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Leroy
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 6, 2006 - 09:51am PT
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Rick Piggot, Tom Gibson ,Greg Cameron,Tom´s cousin George Manson.These were some of the first guys I met when I got to Yosemite.The same fallwe made a trip down to Woodson.Super Guys ,super climbers,Lets hear some stories,and above all ,lets see some pics.
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Leroy...you put me on the spot. I'm the only PMB that I know of who's posting to ST, and I've told most of my stories already elsewhere (the small percentage that I remember).
Here is one that comes to mind, though. Tom Gibson and I were still in high school when we made a Spring trip to the Valley. We were hiking up to Independence Pinnacle to do Steppin' Out when we ran into Mark Chapman, who was coming down from doing the Center Route. Mark casually asks us what we are going to do and we tell him. He takes one look at our rack (some hexes with perhaps one tube chock) and tells us that we shouldn't be doing that climb with our rack. We were certainly aware of who Mark was and were kind of excited to meet the famous Valley climber, but we continued to the base. We ended up sending the climb with little incident. I remember this as a coming of age incident of sorts.
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Leroy
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 7, 2006 - 08:54am PT
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I was hoping to lure Tom out.
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Watusi
Social climber
Joshua Tree, CA
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Wow!! I knew those guys well!! Cheers, Michael Paul
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Nihilismus
climber
Seattle
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Jun 20, 2006 - 05:25pm PT
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eee on kee
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 20, 2006 - 05:37pm PT
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EEE-YONK-EEE whoever you are.
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hashbro
Trad climber
Not in Southern California
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Jun 21, 2006 - 11:43am PT
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Thanks for posting this thread Leroy.
Though I am of the Orange County climber clan, these cool Poway folks were my close friends in the late 70's. We all attended Columbia College in the Sierra foothills to be near the Valley and get through college at the same time.
Tom and I did bunches of great routes together in the Valley and I joined the whole Poway clan for several backcountry ski trips, parties and shroom-fests. Grug, you know I had a giant crush on the very beautiful Joan Horner, an integral part of the clan. What ever happened to Joan and her brother. I heard that the super-cool George had sadly died climbing some years back.
Tom, remember High Pressure and what else did we do back then?
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 21, 2006 - 12:10pm PT
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Tom's a luddite - he goes out of his way not to use the internet (still climbing hard, however).
Sadly, the very charismatic George Manson died in 1980 on Denali. He, Alan Chase, and two others just never returned. At Clean Dan Grandusky's memorial in 2004, I was given a postcard written to Dan from my buddy Rob Rohn, dated June 1980. In it, Rob descibes he and me doing Astroman, the Rostrum, and the Crucifix over the two weeks that I was there. He ends it by cheerily adding that George and the others just left for Denali. That was probably my best two weeks of climbing ever. I had no idea, however, that the innocence and flavor of our group would never be the same.
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hashbro
Trad climber
Not in Southern California
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Jun 21, 2006 - 12:33pm PT
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Wow Grug, your post hit me just North of my belly. Powerful stuff!
Do you happen to have any images of the crew to share online?
Be well,
Spencer
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 21, 2006 - 03:02pm PT
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Hashbro. I don't have pics of the crew readily available. I just have to get together with Tom and get some of his and Clean Dan's pics digitized. As Leroy knows, I have been saying this for some time now. Just thinking about George - it would be nice to see some pics.
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matisse
Trad climber
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Jun 21, 2006 - 06:07pm PT
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Wow Grug, small world. I know Rob Rohn
I ski patrolled with him in Banff c. 1984.
(unless there are 2)
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 21, 2006 - 06:20pm PT
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Matisse. That's the same Rob all right. In the mid to late 1970s to 1981, he used to come out to the Valley every Spring with George Manson and a contingent of other climbers from the Buffalo/Toronto area. They would meet up with us Poway Mountain Boys and we would typically stay in the Valley until it got too hot and then cruise up to Tuolomne (um, anyone ever do this?). Sometimes we would then go to San Diego; other times we would head up to Squamish, or maybe the Bugaboos in Canada. Those were good times...at the time you think they'll last forever. Rob was an excellent climber...I did probably my best climbing with him.
