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Bill Mc Kirgan
Trad climber
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Dec 10, 2014 - 10:27am PT
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No pics, but Paul was out with us last Sunday as we set out for adventure in Pictured Rocks County Park somewhere in the hinterlands of Iowa.
The gates to the park are closed to automobile traffic and we set-out in search of old and forgotten trad lines. Hiking down the road we spied a rock face with a pretty crack and decided to have a look. It was worth the ten minutes of scrambling and we decided to set a top rope.
After some gentle gardening and choss testing the route was ready for a climb. Of course Paul's 'ball' was there for inspiration and made a new mark on this old line.
We know someone must have climbed it before, but it was high adventure for us gumbies. My friend took the next TR and placed some gear. I took another turn and aided each placement and added some more giving each a good bounce. All solid. I cleaned it and lowered off to give my friend a shot at the lead.
He sent it proud.
We moved on to another line and enjoyed a spectacular day with the park to ourselves.
Berg Heil
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 14, 2014 - 09:49pm PT
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Bill Mc Kirgan/ Berg Heil
Thank you for taking Paul with you on your climbs! I love that he continues to live on in the climbing community!
-Paul's Lil' Sis
Anna
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couchmaster
climber
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Mar 11, 2015 - 11:25am PT
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Paul's been getting out on a couple recent new route adventures with me.
I don't always chalk, but when I do, I try and remember to reach for Paul's ball. Sorry for the horrible photo:
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 27, 2015 - 07:01pm PT
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Couchmaster, thank you for remembering Paul. I have been thinking about this site lately, and wanted to see if anything has been going on. So glad he still has friends that are keeping his spirit and love of climbing alive!
-Anna (Paul's lil sis)
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Bill Mc Kirgan
Trad climber
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Sep 27, 2015 - 07:45pm PT
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Anna,
The Paul's Ball I received is now with a good friend in North Carolina. I explained the significance of it, and he was delighted to carry on the tradition around Looking Glass and other great places.
May it give you comfort and peace to know your beloved brother lives on in the spirit of this wacky and loving community.
Sincerely,
Bill
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 30, 2015 - 10:12pm PT
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@ Bill Mc Kirgan, it does bless my heart to know he still climbs on through this amazing climbing community. Thanks for sharing his story... and his balls ;) He would get a good laugh out of that "Sharing Paul's Balls." Ahhh, man. I miss that guy!
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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Happy Birthday Paul!
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couchmaster
climber
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Apr 17, 2016 - 08:13am PT
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The "Paul's Ball's" chalk is remarkably good. I usually don't use chalk, but was out yesterday for some early season slimy wet toproping/monster banana slug tossing/dirt scraping off hold climbing at the local cliff. We clearly were the first on the route this season. Took my bag that had Paul's ashes/chalk and remembered Paul. Real sore today, in a good way.
The chalk made a difference, both in a metaphysical way and a drying off the hands way.
^^Nature, nice Cormorant and Ocher Star having breakfast shot^^. Right out of the water. Did you stick your camera right into seawater to get that?
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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Apr 17, 2016 - 08:54am PT
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^^^ no, the other way around. i lifted my camera out of the water to try and get an over/under.
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 16, 2016 - 04:57pm PT
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Thank you for continuing to remember Paul. And its awesome to see that his "balls" are still in good use ;)
July I do a virtual run to support Melanoma Research in Paul and Ruth's memory. Check out my newest site, to help honor their memory and make an impact in the arena of melanoma research: http://virtualbirthdayrun.wix.com/melanomaresearch
I have raised almost $400 this year for the Melanoma Research Foundation!
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Jul 16, 2016 - 09:58pm PT
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You betcha! Paul is forever with me!
I frequently think of Paul and Ruth. Two guiding stars for me.
Susan
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 5, 2016 - 03:51pm PT
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@ SC Seagate Thank you for these words:
Jul 16, 2016 - 09:58pm PT
You betcha! Paul is forever with me!
I frequently think of Paul and Ruth. Two guiding stars for me.
Susan
I was running the trails today, it's Paul's Birthday. This image came to mind as someone pointed out a guy standing on a boulder in the distance. Happy Birthday Paul!
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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May 11, 2017 - 07:03pm PT
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A bump ? . .. ... .... ..... ...... Get it checked!
May is cancer screening month
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Apr 29, 2018 - 09:27am PT
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I was showing a climber friend from Colorado, who didn’t know about Paul, some pictures I had of taking Paul’s Balls to Indian Creek and Yosemite.
Like so many we have lost, Paul is never forgotten, nor his beautiful partner Ruth.
Every crag I’m at, you’re still with me.
Susan
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Apr 29, 2018 - 09:31am PT
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Susan,
How's your health?
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Apr 29, 2018 - 10:26am PT
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Zip....how nice of you to ask. I’m doing fine...other than getting older. Regular screenings for the past 8 years have remained NED.
And you?
Susan
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Apr 29, 2018 - 01:43pm PT
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Susan,
Glad you are NED.
Same here.
Just plugging along.
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couchmaster
climber
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Haha, was cleaning up my gear and noticed a pack in the back a couple of days back. Opened it and I'd stuffed a rope in there but didn't know the age of the thing. I always put my rope into rope backs that have the brand, date of purchase and any other signifigant info (falls etc) but this had no tag. Was perusing this thread and see that very rope clipped to an anchor in 2011. Guess that rope is retired for sure. LOL
The ugly blue rope in the photo.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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May 28, 2019 - 12:04pm PT
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Another classic Taco sub thread of a climber Paul, 'Disaster Master' who covered his own fight with melanoma so many years ago....
Ultimately he lost his battle (f*#k cancer) and climbers mixed some of his ashes with chalk to spread around the world...
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L
climber
Just livin' the dream
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May 28, 2019 - 03:05pm PT
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Just read the entire thread.
Amazing. Sad, but amazing.
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