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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Oct 25, 2013 - 02:10pm PT
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Mimi, we ARE here. Can't wait to see ya. Just heading out for errands will drop by the Community Center to see if I can collect hugs!
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Oct 25, 2013 - 05:59pm PT
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We are trickling in already; it's almost 3pm Friday. E. Beck, Lauria, Fitschen have just arrived at the Best Western Inn, me as well.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Oct 26, 2013 - 03:12am PT
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It was a seriously fantastic evening! No one should miss the next few days or next years Festival.
This evening went way beyond my expectations. The speakers and their movies were awesome. The question/answer time led to facts and stories I'd never heard before.
I have a new camera thanks to QITNL here on ST and I think I got some great pics. Will post when I have time.
Cheers to the Climbing Community. Love, Lynnie
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Oct 26, 2013 - 04:46am PT
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I believe this calls for a photo thread to accompany this.
So...
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Tim Camuti
Trad climber
CA
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Oct 26, 2013 - 11:27am PT
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It was like Reel Rock 1978 here- four great films all about climbing BY CLIMBERS. Thanks so much for making and sharing the films everyone!
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Oct 26, 2013 - 12:04pm PT
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I am super bummed but I am not going to make it...living up to my ST handle...We had too big a week of crazy intense work, and my partner injured her back pretty bad. I hung out this morning for a bit to see if she was moving any easier, but that is not the case and i need to stay home to help her.
i apologize sincerely to the awesome Steve Grossman for letting him down as a replacement speaker... and so sorry to not see my many friends at this incredible event.
I left Steve a voicemail, but please pass on this info in case he isn't checking his phone.
Have fun!
Peter
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Powder
Trad climber
the Flower Box
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Oct 28, 2013 - 02:32pm PT
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Thank you, Steve, Mimi, Ramona, and all who were helping and involved, for another wonderful year of event!
The stories, the legends... Absolutely amazing.
...will be back next year. : ]
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LongAgo
Trad climber
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Oct 28, 2013 - 06:45pm PT
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Steve, Mimi and Ramona:
Many thanks again for organizing the event. I so enjoyed meeting up with many old and a few young and close to home and far flung to share stories and pictures of the day.
A big thanks to Tom Frost on final panel for all his good work to get the historic designation for Camp 4. He is both a political hard driver and spiritual wise one. A key message from him to all loving Valley climbing: the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Keep an eye on the Park Service, keep in contact with them, stay visible and engaged. Historic designation may protect the campground from development but not other potential threats to freedom of the walls.
Thoughts for the future:
 Somehow get some women on the panels and more women in the audience.
Consider tiered pricing system: day pass, cheaper for under 30, more for us older farts with more bucks and willingness to pay.
Limit presentations to maximum of 20-30 minutes.
Consider a "flat world" panel to go with the many "vertical world" panels: how does work and family intersect with climbing?
Consider panel on free soloing, plus and minus perspectives.
Again, thanks to organizers, speakers, audience for giving it their all.
Tom Higgins
LongAgo
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Al_Smith
climber
San Francisco, CA
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Oct 28, 2013 - 07:30pm PT
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Tom,
Thanks for putting together such a well thought-out presentation and for sharing some of your experiences with us! I greatly enjoyed your talk!
...I only wish I would have asked you to tell the story of your roped-solo attempt of the Bachar Yerian (especially as Dave was in the crowd at that moment!)
Best, Al Smith
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LongAgo
Trad climber
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Oct 29, 2013 - 05:32pm PT
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Al,
Thanks for the thanks. I thought about including the jumar story but though I should limit my stupidity stories with the faulty swami at Stoney picture and my fall into the North Sea. But, I was prepared to answer about the jumar story if someone asked. The only upside: I finally got what I was doing was nuts.
Got to say I regret reading at the audience from my notes instead of walking and talking as I planned. I felt I needed to blast through as presentations were going long and we all were starving and ready for lunch. So I took the fast rather than more leisurely and engaging path. O well, at least none fainted from hunger!
Next day proved even a harder stomach test, turned out. As I suggested above, I think we need a pretty firm limit on talk time communicated to speakers ahead of time with even a reminder from the moderator (as per most conferences) and maybe even a more limited number of speakers. Of course, Alex should get the most latitude on time should he show up again!
Tom
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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Oct 29, 2013 - 10:20pm PT
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Like others, I want to thank Steve and Mimi for all of their hard work and dedication to getting such a fantastic program together! Meeting with old friends and making new connections is always such a great part of these gatherings! Special, and repeated, thanks to Tom Frost and Dick Duane for their persistent and successful efforts to save Camp 4. Thanks also to those who came from near and far to attend.
Another aspect of Tom Frost’s wisdom which he expressed in the Camp 4 panel is one that I often wish that some others on this forum would learn: He said that we have to realize that we can’t change other people, try to make them bad guys and us the good guys. All we can really do is to change ourselves, and in doing so, we seek to find a way to navigate a route through whatever obstacles that confront us.
Thank you also, Tom Higgins, for passing the results of our little Sunday morning brainstorm along to Steve and Mimi at the time and above on this forum.
Looking toward the future, some of my thoughts are these:
Steve and Mimi work too hard and don’t have enough time to socialize, to relax, or to just breathe deeply in the warm sunshine. I’d like to see other folks pick up some of the responsibilities for the event.
