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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Aug 20, 2011 - 10:55pm PT
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You're right, that is a good one.
Thanks Gym.
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WanderlustMD
Trad climber
New England
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Aug 20, 2011 - 11:23pm PT
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I didn't know him, but I wish I had!
Condolences....
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Gym Birdwall
Gym climber
The
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 21, 2011 - 12:12am PT
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Wow look at those chicken moves!
Email me, send me an address to send the "Paul's Balls"
Thanks for the climbing invite. I've never climbed
without Paul Beta. How do you do that?
Give a shout,
Gym
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Gym Birdwall
Gym climber
The
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 24, 2011 - 04:00pm PT
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It was my first day to climb. We had gathered gear, hiked to Patrick’s Point.
I had heard so many climbing stories, Paul was happy, I was excited to climb.
Harness on, double back, tied in, check knot.
“I will climb first”, he said.” You’ll belay.”
Be what? I said?
Paul continued. “ Here is a penny. Hold it in your hand. Don't drop it. Take rope in, lock it off, like this. Got it? “
Ahhhh, no.
“Ok then, you got me?”…
Ahhhhh, no.
“Ok then, remember you’re the belay if you drop me I’ll die, OK?”…
Ahhhh NO.
Climbing!
Climbing? Wait!! My head was a jumble, this hand, pull here, drop me, die….. be what?
“More rope he shouted. Got me”?
Ahhh no
“Ok I’m safe.”
How did he get up that cliff so fast?
He repelled down I was still sweating bullets. Just then I happened to look down and
notice he was wearing his sandals. He could have done that climb barefoot in the dark!
I’d just been had. He laughed. “ There your first belay out of the way!”
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b.b.
Trad climber
ojai, CA
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Aug 25, 2011 - 09:30pm PT
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I knew Paul quite well from the mid-90's to 2007 when I left Hum Co. and we shared many adventures together in Hum Co and beyond...
He is a continued source of inspiration to me as I bumble my way down my continued path as climber and writer...
Paul was many things... a great writer and storyteller foremost. He was always animated, intense, manic, passionate, funny, wild, irreverant, good-hearted, adventurous, a sick climber, a rager and above all he had an incredibly positive attitude and really just wanted to enjoy life at all costs when I knew him. He didn't take sides. He was dedicated to his climbing and to sharing it. He was truly one of a kind.
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J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
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Aug 25, 2011 - 10:19pm PT
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The Raggeds Wilderness in western Colorado is home to mountain goats and elk.
Not many two-leggeds visit this rocky realm.
The day after reading of Paul's death I hiked in with Naomi and two good friends.
The first post from Paul that I read was the Joshua Tree trip with you Ruth.
Joshua Tree has always been a place where the stillness moves me to step within.
Reading Paul's TR, I knew he got this, too. I was brought into his journey as if hooked by a speeding freight car.
Naomi and I like to hike peaks. She is always first up, unless she waits. Naomi is second only to the mountain goats when it comes to going up. We set our sites on this unnamed peak.
I was thinking of Paul a lot. How real he had been. His story of falling while tree climbing; how he head-butted the trunk to flip himself feet first.
The peak was turning out to be a good one. Not too much scree. The sky a deep blue.
A fourth class bit here and there for fun.
When we hit the ridge clouds started shredding and billowing against the peaks.
The distance at one moment here then gone. Like Paul, I thought. Big world/small world.
Here, then carried away by the cool cloud mist.
We had carried up a heavy duty ziplock, some paper and a shard of spruce.
We both wrote a little.
Then Naomi slipped the parcel between two flat stones in the small stupa we had built,
I thought Paul would appreciate the view. I don't really know, but that's what I hoped.
We headed down. We were a good ways off when Naomi said, Hey look back there.
I could still see the stupa up on the ridge, holding itself against the sky.
And that image is still there a month or so later. Burned in.
Paul burned so bright I can still feel him too.
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Gym Birdwall
Gym climber
The
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2011 - 10:03am PT
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Jeremy and Naomi,
I have no words to express my feelings after reading your post.
Paul often shouted out as I reached the top of a climb,
"look where you are now."
I know Paul is enjoying the amazing view.
Thank you both so much!
Ruth
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Aug 26, 2011 - 10:14am PT
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Paul and Ruth came to the AAC sponsored cleanup at Indian Creek last Fall. Paul told me that he had always dreamed about climbing Super Crack. I put the rope up and then witnessed a remarkable display of grit and determination. Paul was very thin and weakened by his condition but would not give up. He persevered for close to an hour and finally touched the chains. I'll never forget the look of pure joy on his face when he reached the ground.
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drljefe
climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
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Aug 26, 2011 - 10:18am PT
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Good job jwerlin and donini.
For now, I'll just keep posting poetry.
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J. Werlin
Social climber
Cedaredge, CO
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Aug 28, 2011 - 12:05am PT
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All the best Ruth. I'm glad you found my post.
Naomi is volunteering at a hospital near the Uganda/Sudan border right now, but I have sent your words on to her also.
Can't imagine how tough it is for you. Hope it helps some to know there is love and positive energy coming in from all these people and places.