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Jun 21, 2006 - 08:27pm PT
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Hi Grug. I don't know that you'd remember me, but I surely remember you from Poway. I was PHS, class of '76, so we overlapped by a bit. But my climbing friends and I all wished we could climb like you! Dave Hersey and I worked at the Poway Burger King together, and became good friends. About the time I said to myself, "I've got to take this guy climbing," he met you and took off for the Valley. After spending a lot of time on the rock with you and others, he came back a pretty bold leader. In fact, we climbed together for several years after that, and quite often his boldness scared the water out of me! I wasn't as into leading then (with all those zippering hexes, manky bolts, stoppers and PAs/EBs) as I am now, but what a difference that trip to the Valley made. Anyway, lots and lots of good memories from Poway, and the hard guys like you who paved the way for us aspiring newbies. Cheers!
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 22, 2006 - 09:54am PT
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Thanks Mooser. Dave Hersey was a piece of work. I was always kind of known among my peers for, uh, not having much of a rack. No problem most of the time, as I would typically just augment my partner's rack with my gear. But Dave had even less gear than me. When we went climbing together we'd have like 10 carabiners between us. Dave, who was a California state champion greco-roman wrestler, was pretty darn fearless, and got up to speed with climbing in short order. I'm surprised we lived through some of our exploits - particularly Dave.
The only picture of Poway Mountain Boys that I can come up with - a picture of my older brother Jim (right, one of the originals) and I with our Dad last year.
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Jun 22, 2006 - 11:03am PT
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Thanks for the reply, Grug. Wow! There ya are. Makes me wish I still had a scanner, since my multiple photos of Dave's and my exploits haven't been digitized. I've still got a picture of you and me and Dave when we were in his wedding: scary moments in tuxedos.
Yeah, Dave's a pretty dang bold guy. I was belaying him on that 10.c face/seam route just to the right of Double Cross in JT back in about '78 or so, and he got about 2/3 or the way up when his only piece (a lousy #1 or #2 wired stopper) popped. He stayed in that crimped position for what must have been 5 minutes (giving me a blow by blow: "I've got 45 more seconds left, Tom!!"..."OK, 15 seconds, Tom!!"). I ended up soloing up even with him on Double Cross, sinking in a big hex, and running the rope through the 'biner--that up to that point had been running through nothing between him and me--and then holding on for dear life while he launched off his precarious perch. Between my subsequent rope burns, and his seriously road-rashed butt, we escaped disaster. But I often felt like we were on the verge of something similar. Anyway...it's good to see a picture of you, and really fun to know you're still climbing strong. I can still remember you and your water polo guys--all wearing your letterman's jackets, sitting at your "place" on the quad! Cheers!
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 22, 2006 - 03:11pm PT
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Wasn't going to bump this, but I had to correct your observation about the water polo guys in the quad, Tom...I never owned a letterman's jacket. Not my style...
Anyhow, good to hear from you, Tom. Sounds like you're still climbing - always a good thing!
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Jun 22, 2006 - 04:45pm PT
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Sorry Grug! My bad. I guess all the green and grey around the quad blurred my vision (I now wear glasses)!
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Jun 22, 2006 - 10:32pm PT
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Grug, Watusi, and all Poway Mtn. Boys:
It has been really good these past few months to get up to speed on the the SM and PMBs. Filled in a lot of history that was happening all around me but I wasn't so aware.
Greg, I knew I've seen you up at Woodson so many years ago. You don't look different except for the greying hair. You have aged well.
Mike Paul, man you inspired me all those many years ago in the mid to late seventies. I witnessed some way wicked solos or just tieing directly into the rope with a few wraps with a bowline on a bite. After that I started doing the same to carry less gear while bouldering at Woodson. I recall a few of your exploits were done while smoking something . . . Damn you were good, you just danced up the rock, high or not.
It sure would be great to see something like what the SMs did recently up at JT happen down in Poway at Mt. Woodson, but only bigger. Another Stonemasters Great Western Bouldering Competition/Social Get-together should be done, just to get everyone together again. Those were very special years and really fun competitions. A time of innocence and glory. I miss the 70s and early 80s. It would really be great to get all the SM and PMBs together and those who were around at that time who recall those years.
Glenn Simpson
PHS Alumni, class of '80
Now living by SDSU
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 22, 2006 - 11:57pm PT
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Hey Klimmer,
where you been man?
we been yuckin' it up, bitchin' and moanin' and back to stories and photos and all manner of wacko fun out here in cyberspace...
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Jun 23, 2006 - 12:35am PT
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TB,
The end of the school year for teachers is always way crazy busy. Today, the day after the Summer Solstice, is my first day of summer vacation. Our district gets out late.
