Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Robinson
Trad climber
Chattanooga
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 - 11:44am PT
|
John and I only crossed paths periodically through the years but when he finally made it down South to hang w me at my place for a month it was like having an older brother I never knew coming home.
JB was of course a hugely talented climber -- and I would argue the best of "our" generation -- with a larger than life persona and, yes, an "attitude" at times; however, I think in many regards he was not only misunderstood but many but also resented by some for the simple reason, I surmise, they couldn't do what he could do.
I still carry around on my cell phone about a half dozen photos of John playing an old sax with some blown out reeds which we found late one night laying in the corner of another climber's home in Atlanta, GA after being out partying till 4 or 5 in the morning. This would have been about ... seven months before he passed. I feel like I owe it to all of you here on ST who knew John to figure out how to get those off my phone chip and post'em here. They're priceless.
|
|
Phil Bard
Trad climber
Lake Oswego, OR
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 - 12:22pm PT
|
|
|
ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 20, 2011 - 01:23pm PT
|
Yeah still have his name and number logged into my cell. Can't bring myself to take it out.
Peace
|
|
Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 - 02:32pm PT
|
Missed.
Ron, I had a voice mail from him maybe 18 hours before his last route. I had it on the phone for quite a while. That pic from Phil puts him in perspective for the rest of us mortals.
|
|
the kid
Trad climber
fayetteville, wv
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 - 02:45pm PT
|
Great story Jo!
|
|
TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
|
|
|
Jul 20, 2011 - 03:01pm PT
|
Last time I saw the guy was a few years back. He was doing a slide show at a gym here in town. I spoke with him and told him that I still had the Boreal Fire shoes that I bought from him in Camp-4. His response was:
"Ho Man, those things soo sucked!"
I laughed for days, every time I thought about that comment and who made it.
|
|
Fletcher
Trad climber
from the place of breath
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 12:06am PT
|
A wonderful thread by some wonderful people about a solid gold guy.... Thanks all for sharing and remembering JB. I was coming close to meeting him, but alas, that was not meant to be. For those of us who never met him, he still has the power to move and inspire.
Eric
|
|
sexy rexy
Trad climber
mammoth lakes
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 01:09am PT
|
"every foot is a rest" ill never forget that one.
|
|
sexy rexy
Trad climber
mammoth lakes
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 01:10am PT
|
trundle bum ... i remember that slide show at red rock gym good stuff.
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 01:19am PT
|
Incredible picture, Phil. . .
|
|
tgandee
Gym climber
Atlanta, GA
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 09:50am PT
|
The few times I got hang out with John, and even fewer times I got to climb with him, it was like being with an old friend when I barely knew him. One of the lasting memories I have of him was when we were in Mexico. He was working at the show factory and he invite me and friend down to climb and check out the show factory and get a little climbing in. It just happened that he invited some guys from Rock & Ice down too. They showed up the day I left, but their account of John, Mexico, and climbing stories with John were spot on in the article they wrote wrote. The story of the 'El Mistico" mask had been talked about over some beers after Tim and I had been at the open air market. We kept the story going about how 'El Mistico' was the greatest soloest out there, but he's never been seen climbing. I was really happy to see the article written about John with something I got to experience with him.
@Robinson - Bring that phone back down to Atlanta, Tim and I will figure out how to get the images off. I can't believe I missed out on Bachar trying to play Tim's sax. I'm glad Bachar got to see Northside Tavern though, he fit right in.
todd gandee
|
|
Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 11:16am PT
|
I sure miss JB.
I got to see and meet him in the ORG a few times. Watched him solo a few routes on the Dilithium Crystal back in the 90's.
I sure enjoyed interacting with John here on ST. I miss him being here.
He is a great inspiring climber. Even though I know I'll never do what he could do, it sure inspired me. Some people are on another physical plane of existence that is higher and different than the rest of us. John sure was and is.
He also is a great thinker and thought outside of the box. A few of us know the truth regarding some very disturbing things that most people hide and run away from. Not John. I like that about him. I will always remember his last thread here on ST, "The Fourth of You Lie." He is a brave soul in so many ways.
He lived on Earth on another plane of existence and waved us up to join him.
Just remember, like Robin Williams says in the incredible movie What Dreams May Come, after meeting with an untimely and unfortunate physical death, he said to his wife from beyond "I still exist."
Physical death is not the end. John still exists. All of our loved ones still exist. Have faith.
|
|
BluntMan
Gym climber
Wild Omar, CA
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 12:12pm PT
|
I didn't know him but I was fortunate enough to meet him and share a few words with him at Red Rocks back in the late 90's. I had stopped in at the Desert Rock Climbing Center to get a shower. He was at a table selling tickets and said that that the gym was closed due to his slideshow. At any rate, we got to talking for a few minutes and he asked me what I'd climbed that day. I had just done Epinephrine and was full of myself. He smiled and said it was a great route. For me, it was a very memorable meeting.
|
|
Matt J.
Trad climber
Castro Valley, CA
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 01:03pm PT
|
Though I'd never met John before, he very kindly offered me his time for an interview and shared a story for my book. He couldn't have been nicer about it. I took this picture that day in Mammoth two weeks before the accident. It was an honor, John. We miss you.
|
|
eagle
Trad climber
new paltz, ny
|
|
|
Jul 21, 2011 - 07:21pm PT
|
god rest this guys soul.
i believe there comes [or should come] a point in a middle aged mans life to say when when it comes to solo climbing. he had a wife and a kid wtf is he doing soloing? i guess his ego got the best of him and he always felt the need to prove himself
kaulk and yabo were my favorites from those days
|
|
Yeti
Trad climber
Ketchum, Idaho
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2011 - 03:24pm PT
|
The day John died I was climbing at the City of Rocks. The next morning I heard about the accident from Michael Kennedy and the news, among other feelings, took away my appetite for climbing that day. Instead, I hiked up a big hill above the City and built a cairn for John and sat there a long time and thought about him before coming back down. I later told Tom Kimbrough where it is and Tom hiked up there and added to the cairn. Sometime later I returned with Doug Colwell and we built it up a bit more. To my knowledge, which of course is incomplete, we are the only ones to visit John's City of Rocks memorial.I encourage anyone who wants to add to John's cairn by adding a stone or two or a memento (an old, well used Fire or Acopa, prayer flags, a photo, a lucky charm....) or just a visit to say hello. It is easy to find and takes about an hour hike. Go to Decadent Wall, look west, go to the highest point of the big hill you see and find an open area out of the trees and you will see the cairn. It's a great hike on a rest day from climbing and a good way to remember and honor John Bachar
|
|
Studly
Trad climber
WA
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2011 - 03:49pm PT
|
The world seemed a bigger bolder place with John Bachar in it. Admiration and respect for one of the Stonemasters who never compromised his ethics and stood tall thru it all.
|
|
chez
Social climber
chicago ill
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2011 - 04:02pm PT
|
hey Eagle, the thread is called a "few good words"
I don't think his last day had anything to do with ego.
|
|
ron gomez
Trad climber
fallbrook,ca
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 23, 2011 - 04:21pm PT
|
Yeah Chez, I PM eagle and asked that he please remove the post. We'll see. I would think if he knew the details(date of OP)he might get it and chose his words differently. I think most people who've posted up knew the purpose of the OP. Let's continue to keep it positive!
Peace
Edit: A BIG thanks to all those that have posted up something positive. I've sent the link to Tyrus and John's Dad so they could appreciate some good words about Bachar.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!