Themes/Speaker Panels:
Perhaps other people would be willing to step forward and do the preparations for various panels or presentations that address an aspect of climbing about which they are passionate.
For example, addressing the questions about how we can get more women and younger climbers to participate while also addressing issues in what Higgins referred to as the “Flat World’s effects on the “Vertical World and vice-versa, I was thinking that one circle or panel of discussion could be address the relationship issues that come up between climbers and their spouses. Perhaps such a circle would include 3-5 women who have/had a male climbing partner. But at least one man should be included who has/had a female partner who is/was the dominant climber. I asked Bonnie Kamps if she would be willing to participate in such a program, and she readily assented. Liz Robbins, the partner of Jim Erickson’s climbing partner in the Free Climb film, maybe Alex Honnold’s or other climbers’ partners could be engaged.
A separate group of issues, really, are the ones about children who grow up with one or both parents actively climbing. Some, like Valerie Mendenhall, adapt to and, to some degree, follow their parents’ pathways. Others may feel abandoned or had a parent die from climbing. It occurs to me that there are quite a few children of climbers living in the El Portal area, and that some of them or others farther abroad might be willing to address certain issues related to children or having children.
In our breakfast brainstorm, we also thought that the issues around Free-Soloing might be addressed. John Bachar’s son and Alex Honnold’s mother could be invited.
Having different people responsible for different portions of the event would probably help keep the event on schedule since responsibilities for timing could be more closely monitored by whoever had set up each of the themes.
I know Steve and Mimi are interested in addressing “Clean” climbing and its development next year, so that will be a major theme.
What other ideas for discussion do people wish to see addressed?
Several people said they’d be interested in serving food from the kitchen that’s available to us, so that we could eat on-site and continue to socialize or hear programs during meals.
For more pictures of the event, please go here:
http://www.yosemitecloseup.com/stories/yosemite-news/
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RHoward
Boulder climber
Oakdale
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Oct 30, 2013 - 12:51am PT
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BooDawg (AKA Ken),
Next year expect some bigger changes....now that we have gotten our feet wet and feel a bit more comfortable :)
Steve, Mimi and myself had a long discussion (which will continue for many months to come) on the new changes. More than likely we will do a BBQ outside so the kitchen won't interfere with the speakers, vendors outside and more. I also put a bug in a certain someones ear about doing a museum of sorts in the part of the hall we have not been using, I think everyone would really enjoy the stroll down memory lane. Anyway, help will be needed if we are going to go bigger and all help will be appreciated. Watch for our shout out on next years information.
R
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Roots
Mountain climber
SoCal
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Oct 30, 2013 - 01:42pm PT
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^All sound like great ideas up thread.
Soliciting for volunteers is a must!
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Oct 30, 2013 - 02:25pm PT
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It was a wonderful event! Mimi and Steve, your dedication and work are appreciated more than words can say. And each attendee made "The Gathering" that much more special.
Just got home from the Valley and a very beautiful early snow. (That's when a campfire is Much appreciated!) I'll post a couple pics on Mouse's Thread.
Edit: Roots! Thanks so much for coming up and introducing yourself. Love meeting those that comprise this campfire. Cheers, Lynne
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 30, 2013 - 04:53pm PT
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Thanks to everyone involved in this years Festival in any capacity.
Driving time is good thought time for me and I already have the theme for Festival 2014 fleshed out.
I was building a program around clean climbing history and hoping to get Joe Brown out to anchor the event which has proven to be unworkable because of health and travel issues as best I can gather.
I looked around the room and at my speakers roster this year and it was all men up there so next year will be all women!
The theme for 2014 will be: A Woman's Reach.
The theme borrows from the title of a delightful book written by Nea Morin and published in 1968. Nea climbed in the 1920s and 30s and included a historical survey of women's ascents of record in the Alps during her lifetime. More on her soon.
Thanks to all who who have contributed their time, thought and criticism to help make this event even better moving forward.
We hear you and appreciate the feedback and support.
We also intend to drop the admission fee and press our corporate sponsors to carry this event as we go international next year.
More news as this comes together early in 2014.
I have a nonprofit to attend to right now and the Frost book on its heels.
Mimi didn't change her name when we got married BTW. (edit)
Cheers,
Steve Grossman
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Oct 30, 2013 - 05:13pm PT
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We do know who Mimi is....hehehe! Thanks again to you both.
Imho, you might want to include men also next year or women might get bored :D
Balance is good. Peace and Joy, Lynnie
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Sport climber
moving thru
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Oct 30, 2013 - 11:07pm PT
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I wasn't thinking bored, Steve. I trust your judgement. Just thinking a mix of women and men speakers would be good. Cheers, Lynne
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 31, 2013 - 11:22am PT
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I had several women lined up to speak this year but things came up and they could not come out and join in the fun so we will tip the scales the other way next time.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 15, 2013 - 12:10pm PT
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We have the Community Center booked for next year so please put October 17-19 on your calendar for 2014!
A Woman's Reach will extend all across North America drawing in speakers from as many generations and disciplines as I can purposefully muster to come and share their experiences and adventures.
I will start a dedicated thread as I begin to gather commitments from the estimable women on my list of prospects.
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