho man
Viva Largo
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StahlBro
Trad climber
San Diego, CA
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I read "The Only Blasphemy" about Largo 3rd classing the Left the Ski Track with JB. I still remember the line "my forearms felt like titanium beef steaks" (hope I got that right). Classic.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
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Weld_it... John does not post here but his avatar does.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
mun jae upso yo
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Watch out....He'll sandbag you as bad as the Bird.
All in good fun, though.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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Largo 's the man for sure. In his writing you can not just see the image, but also smell, taste, feel and hear the whole show.....
I haven't real the Robbins book yet, but I thought his rockcraft books were well put together and organized. Just off Longs recommendation, I want to get a copy...once I finish reading the 26 volume Patrick O'Brian Aubry/Maturin series that is.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Sandbagging is always good fun, for the sandbagger that is.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
The beckoning silence
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As much an inspiration to me as a writer as he is as a climber.
I recall he said at some point that he thinks of himself as a writer who happens to be a climber.
Hear hear!
Eric
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville
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He strikes me as a man with Character.
Rare these days.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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"Only those close to John knew he was all about mastery, that his heart was devoted to the greatest show on earth: man against himself."
How can I say.....it makes my heart cry! Some great and powerful words John, and so well said. Thanks for all you've put down for us to enjoy and savor.
Peace
Ron
See the new Patagonia catalog and the shot of Bachar on the Molar.
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can't say
Social climber
Pasadena CA
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Aug 12, 2011 - 03:58am PT
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bump for the scribe
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 12, 2011 - 08:46am PT
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I like to think there are many good writers. There don't seem
to be a lot of great readers, though. That's another subject.
When going into a museum of art, we don't usually try to compare
and say, "Well, Da Vinci really had it over Rembrandt, and that
Van Gogh, well he couldn't keep up with El Greco...." I never
argue with any compliment anyone makes about anyone's writing,
until it becomes a comparison. Comparison, in my opinion, diminish
the value of individual works. We should see each writer
as making his or her unique contributjion, and we value
the gifts that hang there before our eyes. Competition and
comparisons are really a pretty low level of analysis. In the
relatively small, humble world of rock climbing, we have individuals
such as Royal Robbins, whose early writings were an inspiration to
us all. We have Pratt, who did about three pieces -- and we loved
them, as though he had done fifty. Fitchen's article "Up Against
the Walls" is as beautiful as writing gets. Tom Higgins...
here then is a spirit with wonderful poetic ability,
with gorgeous light and humor that drips from every line. We see
a resplendence in many who post on the topo. Doug's thoughts about
Pratt, for example, reach in and grab our heart. I've written hundreds
of stories that almost no one here has ever read, and far more poetry
of a real literary kind, and it has its own voice, and my best
writing has never been climbing writing. But it has a voice.
I've always hated when magazines edit their writers into the
voice of the magazine rather than let the person be who they are.
We love John Long's writing not because he is better than anyone but
because he is a strong voice who has his finger on the humor. He
loves the people in his world and has a memory to cherish the
experiences of his life. But
there are voices that stretch back through time, Murray, Menlove,
Bonatti, up through the simple clear reminisings of Buhl, and the
incredible, perfect works of art of Rebuffat, or even more recent,
Dave Rearick. This is only the smallest sample of the minds worthy
of our admiration, writings that stand alone, always, rather than
in some comparative context.... Many of the works in a museum of
art, for which I and we would suffer if they did not exist, are
smaller, more obscure pieces by artists less known....
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Aug 12, 2011 - 09:58am PT
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No doubt about it the man has talent and wit, any projects in the future John? As Ken Kesey said, "the problem with being a famous writer is you have to write something". Would love to read more from John Long, hope this thread inspires him.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Aug 12, 2011 - 10:10am PT
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love is shy in her expressions;
reserved and desolate among foreign minds.
john's pen enboldened and encouraged her outrage,
and her song is now part of many hearts.
