guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 28, 2012 - 06:36pm PT
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Years ago, 1971 to be exact, "Bud" Couch borrowed a bong from Lauria and returned it in a most novel way. 24 cents, what a deal!
When was the last time you tried to mail a "bong" like this?
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gf
climber
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May 28, 2012 - 06:42pm PT
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I think Dwight would have approved. He warned of the rise of the military industrial complex and a bong is a classic example of swords into plowshares.
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Randisi
Social climber
Dalian, Liaoning
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May 28, 2012 - 06:44pm PT
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A bong?
I thought at first you were referring to the kind with the nasty water.
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thudge
climber
CO
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May 28, 2012 - 06:47pm PT
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Absolutely Classic!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 28, 2012 - 06:52pm PT
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"Do not bend, fold or mutilate"
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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May 28, 2012 - 07:35pm PT
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1974. 2 alum 3" Chouinards. Masking tape. USPS. TNF Berkeley~YNP GD. @ $1.00 postage. I had them taped together in a "nest." Phone ordered by a "pal."
I could tell ya the addressee* was Russ T. Piton, but please...
* real spelling
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rrider
climber
Mckinleyville, Ca
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May 28, 2012 - 07:46pm PT
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That's cool, Joe. Artifact from more innocent times. These days, one might get arrested for terrorism.
...right on, gf.^
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Topic Author's Reply - May 28, 2012 - 07:53pm PT
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Mouse-I remember the scuttlebutt in Camp 4 about those bongs and I think the recipient was a one Dee Pravity?
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F10
Trad climber
Bishop
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May 28, 2012 - 08:00pm PT
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How cool
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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May 28, 2012 - 08:57pm PT
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ROTFLMAO! thanks for that stuff guys!
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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May 28, 2012 - 09:45pm PT
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Gee, guido, that doesn't ring a bell.
This has bugged me for years. Who is Vic Tishous? He's in the Green Guide HCR--East Book.
I was assured he exists. By Millis. HA!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 28, 2012 - 09:55pm PT
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Memories of Couch, he mentored me on my first 5.9 and 5.10 leads at Tahquitz Rock.
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LilaBiene
Trad climber
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May 29, 2012 - 05:35am PT
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Classic!
Rich Calderwood explained to this novice that they were given the moniker because of the sound they made when you hit 'em.
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Dick Erb
climber
June Lake, CA
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May 29, 2012 - 08:15am PT
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Back in the fifties when I was upgrading my rack from soft iron to chromoly, I saw Chouinard at Tahquitz one day. I handed him one of my favorite horizontals and asked if he could make a copy. A few days after I got back home two pitons showed up in the mail. They were dangling from a piece of wire with a shipping tag attached. I wish I had taken a photo.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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May 29, 2012 - 09:04am PT
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Bud (later "Ivan") Couch was someone we really looked up to during our initial forays up in Idyllwild. And man, did he look down (Bud was about 6' 4") on us, LOL.
JL
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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May 29, 2012 - 09:45am PT
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So much more needs to be written about Couch. He was one of
Higgins' friends and, of course, others, during those classic
Tahquitz days. I mention him a bit in Wizards, but he is one I
would love to do more with, an enigma, a mystery, a real talent....
Thanks Guido,
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Topic Author's Reply - May 30, 2012 - 07:31pm PT
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Tuolumne Meadows, the old Sierra Club campground era. Oh we were so lucky!
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Patrick Oliver
Boulder climber
Fruita, Colorado
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May 30, 2012 - 09:58pm PT
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Great stuff, Guido. The bong is an amazing thing. But
how much it says about Couch.
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neversummer
Trad climber
30 mins. from suicide USA
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May 31, 2012 - 07:27am PT
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Bump...I love the photo of Bud on the FA of Valhalla where he's drilling...
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eKat
Trad climber
BITD3
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May 31, 2012 - 07:31am PT
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Tuolumne Meadows, the old Sierra Club campground era. Oh we were so lucky!
NO KIDDING!
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