I'm heading to Mammoth/Bishop next week and going to finish out the Spring/Summer skiing, and climb, and fly my paraglider :-))
Play time finally . . .
Klimmer
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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Jun 23, 2006 - 08:41am PT
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Klimmer, I didn't realize you were a PHS alumnus (not that it matters). Let's see, 1980,...my brother Mark would have graduated around then. He's one of 7 brothers and 3 sisters that all graduated from PHS. I'd be up for some kind of Woodson get together - maybe not so much a bouldering competition, but something.
Since this thread is still alive, think I'll throw in a bit more history. The PMB started off as a climbing club at PHS. Gary Hepler, long-time science teacher and a great guy, started it in 1970 at the prompting of Dave Goeddel and Denny Adams, who had recently graduated. The first members were (with their "Duke" numbers, where I remember): Dave Goeddel (Duke #1), Dan Heiser (Duke #Big), Denny Adams, Bruce Adams (Duke #5.10), Jim Cameron (Duke #4.0), Rick Piggot (Duke #5.11), me (Duke #Grug), Colin Piggot, and Kinley Adams.
By 1973, the older members had all graduated from PHS, leaving Colin, Kinley, and I. Colin and Kinley by that time got into other things, but Rick was still very active. Enter Tom Gibson. We began climbing together that year, and in 1974, his cousin George from Toronto began coming out to Poway and climbing with us.
From 1974 on, the PMB were pretty much Rick, Tom, George, and I, although Bruce still climbed a lot (he was one of Tobin Sorenson's good friends). I started also climbing regularly with Dennis Sullivan, who was conferred the honor of "honorary Poway". Woodson, Tahquitz/Suicide, and Yosemite were our main haunts.
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Nihilismus
climber
Seattle
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Jun 23, 2006 - 04:26pm PT
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Hey I'm Travis, Kinleys son. I vaugely remember the reuinion in the meadows when I was a kid. Anyway my dads doing well, still lives in the California foothills and is just did 11b. Bruce is in Bend OR. I'm in Seattle learning the mysteries of cascade choss. Anyway drop me an email for further info.
-Travis Adams
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Jun 23, 2006 - 07:13pm PT
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Grug,
The PMBs history is really good stuff.
By the time I got to PHS '76/'77 I was already climbing, however, I remember spending a lot of time in the library on my own time going through the mountaineering section. Amazingly, PHS had quite the collection. I remember reading Chris Jones's anthology on climbing history for North America and looking out the windows above the book stacks and seeing the sweeping West ridge of Mt. Woodson descending toward Poway Lake where we would often run cross country. I would often sit there reading and dreaming while looking up at Woodson. What other HS had such a collection of climbing books? Must of been the influence of the PMBs and a few PHS staff members who climbed who made that happen. I would check out all those books over, and over again.
Mr. Wrightmer (sp?) a Calculas teacher and also my spring board diving coach on the swim team, and coach Torreto (sp?) were into climbing when I was there. Mr. Wrightmer told us about the time he got pulled over in his Porsche 911 with climbing gear in the back and a block of broken chalk wrapped in the paper lying there opened and the CHP thought he had found evidence of cocaine! Wrightmer was a blast. I didn't have him for Calculas (didn't take it until college) but as a coach he was very good and wickedly funny. I recall a very important equation he taught all of us guys on the diving team to show to the girls/woman, I'll never forget it:
RU
--------
18 Q T (Pi)
PHS was a great HS. We were able to do sooo many things then, unlike today at most HS. I took an all in one advanced swimming, life saving, and advanced open water SCUBA certification course as a Sophmore at PHS, taught by the "Diving Locker" out of Escondido. PHS had a very active Ski Club. And my closest climbing partners Tim Umstead, and Perry VanVolkinburg were also fellow PH students. At one time we were all on the swim team together.
Good times for sure.
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gonamok
Trad climber
poway, ca
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I have lived in poway since 82 and spent alot of time on that hill when there was a lot of good local talent climbing there - michael paul (watusi) was resident crack master, bob van belle, greg epperson, rick allenby and dozens of other good sd climbers who were like the next generation to follow the poway mountyain boys on woodson.
I gotta say that the mountain boys cleaned up on the plum lines and did some way good climbs that remain test pieces (put up 30+ years ago in EB's!). One constant was Rick Piggot, who was
probably the best climber on the hill until he moved to tahoe - that saying alot too.
Hats off to the poway mountain boys - the original San Diego hardmen! Your legacy is secure and your accomplishments speak for themself.
