Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 4, 2013 - 08:52pm PT
Today was Ron's 72nd birthday, so I went over to the Valley to meet him. The weather was perfect and the rock was dry.
We warmed up on Outer Limits and then he fired a perfect lead of Crack-a-Go-Go. Yeah, he's led it before. Yeah he knows the pro. But, yeah, that birthday number was 72. And when his foot skated off a smear he actually just laughed at it.
We went down to their house for some Pineapple Upside-down birthday cake afterward.
All in all a fine day. I may be able to post some photos later if the friend who took them emails them to me.
Well what ever, 72...27 dude sounds cool. My papa loves pineapple upside down cake and had it at his recent 85th bday party. Must have been the cake of the era.
I'm inspired that if RS can still climb so can I. Cheers and Happy Birthday. lynne
Andy: I don't know which climb that is, but I'll bet I've heard Ron's story about it. He's famous among a few of his partners for coming home from Britain and giving us the "move-by-move" about climbs we've never seen.
Patrick: Twain Harte is wonderful nowadays. I bet you'd recognize it in most ways. There's been a little more development. Most people are perhaps more broad-minded than when you lived here. But it's all still Twain Harte, a very nice place to make a home.
I'm going to call Ron this afternoon and ask for the blow by blow: "Deja Vu" in the Great Zawn, Cornwall. How old was he then?
I'll tell you Andy, I've always assumed that when I get to Britain all I will want to do is visit its great historic and cultural sites. But because of Ron's stories I know there's great climbing there, and I'm tempted to try just a few classics.
That's so cool Brad thanks. Ron is such a nice guy, impressed from the short chat I had with him a month back at the West Side. You aren't so bad yourself;-)
It's pretty cool that we can get a died-in-the-wool Yosemite Valley climber (who lives a ten minute drive from the Cookie Cliff) to the Pinnacles West Side now and then. Yes, Pinnacles.
A year ago we go him there and he led both pitches of Lava Falls. He thought it was one of the very best face climbs he'd ever done.
A year ago we go him there and he led both pitches of Lava Falls. He thought it was one of the very best face climbs he'd ever done.
Thats because it IS:-)
True about getting him to come to the Pinns. I admit I love the place but were I to live say near the Arch Rock entance to YOS, it would take a great friend to lure me to the Pinns.
I remember on my third El Cap route Zodiac, I was settled into my bivi early and was feeling worked. I watch Ron lead the third pitch of BUBS, like it was A1.
I was amazed at his skills and sat comfortable, watching and learning. That was 1983!
Its great to see him still loving the life, and pulling hard above gear.
That, serendipitous demo on Bad Sign, really influenced how I started to aid climb and was always an inspiration.
Very inspirational to climb such hard climb on 72nd Birthday.
And the great idea to pick up you favorite climb and climb it every year as your own birthday gift.
Happy Birthday Ron.
Great work, Ron. That's a stiff one with weird pro. Best of all is that you're healthy. We need heroes. Or I do anyhow, and you're mine for the moment.
Let us know!