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elcap-pics
Big Wall climber
Crestline CA
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Aug 12, 2011 - 10:50am PT
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Certainly one of my favorite writers.... his "Rats" always make me tear up! Never met the man but hope to some day.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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Aug 12, 2011 - 12:35pm PT
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Several months ago John gave a show where he presented images( some climbing related, some not) by Dean and others, accompanied by a piece he had written for each one. As the image was projected on the screen, he read a paragraph or two aloud. Part fact, part embellishment and fiction, each one was a theater of the mind. I thought it was brilliant. I look forward to the book, John.
TY
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Fish Finder
Social climber
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
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Aug 12, 2011 - 01:00pm PT
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Great men just stand there and do what they do .
Others grovel around mixing words , hoping for just a sliver of the spotlight.
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ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
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Aug 12, 2011 - 01:33pm PT
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I think it would be a cool tour to have John do small venues reciting stories. Is is a great writer, but even better story teller! If you've never been around when he's telling a story, you've missed some major entertainment. I'd pay to see it and help promote it fer free! Whada ya say John?
Peace
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Aug 12, 2011 - 04:53pm PT
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john is an antagonist of action and of words, fish finder.
sometimes i stand 'neath a sliver of a moon and enjoy my audience of stars...
have you looked yet for fish between your legs?
might be time for a vinegar bath, eh?
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EdBannister
Mountain climber
13,000 feet
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Aug 12, 2011 - 05:37pm PT
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lovefest
sappy.....
all well deserved.
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Fish Finder
Social climber
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
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Aug 12, 2011 - 06:18pm PT
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Hey weege,
was not referring to you as your post is a compliment to John,
and I always enjoy your witty poetic posts
but I can see in placement of posts how you might think I was.
It was a general statement.
Best,Gregg
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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Aug 13, 2011 - 12:33am PT
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There have been many great climbers who have written about the experience of climbing and the culture of climbing. Who have attempted to capture the voice of their generation and etched it on paper for all time. Mallory, Murray, Patey, Childs. Some write strictly of their own adventures (Tilman, Shipton etc,) while others try to encompass an era. IMO none has done a better job of capturing an era more than John. Through embellishment, truth, a talent for words but more than that he writes with an authority and skill that few if any current writers have.
I love his stuff and can never get enough................OK. Enough of that sloppiness.
He does BS alot sometimes........;^) Write on John
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 13, 2011 - 02:25am PT
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Among John's many strengths, and there are many, he delves his
own personal experiences as they have taken place within
his perception of the
more immediate culture of southern California and Yosemite.
He is an important voice and a creative one.
If there is a weakness, and it is not a big one, it might exactly be
the issue of the era and the broader analysis of climbing
and climbing history, his sense of his own place or context
in the world....
But he's a fine writer, and that... I second wholeheartedly...
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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Aug 13, 2011 - 10:12am PT
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John articles and books are some of the finest adventure writing there is. He can capture the moment, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Not to mention the endless routes he has CRUSHED in his lifetime. Viva Largo! Salute!
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can't say
Social climber
Pasadena CA
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Aug 13, 2011 - 01:59pm PT
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The only author that eclipses John IMO in the 1st person narrative as a participant as well as chronicler is Hunter S. Thompson. John was on the bus to be sure
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o-man
Social climber
Paia,Maui,HI
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Aug 13, 2011 - 02:59pm PT
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After experiencing John's early work I realized that I too was allowed to tell the story my way!
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Aug 13, 2011 - 03:09pm PT
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im curious how all of this praise affects john.
some of his literary expressions suggest melancholy tendencies.
feedback has strong influence on an artists' inspiration levels.
for me, harsh feedback feeds my beast,
where praise often leads to a dry complacency.
managing the emotional forces within is like trying to calmly catch
fleeing fleas.
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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Aug 13, 2011 - 08:40pm PT
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John and Hunter... strange link, as they have lived in such
very different worlds and write in such very different ways.
But here we go again, with the comparisons... which never
seem to work. To compare is like making it a track
meet. One is the winner, one (or everyone else) the
loser. In the vast museum
of writing art, all can make their worthy offering.
How about just comparing the man to himself?
I mean, John at many times has been the best of all the
people he has ever been... or something...
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