Peace, Ron Amick
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gonamok
Trad climber
poway, ca
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You mentioned Al Chase, who died on Denali, and it brought back memories of my first trip to the valley. Me and Michael Paul stayed for a couple weeks in the summer of 76 or 77 and met up with Al. We were drinking beers outside degnans one afternoon when we decided to do serenity crack. We ran back to camp grabbed our stuff and hopped a tram then prectically ran to the base. Alan was barefoot the whole time, and when we got there realized he didnt bring his shoes. Long story short, Al climbed the whole thing barefoot without falling. He even chalked his feet before the crux thin section. I have the summit photo of 3 very young climbers grinning ear to ear with thumbs up.
Al left the valley the next day to start getting ready for his upcoming trip to Denali...
Rest in peace bud, we havent forgot ya.
Ron
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Grug
Trad climber
Golden, Colorado
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gonamok - if you can, I'd really appreciate your posting of that picture of the three of you on top of Serenity crack. Al was one of my main climbing partners in the Valley for 2 - 3 years. I don't have a single picture of him.
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Tui
Boulder climber
SD
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Nov 12, 2007 - 10:52pm PT
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Bump for the PMB's and Mt. Woodson
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Nov 12, 2007 - 11:56pm PT
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Yeah Bump from me as well! Hey Ron! Cool to see ya posting and talking of Al sure brought up some cool memories!
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Nov 13, 2007 - 07:57am PT
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Hey Tui, I assume that SD doesn't stand for South Dakota. You should come to one of the Front Range gatherings we have from time to time - they're announced here and happen maybe every three months or so.
gonamuk and Watusi - if either of you have pictures of Al - or in your case Mike, Al or George, could you please post them? I loved those guys and have no pictures of them.
btw - Where are you Leroy? You haven't posted since early May. Hope all is well!
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Leroy
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 15, 2007 - 09:50am PT
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Im around
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Levy
Big Wall climber
So Cal
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Nov 15, 2007 - 10:17am PT
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Quite a history of notable climbs & climbers in them there Poway crew. Here's a few fron the Woodson climbing day & that evenings after-party held at Salad's home. Good fun for all!
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Nov 15, 2007 - 11:17am PT
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Glad to hear you're around, Leroy.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Nov 15, 2007 - 11:27am PT
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Nice to see the PMBs (aka Poway Mountaineers) thread bumped from the past. Haven't been up to Woodson since the fires. I would like to get up there and have a look around. Seen some of the images posted though.
I know I have promised, and I'm still gonna do it some time. For all the Adam's Family (PMBs/Poway Mountaineers) I will eventually print some historic B&W images of George Tabler (neighbor to the Adam's Family, da-da-da-duhm) bouldering on Woodson with me from the 70s. I just have to make time in our school photo lab.
I'm sure you would like to know that George did at least climb a few times with me up there. It was hard to convince him to go, but eventually he did, and I think he had a great time. George was way into indoor Power Volleyball at the time. I played lots of that with him. I sure miss George and all the other usual suspects from my church youth group in Poway. Great memories.
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Nov 16, 2007 - 03:15pm PT
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I would like to make a motion to remove Bruce Adams from the Poway Mountaineers and replace him with the much better and improved Colorado Bruce Adams. Any nays?
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scuffy b
climber
The deck above the 5
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Nov 16, 2007 - 04:42pm PT
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Phantom X,
before you can get yeas and nays, that motion must be seconded.
I don't know if people are even ready to consider the question.
Have you crushed eeyonkee in any adjustable cracks?
Find a hat for me?
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Nov 16, 2007 - 07:42pm PT
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I second this excellent motion. As of now it looks to be a shutout and a landslide. Scuffy, I suspect you were banished from hatdom by your own clan and most likely there is something you wish to get off your shoulders. As for Grug, thanks for reminding me, he's in Brazil climbing their Matterhorn and absentee voted yea, that makes three.
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Going through some old photos/slides at my Dad's.
Bruce Adams, (Brunosafari) on the Nose, 1972.
Jim Cameron, on top of the Nose, 1972.
The boulders in the Cameron back yard.
Mt Woodson from the Cameron house.
Phantom X. I'm good with it.
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Greg,
Nice shot of the prophet, Bruce A., on the Nose 35 years ago! That must have been quite the adventure, the three of you being so young. How old were you, 17?
