Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
crunch
Social climber
CO
|
|
A toast to Lyman Spitzer
Perhaps with one of these:
Indeed. Thanks for a great story.
|
|
Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
|
|
|
Jul 23, 2014 - 11:48pm PT
|
A little late, but thanks for the bio and cool climbing story, Rich!
|
|
Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 05:36am PT
|
Missed this the first time around, thanks for the bump.
I sure have enjoyed the company of many scientists/professors and engineers in the mountains over the years. One of the rich attributes of our activity is the fine company we find along the way. Richard, I'm convinced you were the young gentlemen that fed me more than one dinner in the Valley in 1969, you and your buddies from the Gunks! Thanks for being who you are, a giver for sure.......berg heil.
Charlie D.
|
|
Bad Climber
climber
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 05:56am PT
|
Thank you! This kind of post makes logging one worthwhile. What a great man.
BAd
|
|
HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 07:30am PT
|
Great story. I missed this the first time around. Thanks rgold.
|
|
Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 07:52am PT
|
Love it, RG.
In Scott Ransom, we've got another stud-ass astronomer in the climbing tribe. (Does he post or lurk here?)
|
|
DesertRatExpeditions
Trad climber
Flagstaff, Arizona
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 08:00am PT
|
Outstanding! Glad for the bump, would have missed this otherwise.
|
|
kaholatingtong
Trad climber
Nevada City
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 08:05am PT
|
it was very interesting for me to read this, some fascinating characters congregate around this activity we all share. thanks for the share
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 08:57am PT
|
Thanks for sharing that slice of life with us and giving us a glimpse of understated greatness.
Crusher Bartlett's partner Fran Bagenal is another stellar space scientist with an unpretentious love of climbing and a clear hand in many successful deep space missions. Unbridled scientific curiosity coupled with unclouded intellect makes for an inspiring and meaningful life.
Shining a light on your luminary friend, mentor and client warms my heart on this dreary Seattle morning.
|
|
Jim McCarthy
Mountain climber
Ridgway, CO
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 09:29am PT
|
Rich,,,,,,Just a couple of comments on your great post. Lyman's wonderfully generous bequest to the American Alpine Club fortunately came during the Presidency of Alison Osius.
Lyman's will contained no specific requirements. It was just a general bequest. Alison immediately convened group to decide what to do with it. This group was comprised of several people you know very well. It was this group that decided his bequest should fund what later became what is now the Cutting Edge.....not paper clips for the office.
I should also add that I have always suspected that Lyman generosity was due in large part to his association with you. Many young climbers who have benefited over the years owe you.
|
|
Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 01:06pm PT
|
Well said, Jim. And well done, Rich. :-)
|
|
looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Lassitude 33
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 02:49pm PT
|
Wow, I certainly missed this excellent post the first time around -- thanks for the revival.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, as a recent college graduate and not yet keen on going to grad school, I spent several years climbing and guiding in Southern California. Like Rich, I was fortunate to regularly climb with Lyman for many years (even after giving up the climbing life style and beginning law school).
I remember him mentioning Rich (whom I didn't know except by reputation) on several occasions.
Like Rich, Lyman would want to get his full day of climbing, no matter the conditions. Cold, heat or wet were no deterrent. At an area like Joshua Tree, we would regularly climb 9, 10 or even more routes in a day. At Tahquitz, several multi-pitch routes were routine.
Sometimes he looked to be tired or at his limit with a route, but when we would top out, he had that smile and would ask "What's next?" I'm not embarrassed to say that I was often worn out at the end of the day.
Though he was interesting conversationalist and obviously an incredibly accomplished scientist, he would always steer the discussion back to climbing. He really loved to climb and his enthusiasm was infectious.
One of my most cherished FA's is the Josh route "An Eye to the West" on Hound Rocks, which Lyman and I did on a cold November day in 1979 -- and, of course, just one of many routes we ticked that day.
Proudly hanging in my office is a framed 19th century engraved print of climbers on Mt. Blanc, a gift from Lyman. He was a truly great man, climbing partner and inspirational figure.
|
|
klk
Trad climber
cali
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 05:31pm PT
|
jim mccarthy in the house!
nice bump, jim
|
|
Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
|
|
|
Jul 24, 2014 - 09:04pm PT
|
It's always nice to have this thread bumped!
|
|
Lorenzo
Trad climber
Oregon
|
|
Sep 1, 2011 - 09:19pm PT
Doesn't "spitz" mean something like "peak" or "pinnacle" in German? If so, it makes even more sense.
Close.
Pointed, sharp, acute and peaked. are all translations.
|
|
yanqui
climber
Balcarce, Argentina
|
|
Glad this got bumped and I got a chance to read it. Better late than never.
|
|
rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Dec 14, 2014 - 09:40pm PT
|
This has been sleepin' in the back pages for a while.
|
|
ms55401
Trad climber
minneapolis, mn
|
|
|
Dec 14, 2014 - 09:48pm PT
|
nice bio. I recognized the name vaguely from AAC grants but until now knew nothing about his back-story. Clearly an individual with far-ranging skills and interests. In particular, I liked the grants criteria (paraphrase: small teams undertaking bold projects in good style)
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!