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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 26, 2006 - 06:21pm PT
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Yes, that was our bunch, but I don't remember a keg in the tent, so maybe I was off doing something else that week. Some of our crew were definately the Jack Ass staff, back before Jack Asses made millions doing stupid things on MTV.
"surfing" in on the JT road on top of the station wagon was one of the stunts that was not tolerated well by Ranger Jan, as he passed by in the opposite direction on patrol..
I think it was Yabo that made the first dare, and it became a regular part of the drive in.
"Racing" to the car from Taquitz was another stupid game that occasionally ended up with a broken bone. Amazing some of us lived through those days, and that was OFF the rocks.
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Largo
Sport climber
Venice, Ca
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Jun 26, 2006 - 06:40pm PT
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One of the amazing thing about the Uplanders is that they were actually pretty good climbers. And the group ascents were hilarious. I heard about one in which Keith and company bagged the Chouinard Herbert on Sentinel, with like twelve climbers, and that someone topped out while others were jugging fixed lines some ten pitches below. Ropes pretty well strung over the entire mo fo. Now thatīs pretty hilarious.
JL
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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 26, 2006 - 06:57pm PT
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Yeah, we all lied to our parents and told them we were each spending the night at one anothers places, and then loaded the station wagon and hauled ass WITH ONLY LEARNERS PERMITS!!!
Left Friday afternoon, home Sunday night!
We cooked on a Coleman camp stove (white gas no less!)in the back seat while driving 100 MPH up the 395. We took turns riding in the way-back facing backwards with binoculars watching for cops.
Rhoades scholars we were.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 26, 2006 - 07:37pm PT
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Ed Kaufer recently emailed me as a result of our profile here on the forum.
Uplander: you would be?
I can't remember all the names, but you might be the nice guy who hiked up to the top of El Cap, when Ed and I topped out on the Nose? A name like, Keesey?
Or you could be Joanna's brother?
Cheers,
Roy
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Ouch!
climber
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Jun 26, 2006 - 07:41pm PT
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"Actually, I should like for Ouch to comment on my perception in this regard since he was in a position to witness the 70s from both sides, so to speak. Many of the pics you post of your military years and the first years of your marriage suggest to me that you were a young adult in the early 1950s, a time when many of us were just getting born. Ouch, do you agree with my assessment that the 70s were a transition period between two very radically different sets of societal values and norms? I believe that when you came of age, the societal values were very similar to what was the norm for the 40s and also that these same values/norms persisted that time persisted for almost another 20 years or so. Then, it would seem, everything dramatically changed. Here-to-fore it had been perhaps slowly evolving but now suddenly there were radical changes coming about esp in terms of the people who were young adults at that time. Does it seem that way to you?"
Well said, Lois. Sorry I missed your post.
Things pretty much remained tame from the 30s thru the early 50s with respect to societal values. Some of the seeds were sown during the war when so many grew up without a father at home. This caused many to become more mature and responsible and loosened the reins on others.
Then the entertainment media began pushing the envelope. During the early 50s, the word pregnant was not allowed on TV. Then the Civil Rights movement began to heat up and a little later, Bob Dylan put a million kids on the road. Along comes Vietnam and the Flower Children and the lid blew off.
People began to think of themselves as more independent thinkers
while at the same time, looking to Hollywood to show us how to live. A bit of a paradox, I guess. Hollywood showed in movies and on TV what we had been sneaking around doing since Plato.
I personally believe some things are better left unsaid and unseen. I know sh#t smells bad and don't need to have my nose rubbed in it.
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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 26, 2006 - 08:06pm PT
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No, I believe it was Mike Keeney who met you guys on top. He WAS/IS a very nice guy, and I have not seen him in years. Kaufer maybe ten years ago or so...
Joanne's brother Pete and I still see each other. We made a trip to Alaska last september. Her other brother Chuck also works here with Keith and myself. Chuck is the one who rolled his truck driving out of Josh one late night. He and Ed Kaufer were room mates in college. For being the Jack Asses of Joshua Tree, most of us turned out okay professionally.