Thought I’d post again this little vignette from the Stonemaster Stories thread featuring Bruce. It belongs here, also, in the PMB thread and maybe some of the recent contributors to this thread haven’t seen it.
Tuolumne meadows, midsummer, perfect day, group of us sitting at the picnic tables outside of the store. On the table is a box of peaches provided by Bruce, who just arrived from San Diego. Seems that on the drive up, it was harvest time in the groves bordering the road and the group in the car noticed some boxes of freshly picked peaches, unattended. This was too much temptation and several boxes were “nicked,” as the resident C4 Brits would have put it at the time.
We dig into the peaches and they are outstanding. Life is good: central valley peaches and summer in Tuolumne. Just then, a car pulls into the parking space next to our table and who should get out, but a group of nuns in full habit. We can’t think of much to say to a covey of nuns, except for Bruce, who stands up and addresses the Mother Superior. Bruce is exceedingly courteous and friendly, as if he were a maitre’d at a fine restaurant. By all appearances, he has been waiting for this opportunity to welcome the nuns to the meadows:
“Good Afternoon Sister, I hope you had a pleasant drive.“
“Thank you very much, young man.”
“Lovely day isn’t it?”
“Yes, very beautiful and what a marvelous place this is!“
“Yes indeed, Sister; truly one of God’s finest creations. Would you like a peach?”
“Oh, no, thank you, we couldn’t.“
“Are you sure? They are wonderfully ripe and delicious. And we have lots of them.”
“Well, if you insist. Thank you so much. “
Bruce hands one out to each of the nuns with a flourish, and pretty soon, the nuns are holding up their end of the conversation well, remarking on how ripe, juicy and delicious the peaches are. After a little while, however, this vein is exhausted and an awkward silence arises, but plucky Mother Superior fills the void:
“Where did you get these lovely peaches?“
We all turn to see how Bruce will handle this, but he is unflappable. I can picture to this day the angelic look on Bruce’s face as he looks Mother Superior in the eye, and says with a smile,
“We stole them, Sister.”
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Nice story, Rick! Sounds just like Bruce. Turns out, I wasn't on that 1972 (actually, it may have been '71) ascent of the Nose. The ascent certainly made a big impression on me, however. Here's another coupla' pictures of Bruce on the Nose.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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thank you Greg for the pictures! and all of you for the thread... somehow someone has to weave these tribal threads together into the tapestry story that describes climbing in the 70's and 80's.
wonderful stuff to look back on
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 10, 2007 - 10:38pm PT
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Heard a rumor of a new Poway thread...and found photos of my mug back when I had hair on my head instead of in my ears! Thanks Grug--I have lots of photos of course and really will put some out... one day.
Your brother Jim made those particular shots on the Salathe in '73 rather than the Nose in '72. Thought I would add a little memory form that ascent:
Somewhere on the lower route, near the "half dollar," the climbing reminded me so much of Tahquitz, I decided to try and free a whole pitch, wanting to go faster. As I moved upward, the holds got dicier and dicier and I began to drip sweat in the broiling sun rays. I spotted what looked to be a jug about twenty feet higher sensed a moment of victorious glory ahead, went all out, too sketched to place any gear. Finally I was within firing range of the "jughold" and launched for it, in full dyno mode. Boy was I optimistic back in those days! The jug was actually a smooth sloper, and I shot downward about sixty feet. While falling, the climbing rope snagged a jagged piton remnant. I first saw miles of slackened rope in the air. and then the rope seemed to actually explode into a broad shower of fibers. I had the sick feelling that "I'd dooded a 'no no'" but finally came to a stop without any injuries. The sheath was demolished and innards were exposed for twenty feet of its length and one of the three inner strands had been completely severed. I was thoroughly ashamed for compromising our success. We switched over to using the very ancient haul line as our climbing rope gambling that our now, shortened haul line would be long enough to reach the belay stations. I went back and led the pitch free, just trying to save face, and this time was careful to doctor the jagged lost arrow stub with my trusty hickory-handled Yosemite hammer which I still have.
But the over-all mental experience of that climb was the feeling of respect for the first ones, Robbins, Pratt and Frost, I believe, and the perfection of the route (with the exception of the Block pitch).
*
Grug, I feel bad for not schooling you more in the early days of the Poway Klimbers. For me it started officially in 1966, at age 11 when I saw the Disney flick, "Third Man on the Mountain," after school in the Meadowbrook cafeteria. (Some of you Supertopoans might be amused that Grug, by the way, was later selected to deliver the graduation speech at Meadowbrook school and he did an inspirational job!) Anyway, after the movie was over, I was so stunned, I read all the credits scrolling by and noticed the movie was based on the book called "Banner in the Sky," by James Ramsey Ullman. The next day I found the book in the library and other climbing books too.
