What the hell is it with j tree and poodles??

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Messages 1 - 51 of total 51 in this topic
chefer

Trad climber
Altadena, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 11, 2017 - 10:55pm PT
I was climbing over at Hemingway a while back and looking at the guidebook I saw numerous climbs named after or relating to poodles! Is it some kinda inside joke I'm not in on? Or are the denizens of the desert just a strange bunch with a fixation of fluffy dogs?
crberg

Trad climber
Cave Creek, AZ
Apr 11, 2017 - 11:15pm PT
https://www.mountainproject.com/v/snakes-are-poodles-too/107997801like "Snakes are Poodles Too" here in north Phoenix?

chefer

Trad climber
Altadena, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Apr 11, 2017 - 11:26pm PT
Crberg, I assume that is a reference to "Poodles are people too", a classic 5.10 in josh. I just did a quick search on mountain project and it looks like there are 32 climbs in j tree with poodle in the name.
thebravecowboy

climber
The Good Places
Apr 11, 2017 - 11:37pm PT
it is almost like the climbs were named in a different era or something.


[Click to View YouTube Video]
John M

climber
Apr 11, 2017 - 11:44pm PT
Perhaps in response to Tami's Avalanche poodle cartoon?
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Apr 12, 2017 - 08:53am PT
those JTree FAers have very strange naming schemes... I think that at least one of the culprits posts to STForum on occasion...

but then again
Kind mit Pudeln
monolith

climber
state of being
Apr 12, 2017 - 09:05am PT
Poodle butt sniffing heaven.

Circle 2: begin rotation for max pleasure.
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Apr 12, 2017 - 09:21am PT
OK... so you guys don't know.....

Brief story.....

A older couple with very fat wife and a small poodle were camped in HVCG, the their Winnebago... Poodle was running around off-leash. Ranger stops by and chides them for the dog off-leash and explains about coyotes....

an hour or two later... about sundown, poodle is back running free...

Climbers, sittin at a close by table making dinner observe Mr. Coyote sneaking up towards Winnebago and Mr. Poodle seems to think its another dog looking to PLAY....they get closer and closer, then Mr. Coyote pounces on poodle, shaking it hard. Poodle gets out a few yelps then goes all limp and bloody and coyote runs towards the open desert with poodle in its jaws.... Fat Wife sees Fifi in the jaws with blood everywhere. She starts shrieking "Fifi Fifi Fifi...." hits the door of the RV and falls down in her haste to go and catch coyote who is now long gone.

The wife gets husband to go find the Rainger he comes over to RV and the wife is demanding that the Ranger go "Hunt down and Kill" the coyote.... you know thats not going to happen.

I can't recall who said it but later a climber remarked... "hey Poodles are People Too" and it was ON.......

This story would get hysterical laughter around campfires for years.

Now you know the rest of the story.
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 12, 2017 - 10:25am PT
Thanks Guyman
Stories like this make Supertopo worthwhile
Jon Beck

Trad climber
Oceanside
Apr 12, 2017 - 10:40am PT
Thanks Guy, first time I ever heard that story, classic JTree lore.
Cragar

climber
MSLA - MT
Apr 12, 2017 - 10:41am PT
..kinda surprised there aren't any dirty lil Frank references RE: the canine con pelo
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 12, 2017 - 11:31am PT
Tami you should put up a J Tree 1st ascent called "Poodles are Tranceivers Too"
Ward Trotter

Trad climber
Apr 12, 2017 - 11:33am PT
I have always blamed the JT "poodle paradox" on the nearby influence of Hollywood. Palm Springs, and Las Vegas.
To name just a few.
looking sketchy there...

Social climber
Lassitude 33
Apr 12, 2017 - 12:17pm PT
Guy's story is pretty funny. But, I am unsure that it is an "origin" story for the Poodle routes in Josh.

The original "Poodle" route in Josh was "Poodles Are People Too," a route established by Charles Cole and myself. At the time, Charles had a large "standard" poodle named Gus. Like most poodles, Gus was a clever dog, and Charles extolled Gus' cannily human-like intelligence.

The route name was really a tribute to Gus.

But, instead of being a "one-off" name, it started becoming an inside joke of sorts with a few of us. We would take the names of other established climbs (which sometimes seemed a bit pretentious to us), and "modify" them by substituting "poodle" in the name.

Scary Monsters became Scary Poodles. Tales of Power was transformed into Tales of Poodles (which was a funny pun too). The Atom Smasher turned into The Poodle Smasher. Knight In Shining Armor became Poodle In Shining Armor. Such A Savage now was Such A Poodle. Solosby to Poodlesby. It was very silly.