Peace,
-Jeremy
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Oct 29, 2011 - 01:02am PT
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J. Werlin... I guess I never posted a reply before. I got chills when I read your story of the climb/ hike you did in honor of Paul. Thank you so much for doing that and posting pictures. That was awesome.
Anna (Paul's sis)
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Jan 21, 2013 - 01:22am PT
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I am sad to report that Paul's wife, Ruth aka Gym Birdwall, has passed away ironically from the same type of cancer. She died on December 21, 2012. The cancer attacked her brain and they gave her less than 2 months to live when she found out. She was gone in less than a month after I was informed she had cancer.
I am thankful for Ruth and all she did for Paul and for her willingness to start up "Paul's Balls" in his memory. I am glad that many took the opportunity to spread a little Paul around all over the world and take him on their adventures.
Anna
aka Paul's lil sis
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Chinchen
climber
Way out there....
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Jan 21, 2013 - 01:54am PT
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Oh man, for real? Life is sweet, life is short. Live big folks.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Jan 21, 2013 - 02:47am PT
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I'm sorry for this loss, Gym. I can say I wish I'd met this guy having read some of these posts. And I'm sorry I didn't get to say it to you. Man oh man...
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jan 21, 2013 - 05:24am PT
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hey there say, yllw2lip...
i had heard this, and was very sad... :(
i wish i had seen this thread and read this, before ruth died,
i'd have posted here for her...
i did not know paul, except from here...
i can share this small paul story for you though:
i had this gut feeling to paint a picture of him, and ruth...
i was startin out doing one, but i email her for a copy of HER
favorite (to add to the one that i saw here and loved)...
unknowing why--she sent me the picture...
i painted it with a good start, but eventually waned... wondering if perhaps i feared it was too hard--yet never sure why...
well, suddenly before thanksgiving, i got the urge that i needed to fishish it--i just assumed it was so she could get the painting for
thanksgiving and be thankful for all her time that she had, when paul was here...
well--it was late, done, so i had to mail it after...
and as well, as WELL... WELL... when i finally DID sent it:
it did NOT GET THERE--it was very late and i feared it was lost...
well, will 'wells' never cease (i hope not)...as was well:
if FACT more than well:
i got a surprise email from ruth, and in that email she said,similar to this:
the painting is here! ...
THIS is part of what else she had to say:
The beautiful tree, the cliff for climbing, and us sharing it
all together. It brings back happy memories of our love.
How can I ever thank you?
Today is Paul's birthday. Even more special it came as a present.
With some days lonely and sad, you have made my day today happy.
so MY paul story is this:
i was allowed and entrusted by the good grace of god, to give his
wife a 'hug' for him, and--on his birthday, of all things...
unknown by me, that this would happen this way...
and--unknown by me, that ruth would not be here much longer, and may never
even have SEEN the picture, if i had stalled, anymore, :(
thank you ruth, for being my friend, and for your
lovely letter, before you died...
friends, always, love from neebee...
now, i am crying again... you are both together, in those
memories, but with joy now... the good lord promise to wash
the sorrows away, and make things well, for joy...
thank you yllw2lip, for posting this...
and bringing up the thread...
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mcreel
climber
Barcelona
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Jan 21, 2013 - 09:27am PT
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Thanks to those of you who knew these exceptional people for telling us about them.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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Jan 21, 2013 - 10:42am PT
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There are some really amazing people in this world. Even though Paul and his wife are with us no longer on this plain, they still continue to give and inspire to this world. So sorry for your loss, condolences to friends and family.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Jan 21, 2013 - 01:48pm PT
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Wow...This saddens me greatly.Totally unbelievable.Condolences to family,friends and all others affected.
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Feb 10, 2013 - 08:38pm PT
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Thanks Neebee for sharing your story. What a special moment for Ruth to receive that on Paul's birthday.
It is very bizarre they had the same cancer. All I can reason is that they were both outside so much when they were active, Ruth raced bikes and Paul (of course) climbed. They were both VERY fair skinned. The cancer was melanoma gone internal. A big lesson learned on wearing sunscreen. I run half marathons now, something I started doing after Paul died and something I think he would be proud of me that I started... anyways, I now try my best to wear sunscreen when I run. When I forget and get a sunburn I always kick myself and can hear Paul giving me a lecture about the importance of always wearing sunscreen, on a daily basis for every day life, not just when we are active outside.
I hope his life and Ruth's life and this message are not wasted on any of us who read it.
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yllw2lip
Social climber
Orange, CA
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Nov 30, 2014 - 01:16pm PT
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Anyone who has pictures and/ or stories about Paul and/ or Ruth, please post here! I also wouldn't mind getting them via personal email yllw2lip@yahoo.com
Especially that story about Paul climbing Super Crack! Any eye witness accounts? Please share here! That was such an amazing story!! Wish I had been there. Paul told me about his climb.
He had always wanted to climb "Super Crack" and he went when he was sick from Chemo. He told me that he had to literally jamb his whole arm into the crack and pull himself up. The muscles on his arms were amazing! He was so strong and fit! He occasionally had to push off to the side to throw up from being sick, he didn't want to throw up on the person holding the rope below. Then he would go back to the crack and continue. He conquered the crack, and was lowered feeling triumphant! It was an amazing story to hear about. Wish I was a witness to the event!
-Anna (Paul's lil' sis)
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