I was the tallest guy in the group. 6'7", so that may spur a memory. I was never as good as some of the other guys, so I spent a lot of time hauling gear and "offering advice".
My adventures are in Africa these days. Haven't roped up in years.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 26, 2006 - 08:13pm PT
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Wow Cool!
Not sure of your name or getting a mental image just yet Uplander; although a super tall guy kind of rings a bell.
hmm, blond hair, glasses?
It was really nice to hear from Ed after many years.
Please give my best to Pete and Joanne.
...and a big sloppy wet kiss to Kieth!
-Roy
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Jun 26, 2006 - 10:54pm PT
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bvb,
Yeah, the Little Imp could pull down on the thin holds couldn't he? But I always felt that his smack talking abilities far outweighed his crimping abilities. Whadda ya think?
BTW: I think (wait, strike that, I know...) that I hear a certain bouldering area in Riverside CA. calling your name.
San Deigo, Contenders, ... ??? Care to explain that? I must be missing something.
darryl, i just had the most delicious fried CHICKEN for dinner, ala the albertsons deli.
alas, now my fingers are to greasy to crank......
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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 27, 2006 - 12:42am PT
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Roy, good to hear from you ol buddy. Keith and Pete send their regards (I'm sure Joanne will as well, as soon as i can relay the message).
I found this old photo, care of Keith Cunning (He's on the left-shirtless), but for the life of us, we can't figure out who those other guys are,,,hahahaha...by the way, did john ALWAYS flex for a photo, or was it just a reaction to the flash???
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/Ngagi/UplandersKC-JL.jpg
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G_Gnome
Social climber
Tendonitis City
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Jun 27, 2006 - 11:36am PT
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Mo is the one in the middle.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 27, 2006 - 12:37pm PT
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Largo not flexing: that's the man at rest.
Mo, smug leader of the mobile harrasment unit, between exaltations.
Uplander photo courtesy Kieth Cunning, King of the Uplanders, well, Prince if you estimate Largo's influence as chaperon.
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
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Jun 27, 2006 - 05:34pm PT
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John Thacker (not Bachar) in the background. Great shot.
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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 28, 2006 - 12:09am PT
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I guess saracsm is filtered on this forum. We know these guys...the test was whether anybody else did.
Gawd dang this place makes me feel old. Good thing I still hang around with punks.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 28, 2006 - 12:18am PT
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Nope, no sarcasm here.
We're just a bunch of sweet 'ole ladies at a knitting circle.
All my pals are mostly slow rolling stones;
Gathering moss, yet still kinda punky.
Did you lay a fat lusty kiss on Kieth fer me yet?
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Jun 28, 2006 - 12:34am PT
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I just re-read LEB's initial post and I have to set the record straight, I was not a Stonemaster, even though I am old enough and started climbing around the same time and even lived in the same area in SoCal that John Long did. I never committed myself to a life of climbing for various reasons, most of my adventure was in science.
The memory of making the choice is still very clear to me, though. My love of climbing at the time was really mountaineering rather than rock climbing. It still is to some extent. But to make a life mountaineering I felt would probably lead to early death. The attrition rates among mountaineers was rather high. The choice I made was based on calculated risk. And I decided that the risk was too high.
Anyway, I climbed mostly because I derived a great pleasure out of it as a sport. I never really got very good at it by the current standards. That isn't how I measure myself though.
The Stonemasters were just that: master climbers... I have a deep appreciation for their accomplishments in climbing. It is a wonderful thing about climbing that we can go out and attempt to climb anything. Often when we are out we run into the best climbers, especially if we are climbing in some of the best climbing areas, like Yosemite and Tuolumne. We climb at whatever level we are capable, on the very same climbs that were at the absolute upper limits of climbing in the past. I don't know many sports like that.