Soon, other climbers decided to use the poodle theme in their route names - and not just in Josh.
BigB

Trad climber
Red Rock
Apr 12, 2017 - 12:56pm PT
wat up blood
Curt

climber
Gold Canyon, AZ
Apr 12, 2017 - 01:02pm PT
IT'S JT.

NOT JTREE.

It's the Monument.

Curt
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
Apr 12, 2017 - 01:33pm PT
Sketchy..... I was not there that weekend. Bullwinkle told me the story of "Fifi" ..... Fifi the poodle.

Many others have repeated the same.

Sometimes the truth is buried in the long ago-- dim and distant-- past. But its a good story.

looking sketchy there...

Social climber
Lassitude 33
Apr 12, 2017 - 01:40pm PT
Guy, I like your story better! Whether embellished or not, still great.
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 12, 2017 - 02:24pm PT
Alex Lowe used to call it JTRee, good enough for me
I still refer to it as the Monument sometimes.
I wish it stayed that way (a bit lower on the tourist radar)
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 12, 2017 - 02:30pm PT


I've seen two other pooches get munched by coyotes in JT. Once from the top of the rock in Belle CG. The lady in the RV was letting her little dog run around. She paid us no heed when we warned her. Later, belaying at the top of Count Dracula, I watched the coyotes move in. I even yelled out to warn her but by then she was inside.

On another occasion Chelsea Griffie and I were walking out of Real Hidden Valley at dusk. The parking area was about empty but for an RV with some folks hanging out. We heard some thrashing around and then some final yelps from the bushes across from that easy highball where the trail starts. The folks with the RV heard it too, and as they were comprehending what had just happened we quickened our pace back to camp.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 12, 2017 - 02:33pm PT
I wish it stayed that way (a bit lower on the tourist radar

Yeah, I'm glad I climbed a lot in The Monument when I did. I prefer the great memories to the experience of going there now, although reserving a site in Indian Cove once in a while still has a pretty good return on investment...
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
Apr 13, 2017 - 06:11am PT
Coyotes get hungry too

And unfortunately MOST people are unaware of their surroundings when they camp and hike. So Guyman's story sounded legit to me too.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Apr 13, 2017 - 06:51am PT
Thanks, Guyman! I didn't know that story. RIP poodles. Long live the coyotes.

Some of you old timers may remember Inez Olsen from BITD--cute, short, pretty good climber? Sadly, she's no longer with us, but she related a story to me and my wife about camping in JT and looking up to see a couple of coyotes circling around her little kid! Yikes. Nature be wild, folks. Keep that in mind.

RIP Inez.


BAd
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 13, 2017 - 10:07am PT
My 50 lb dog had an encounter with a coyote in Ryan campground.
We let Zack out of the van in the middle of the night. He went behind a bush then we heard a lot of snarling as he had a conversation with a coyote. Next thing the coyote ambled off and Zack did a flying leap into the van. Zack was probably thinking "Never get out of the van. Never get out of the van"
Has anyone seen a lone coyote lure a dog to the waiting pack?
Hey Kris I remember your dog Tweezer. Did Tweezer ever meet a coyote?
Ricky D

Trad climber
Sierra Westside
Apr 13, 2017 - 11:39am PT
Coyote luring a dog to brunch?

Not in JT, but have seen it twice in the Sierra. We have a cabin up past Mammoth Pool that faces onto a 100 acre meadow. Our side has a willow grove that gives one of the local Coyote packs a hiding spot.

Twice we have watched a lone female go out into the meadow to "play" with someone's purse puppy that the clueless owner let wander into the meadow.

Interesting to watch as the two do a lot of down-doggies, hip hops and follow the leader as they run in circles.

The circle chase game seems to be the preferred Coyote method as each loop moves both closer to the tree line. As lunch moves closer, the rest of the pack slides around into a semicircle just inside the brush line.

I've never let it go beyond this point. I give a blast on an air horn to break up the game then collect the confused mutt and take them back to their people down meadow.

Much as I hate Chihuahuas, seems mean to watch one get eaten.
Killer K

Boulder climber
Sacramento, CA
Apr 13, 2017 - 12:05pm PT
I sold residential tree work for about 5 years. All I can say is that almost everyone I met who owned a standard poodle were kinda weird. It was like a phenomenon.
stevep

Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
Apr 13, 2017 - 12:45pm PT
Back when I used to frequent Jtree in the 90s, I had heard that rumor about coyotes luring dogs out to the rest of the pack.

My 95lb labrador is twice the size of the usual coyote and has scared a few away here in the foothills of SLC, but not sure I'd fancy his chances against a whole pack.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 13, 2017 - 12:49pm PT
Hey Kris I remember your dog Tweezer. Did Tweezer ever meet a coyote?