I enlisted my brothers Kinley and Brian as partners. We stole our dog's long tether and attatched it to a tent stake we would drive into dirt at the top of the more impressive roadcuts on the hillsides, and batman up and down, again and again. My older brother Dennis got in on the action and we began to climb boulders too, the actual rocks, not the rope. Sometimes the rope would break. About that time ('66,'67), Dennis met Dave Goeddel at HIgh School.
Dave seemed to us like a miracle of sorts. His father was in the Sierra Club and so Dave by this time had already been introduced to real climbing and owned iron pitons, steel carabiners, a goldline rope, webbing, klettershuhs, knickers...he had it all, and he could friction right up the angled handball court walls in perfect balance. HIs Dad had all the literary classics which we read, even memorizing certain lines and all the big names like Hintertoisser and Lachanel. It was Dennis and Dave who began callling themselves the Poway Mountaineers. Because I was in Middle School still, my climbing partners (which included Tim stelling and Frank Green) and I were considered "JV's." When Grug started climbing , we identified he and Kinley as the "Freshman Poway Mountaineers." Other high school students joined in the trips to Mission Gorge, Mt. Baldy, and early forays to Tahquitz and the Sierras, which seemed to always generate amazing epics, long repeated falls, and bloody messes. The Poway Mountaineers, would try almost anything, like repeated blizzard attempts at the East Face of Whitney in January, even though at that time we could barely climb 5.8 at Tahquitz. Still we got up some good stuff and we always climbed with some style. If anybody took a fall less than twenty feet they were a "Wuss." If anyboody got offroute, they were a "Stupid Turkey." The worst thing you could be called was a "Moron." Those were the main words we always used. Redemption could only be gained by some great and daring feat. That is how I managed to climb the Open Book at age 13, running out the second pitch. I had to prove that a JV could climb. At age twelve I had announced my intention to climb the Nose. It was an announcement met with eternal ridicule and laughter, but turned out well for me.
Every epic seemed to lead to one which was even worse, yet amazingly, nobody died. Other early Poway climbers were Dan McClung, Nate Smith, Steve Faupel. Later Mike Wise and Big Rog were part of the group. So at that point, Hepler had nothing to do with it. But later, '69, we started the high school club with Hep as the faculty advisor. It allowed us to sponsor a school dance which in turn allowed us to buy some ropes and chrome moly pitons. After Dave and his endless hysterical charisma went to college, we gave ourselves Duke numbers in honor of Dan Heiser, The Big Duke Himself, Duke #Big.
Big Duke, at 6'5" and solid, was not as Big as Big Rog, who was 6'7',' but he was way more fun and had a '62 Ford van filled with every kind of sports equipment there is, like hockey sticks, scuba masks and squash rackets. In the van, we played Poway basketball. The Big Duke was an athlete in many sports, but couldn't climb so well because he was just starting. He idolized us for our climbing ability, drove us everywhere, protected us when we mouthed off to strangers, but was the kindest person on earth and told me spicey stories of his college dates. Dave met him at UC San Diego, where they were studying chemistry. (Dave would later become a world famous geneticist.) Big Duke went straight out and bought a ton of climbing gear and then would shamelessly toss it in the dirt and rub it in with his feet, saying he wanted to make it look like he was experienced. Big Duke was the most lovable climber ever! On a trip to Yosemite, he even once put a wine bottle on a prominent table at Camp Four with a ribbon on it and a note addressed to Royal Robbins saying something like: "with love, from the Big Duke!"
Once we were driving to Yosemite and I was shotgun in Big Duke's van. At a stop light a guy in the car ahead pulled out a big pistol and pointed it at the Big Duke with an intimidating stare. Big Duke reached under his seat and pulled out a very large butcher knife, held it up threateningly and showed his teeth!
Sorry to get wordy, but I am holding back and also I'm still groovin' on Klimmer's good attitude! Don't worry about the Phantom X--my brother Kinley--he is still proud of himself for having helped to confuse Pat Ament on an earlier thread.
Bruce Adams
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Dec 10, 2007 - 10:44pm PT
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great pics Greg - so,
boulders in the back yard
I see...