I hope to keep climbing for as long as possible.
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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 28, 2006 - 12:45am PT
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Randy,
Did you see the old poem I'd written about Yabo on one of the other Stonemaster posts (a day or two ago...my entire life on this site)? It is written in half pencil, and half ink, as the fricken lead broke off half way through, and I finished it with a pen I found under the seat of the Uplanders stationwagon.
The outside clear plastic part that had the BIC logo was gone, and sacrificed weeks before as a spit-wad barrel to shoot people bouldering (or doing something we felt was too easy to rope up for...probably innocent Sierra Club Members on their first climbing experience), so it was just the thin plastic rod with a ball point tip still attached to the end.
YOU happened to be there at the time......
Yabo and some of you guys had been in Josh for some time before we arrived that week. Like a Hyena on a fresh kill, he saw the old Country Squire Station Wagon roll into HV, as we started to unload the "Dooby Den"...our massive Sears tent, and our food, equipment etc...
We had the good sense to keep the ropes, racks and good stuff inside under lock and key in the hot rod. The ice chest which most likely contained a pint of Peppermint Schnaups, half a tray of ice cubes, a few eggs, a carton of milk, and a package of bacon. (most of which had been BORROWED from the Joshua Tree Circle K on the drive in.)
We set up the tent, fired up the party bowl and the stove with bacon sizzling....
And Yabo wanders in....
HEY GUYS!!!!!!!!!!! GLAD TO SEE YOU GUYS MADE IT!!! We're headed into the Wonderlands tomorrow, and we've got some SECRET SH#T going on! No lie, okay, so let's keep this quiet..."
Then, he points to the sky, and says, "HOLY SH#T! It's Haleys Comet!!!!"
Like the bunch of wasted high schoolers we were, We look up, and in a flash, half a pound of semi-cooked bacon is gone, and he looks at us like a chipmunk with a greasy smile....
That night as I sat by the light of the hissing Coleman lantern, with those little flying bugs popping on the mantles...I penned on the inside cover of the old Orange JTCG:
Yabo's a man who climbs rocks
He carries his home in a box
He walks up in bare feet
Asks for something to eat
And spits while he eats and he talks.....
Nobody ever wrote a f-ing poem about me. Probably not about you either. Though I think there was one written about Largo along the lines of: "there once was a man from Upland. He opened his mouth and put his foot up-in...or something along those lines.
I don't recall for some reason.
Anyway, those were some special times, and I guess deep down in my psyche, I must have known Yabo was not to last, but I must have also known enough, even at that time and age, that I needed to make a note......Lest we forget.
I'll dig through our crap and see if we can't ring up a few old memories.....
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 28, 2006 - 12:53am PT
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Go baby go.
We're all ears Uplander.
This site is big fun.
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Uplander
Social climber
Upland
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Jun 28, 2006 - 01:01am PT
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Roy-tard-buster, I told Keith you wanted me to lay a sloppy one on him, and he said he'd prefer you give it to him personally!
JL is supposed to be back in the states this weekend. Maybe we can get him, Mike L, and any of the other old guys together for dinner, huh? You know, a knitting party!
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 28, 2006 - 01:07am PT
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We can compare yarns!
I'm in.
I live in Colorado,
My folks are still out by Pasadena.
Once a year, winter, I'm there.
Vogel and I were not sure how to reach you guys when a big bash got put together recently.
Email me and we'll do it.
Nighty-Nite.
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Jun 28, 2006 - 10:11am PT
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Hey Ed,
That was pretty heartfelt stuff you just wrote.
Love is as love does I suppose.
A lot of us recognized the defining differences in risk between a life spent cragging vs alpinism.
'Glad you chose the former 'cause you substantially increased the odds of our current opportunity to enjoy your company.
On a lighter note, careful how you segregate the Stonemasters; upthread 50 posts and two threads left Largo pretty much gave me a Katsu for doing that!
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