Hmm. I've only had one dog since I got to CA., the one on my avatar. A four year old Jack Russell Terror named Max.

A couple other dogs I hung out with a lot were Guy Keesee's ultra cool Dalmatian named Mo, and Lyn Bowering's happy go lucky white Lab named Whitey. Can't recall a dog named Tweezer, hopefully my mind's not that far gone yet...
dee ee

Mountain climber
Of THIS World (Planet Earth)
Apr 13, 2017 - 01:58pm PT
What he said.
OlympicMtnBoy

climber
Seattle
Apr 13, 2017 - 03:37pm PT
Poodles at people too!


He's around 50 lbs and fast so not an easy snack, but he probably would get lured into playing.
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 13, 2017 - 03:40pm PT
Tweezer was the stray that you and Brent picked up in the mid eighties in JTree. Maybe you didn't have her long or maybe Brent ended up with her.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 13, 2017 - 03:50pm PT
Holy crap. Do you have a time machine or what? Brent ended up with Tweezeer.

Brent moved to Boise, he got some big-time engineering job with responsibilities for the interstate highways west of the Mississippi. I visited him up there some time ago, he's probably nicely retired these daze.

Did you know Charlie?
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 13, 2017 - 04:53pm PT
Charlie the vietnam vet and big waller? I think we climbed Comic Book or the one next door.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 13, 2017 - 05:16pm PT
That would be Charlie. Charlie Crist, a genuine character. Once he broke the neck off a wine bottle as a vagabond pirate might do rather than take the trouble to open it properly. But Charlie took a torch and sealed up all the sharp edges. He would bring this thing out to Josh and show at various campfires drinking out of it. People would think he was nuts and hard core. Little did they know...
i-b-goB

Social climber
Wise Acres
Apr 13, 2017 - 07:12pm PT

[Click to View YouTube Video]
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 14, 2017 - 03:10pm PT
I understand that poodles can be people but is Heino a person?
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Apr 14, 2017 - 03:30pm PT
Petch

Gym climber
knapsack crack
Apr 14, 2017 - 09:09pm PT
drF

Trad climber
usa
Apr 14, 2017 - 09:33pm PT
The Poodle bites.....
.....The Poodle chews it
Petch

Gym climber
knapsack crack
Apr 14, 2017 - 09:38pm PT
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Apr 14, 2017 - 09:49pm PT
What the hell is it?Looks like poodle sh#t.

Glad I didn't step in it.
EdBannister

Mountain climber
13,000 feet
Apr 14, 2017 - 10:29pm PT
what about

"hate"
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Apr 15, 2017 - 08:17am PT
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
Apr 15, 2017 - 11:35am PT
Petch has a real live avy poodle!!!!




bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Apr 15, 2017 - 04:30pm PT
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Apr 15, 2017 - 04:41pm PT
Pure gold Bob
looking sketchy there...

Social climber
Lassitude 33
Apr 15, 2017 - 06:21pm PT
^^^^^
One of your best Bob.
bvb

Social climber
flagstaff arizona
Apr 16, 2017 - 01:52am PT
Yeah Randy, the social and cultural landscape that flourished in Josh from the early 70's to the mid-80's was an apex of SoCal climbing culture -- it was striking and vibrant in every respect, from the the striking level of boldness and vision and creativity and expertise in the climbing and bouldering, to the barely-in-control party scene that hummed during the week and then wildly spiked on the weekends, and the sheer scope and complexity of the loosely interwoven tribes and clans and cliques that taken together represented an astonishing concentration of climbing talent -- somebody should write a book, because it was a brief, intense, and truly unique flash that came and went so fast that it took some scenesters years to figure out that the bloom had fallen from the flower. I'm just now getting some perspective, given that 30 years or so have passed by the by. It was definately a one-time event, and if you were there you should consider yourself lucky. It was like a private Burning Man for climbers that lasted for ten straight years. Not bad for a sandbox full of chossy pebbles and blobs of petrified oatmeal.
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 16, 2017 - 10:39am PT
Now this thread has totally crossed over with the Sheep Buggerers thread
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Apr 16, 2017 - 10:56am PT
Yeah, being at the Gunks and having to constantly escape the attention of those Vulgarians, and then getting to Josh just in time for the last hurrah of the Sheep Buggers and the Mobile Harassment Unit taught me to keep my head down and fly under the radar. That was some scary sh*t!

:-)
AP

Trad climber
Calgary
Apr 16, 2017 - 03:29pm PT
Great post Kris on the Tucker thread about "Tucker and the trashed rope"
That sounds like a cheap Brit thing
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