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 10, 2007 - 10:52pm PT
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That's right Raydog--and he and Jim could do some awesome finertip mantles on 'em. Their Mom could serve them kool -aid between problems.
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 13, 2007 - 10:51pm PT
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Thank you Rick A. for your despicable behavior story. There are moments in a siblings life when pride overwelms him and this certainly is one of them. So counting the Pope, Ed Hartouni, Raydog, Pat Ament, Raydog, Klimmer, Raydog, and Grug's seven votes it's something like sixteen votes in favor of dispatching the Nun ravisher. Oh, I forgot to count Salad's daughter and all the dogs on the German sheaperd thread. Merry Christmas Brunosafari! Good picture's Grug. We had an inspiring view of Woodson's mighty south face from our house. Our boulders were a half mile away. We also trained with a teatherball and swingset. Did everyone get a load of that Brunosarari guy's beard?! It's a strap on! He claim's it makes him write like literary master! And now folks how about some more energetic responses?
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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Dec 14, 2007 - 12:29am PT
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RE:
"sixteen votes in favor of dispatching the Nun ravisher."
uh yeah, you...got my vote - I guess (?)
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 12:59am PT
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I would like to thank you too Rick. Thanks to you I now live in fear of Dominican retribution. My own people have turned on me and now I am being publicly disgraced, as you can see. Same kind of thing happened to John the Baptist. Cursed Romans!
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 14, 2007 - 01:05am PT
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John the Babtist did not eat peaches.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 01:18am PT
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Essene scrolls recently deciphered from the Dead Sea region of Palestine reveal peach juice drippings mixed with honey and oil of locusts.
BA
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 14, 2007 - 01:29am PT
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Well, I stand corrected. I suppose these scrolls also contain the exploding cigar trick.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 01:41am PT
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Perhaps now would be a fine time to light up a stogie and recount your memory of climbing the North Buttress of Middle Cat when you and Grug were both only three and a half years old...
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 14, 2007 - 02:08am PT
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There we were, it was toddlers against nature and I guess you know who BOOM!!! Hey B.A., speaking of being disgraced by your own people did you read Grugs omittance of my glorious climbing during 1973/74? As if our Easter Yosemite trip and Lone Pine Peak and countless other trips never happened. I can see him now, wanting to scream at me and call me names because he wasn't invited. Know why everybody? Here's why. On second thought I won't tell you. And why won't his brother publicly disgrace him? Are they not speaking? Lazy maybe? But I need no published glory. You know how it is, a guy like me. Aaaaaaaawshucks.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 02:20am PT
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So far that is a pretty good start. What were you thinking when you buckled into your crampons on the third pitch?
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 14, 2007 - 02:30am PT
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I was wishing I had listened to Mom and had gotten a size larger so I could grow into them.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 02:36am PT
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Alot of people don't realize what an amazing alpinist Mom really was, as if it didn't matter that you were born on the Ambruzzi Ridge during an early monsoon white out.
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 14, 2007 - 02:45am PT
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Alot of people don't realize what a good midwife were you on that memorial night.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 03:04am PT
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It was worth it to give you a spankin'.
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Dec 14, 2007 - 09:55am PT
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Thanks for the history lesson Bruce. Between Jim and I, we've got the collective memory of a 90-year-old alzheimer's patient. I'm sure Leroy, who started this thread, pretty much just thought of Rick, Tom, George and I as the Poway Mountain Boys. But that, of course, just scratches the surface. I can't even remember when the term PMB even started as opposed to just the Poway Mountaineers. Come to think of it, can't remember yesterday all that clearly.
I wish I still had boulders in my back yard. I've got that picture of the old neighborhood with Woodson in the background as my Windows background.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Dec 14, 2007 - 10:09am PT
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The boulders in the backyard right behind the swingset: too cool.
I know you still climb Greg, but do you cut loose and bail out of the swings for big air every now and again?
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Dec 14, 2007 - 10:20am PT
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I have been getting some big air as of late. No swing sets needed.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 10:41am PT
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Alright Grug! Phantom mentioned you had taken a long fall but was unhurt. I've been anxiously waiting for the FR (falling report) ever since.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 14, 2007 - 11:48am PT
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Triple EEE-ONK-EEE Grug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I just read that thread. Had to go the basement and dip into my winter heroin-laced-with-Jim Beam stash in order to settle my nerves. Are you having nightmares? Been climbing since? How's the lower back and forearm? I HATE loose rock and will remember to bring my Chouinard crow bar if I ever go to the Black. Were you wearing a helmet? Is that why you decided to fall head first?
