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JohnRoe
Trad climber
State College, PA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 26, 2016 - 11:06am PT
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(For those who want to skip straight to the aid gear. see the end of the post...)
"This time it is not a curable disease" said the oncologist.
I've had a couple of go-rounds with cancer before (see here for the most recent one). This time, a stiff back after what should have been a light-duty hike got me first to some stretching, then the doctors' office, then MRI, and finally back to John's Hopkins oncology dept which I thought I had left behind two years back.
Liane and I had been planning to head to Yosemite the next month. A couple of days in the Ahwahnee were to be an early 30th anniversary celebration. (We got to know each other in Yosemite in 1985 and married a year later.) Fortunately the doctors were able to fit in some palliative radiation treatment before we were due to leave. "Take the trip", they all said.
The worst metastasis (so far) is in my spine, so hiking was painful. But with the aid of poles I was able to take a few hikes. Up by Mirror Lake we rested on a boulder. A passerby came up to us. "You two look so perfect together. May I take your picture?"
You have to understand that we wouldn't count ourselves a photogenic couple. We were a little surprised. But when the exact same thing happened later in the day - with a different passerby, this time in the Ahwahnee dining room - we had to acknowledge there was something unusual going on. Someone was making sure that we would have a memory of this time to hold on to.
I managed to make my way up some easy climbing too. Left leg and foot don't really obey orders any more, so I had to work out ways around. Almost a new game!
This guy took me on my first Yosemite climb in 2003 or so. Nobody I would rather hang out with on a ledge on the GPA and survey past and future
Which brings me to the wall gear. I haven't yet given up hope of using my free climbing rack again, but I'm pretty sure I will never be back on a big wall. I'd like to dispose of my gear - my chief concerns are to get the gear into the hands of someone who will enjoy using it, and to reduce the amount of stuff my family will have to deal with after I'm gone. So I'll gladly consider any reasonable offer. Please PM me if you'd like to make an offer on any of the gear listed at this link. We'll work something out.
You can reach me at johnxroe (at) gmail (dot) com
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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Jul 26, 2016 - 11:23am PT
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My God, I can't believe how calm and level your post is. Total respect.
What else can anyone here say? Good luck? The thing that comes to mind is may peace and love continue to be with you brother.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jul 26, 2016 - 11:43am PT
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some nice swag in that list! A big wall noob would be stoked to land on that treasure kit!
must...not...buy...more...toys... :)
Positive vibes your way!
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jul 26, 2016 - 11:52am PT
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Positive vibes your way!
Roger that!
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Jul 26, 2016 - 12:00pm PT
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That's a wonderful story of your Yosemite trip.
I think there is reason for everything, that there are no coincidence's.
I also believe there are angels working all around us. I also believe in miracles.
May peace be with you
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couchmaster
climber
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Jul 26, 2016 - 03:48pm PT
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Good on you for going where happiness will lead you. My best to you both as you face this thing down.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Jul 26, 2016 - 03:52pm PT
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This aches. I so vividly remember when you "rang the bell".
The picture at the Awhanee (or whatever the f*#k it's called now) captures so much.
My thoughts go out to you.
Susan
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Jul 26, 2016 - 07:15pm PT
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John
Say it isn't so. I still remember meeting you at the Boulder
Happy Hour. Talking about futbol.
Live well, John.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Jul 26, 2016 - 07:58pm PT
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Our years are short.
But our days can be long.
Peace
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Shetville , North of Los Angeles
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Jul 26, 2016 - 09:17pm PT
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John...Best of luck man...
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jgill
Boulder climber
The high prairie of southern Colorado
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Jul 26, 2016 - 09:17pm PT
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I am so sad to hear of this, John. Some of you may not know that apart from being a climber John is a famous mathematician, a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Jul 26, 2016 - 09:58pm PT
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Wishing you all the best, JohnRoe.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Jul 27, 2016 - 03:17pm PT
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*
Mr Roe,
I am so sorry to hear this bad news...
Wishing you and your Wife *much sweet time together.
Saludos..
Nita..
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Burnin' Oil
Trad climber
CA
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Jul 27, 2016 - 03:41pm PT
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Beautiful couple. Life sure is a mixed bag. Peace be with you and your wife.
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PaulC
Social climber
Traffic Jam Ledge
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Jul 27, 2016 - 04:18pm PT
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I shared a ledge with John and his partner while rapping at Seneca (edit: 2010?). I met a wonderful person & a strong and solid climber.
Short encounter: significant & positive impression.
More about John Roe, Ph.D.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Roe_(mathematician)
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Jul 27, 2016 - 04:22pm PT
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Very sorry to hear this John... I'm glad you got to enjoy some special time in Yosemite with your wife, keep up the good work and enjoy every day as much as you can!
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The Lisa
Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
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Jul 28, 2016 - 08:39am PT
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What a dignified and calm post - you are an inspiration, John. I am glad you two had a special trip to Yosemite and that strangers recognized it too.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Jul 28, 2016 - 12:05pm PT
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Wishing you peace and strength, John, peace and strength, though it is clear as day from your post that you have both in spades.
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Gary
Social climber
Where in the hell is Major Kong?
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Jul 28, 2016 - 12:34pm PT
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Hey, man. A friend developed a bad back in Nepal. He went to the doctor when he got back. Big time cancer, a tumor was wrapped around his back. He was a dead man, they said. That was about 16 years ago, he's out bagging desert peaks every month. I can almost keep up with him.
It ain't over til it's over. Best of luck.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Jul 28, 2016 - 04:18pm PT
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Life is short. We're here for a good time, not a long time. John's story could be any of ours tomorrow, so live today accordingly.
John - why don't you BRING your gear to the base of El Cap this September or October? I and my partners will get you up a few pitches and get you some portaledge bivys for sure. You'll get the full on big wall experience.
We'll get you up on the wall mate. PM me.
P.S. beers likely involved....
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JohnRoe
Trad climber
State College, PA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 29, 2016 - 07:05pm PT
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Thanks for all the encouragement, friends (both those I've met personally and those I know only over the internet). I've needed it and really appreciated it this week. I have a page on CaringBridge.org if anyone is interested in a pitch-by-pitch description of this particular route... PM me for invite.
Still hoping to pass some gear on too - there should be someone out there who is looking for a FISH ledge, for instance? (Tami, thanks for the suggestion of Peter Mayfields's camp... do you have contact info?)
Peace
JohnR
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jul 29, 2016 - 11:46pm PT
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Kick it's ass!
Cheers!
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PaulC
Social climber
Traffic Jam Ledge
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Bump.
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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On January 18th John seems to have downloaded classroom notes onto the AMS Mathematical Notes Site. But there is a cryptic comment on his web page about this being his last course at Penn.
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monolith
climber
state of being
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Just sign in to his caring bridge site. I used FB. No invite needed.
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Right, you just have to sign up and choose a password. His most recent post is Jan 29.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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It appears he’s in hospice. :(
Susan
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Hang in there, John - you're not alone.
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