You should take a vacation and come to Central Oregon. We will give you cookies and milk. Big Hug Buddy! Duke #30
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 14, 2007 - 02:10pm PT
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Pass the heroin laced Jim Beam please. If there's any left. That gives me the hee-mee jee-meeze too. Hey your pretty durable. Grug, a young friend of mine asks me "Is that guy your age?!" Creeeeeepy!!
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Rick A
climber
Boulder, Colorado
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Dec 15, 2007 - 11:32am PT
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PX- Glad to be of service. I should mention that Bruce pre-approved using his name in that story, so he doth protest too much.
Bruce- I don’t think you’re cursed or disgraced for the encounter with the nuns; I sensed they enjoyed it, too. For everything there is a season, even a time for flirtation with nuns.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 15, 2007 - 01:19pm PT
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Phantom: It is indeed CREEPY to contemplate fifty-year old Cameron Allzeimer patients torpedoing down deep rocky canyons head first. I couldn't sleep- afraid one might land on me.
Rick... (sigh) leave it to a lawyer to finesse your way out of that one. Come to my defense!!! Challenge Phantom X to a Rosary Bead contest. Don't let Grug crash the contest--he's got hidden skills.
Yes, I know... I need to go to Woodson and solo "Mother Superior" for my pennance. Can I have a spotter, a non Catholic one preferably?
Listen up chumps: What took place with the peaches is between the nuns and I. It was good for them.
And it was good for me!
Bruno
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eeyonkee
Trad climber
Golden, CO
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Dec 15, 2007 - 01:36pm PT
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I'll accept DUMB but not CREEPY.
Probably give Sistine Reality another go in the spring - maybe with Leonatd Coyne. By that time, I will have forgotten about the whole nasty incident. See, there's an upside to this whole (lack of) memory thing.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 15, 2007 - 01:55pm PT
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That's the thing about creepieness. It is a form of terror.
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 15, 2007 - 03:01pm PT
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And the reverse can also be said, that terror is a form of creepieness.(I have no writers beard) What does Grug know? He doesn't even have a yeller streak up his back! He's a mutant! Leave this to the experts.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
Redmond, OR
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Dec 15, 2007 - 08:12pm PT
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Phantom X: I just read the Chris Mac annual report and we're in trouble!
Anyway, maybe I can conclude this last bit by saying Viva Greg Cameron, one of the best all-around rockclimbers and greatest guys I have ever known, much less have had the privilege to climb with, as can say Phantom X, who taught Greg everything.
BA
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Dec 15, 2007 - 09:20pm PT
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I honestly can't accept any credit for learnin him anything. He however taught me a song. It's called "Hail, Hail, O'Cameron". He would make me sing it whenever I made him haul me up difficult terrain.
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scuffy b
climber
just below the San Andreas
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This is what I was talking about, DR.
sm, the quasi-Buffer
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Jun 24, 2012 - 11:07am PT
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Bump for a great thread.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Jun 24, 2012 - 12:42pm PT
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What a great thread to see resurrected. Did not see it first time around. I have a couple of choice PMB nuggets to contribute. My favorite involves a encounter with the Canadian Contingent and some of the Poway crew as Watusi and I, n00bs to the bone, were preparing to go do the East Butt of Middle....I'll post up when I'm ready to take a break from packing.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 24, 2012 - 05:09pm PT
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Lawd knows we can always use a good story BVB!
Prep that sucker for launch baby. The ramps are greased ...
 Then there was the Lake Perris area analog to the PMB, namely the BRB (Big Rock Boys).
Not my place to hold forth on that group: DIMES could line us out on 'em though.
(Prolly' no mention of the BRB in thread below, no doubt a Kevin Powell-ism, referring to himself, his brother and others unknown to me).
Big Rock: a little history (another delightful historical thread, in which the mythical Roy Naaz made a recent contribution)
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=373143&msg=373143#msg373143
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Phantom X
Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
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Jun 24, 2012 - 08:05pm PT
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Big Rock can hardly compare with the Poway range. At least that is what Steve House told me.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 24, 2012 - 08:18pm PT
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And he wud' know! As would've Rebuffat.
Only similarity I'm cuing off is the acronyms.
And for yucks (but you knew that Mr X).
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Trashman
Trad climber
SLC
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Apr 16, 2019 - 02:21pm PT
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Wow, history!!
But clicking on those links to photos is hard, where are my spectacles!!
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