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Messages 1 - 88 of total 88 in this topic
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 7, 2007 - 02:08pm PT
Just curious who among us did time at Paul Sibleys place.

I had the world famous chicken coop the winter and summer of 90 or maybe it was 91. Tarbuster held court in the shop for a really long time. Jello weren't you there for a while?

I think my gig started there because Paul needed someone to watch Gabe while Paul was in the Dolomites filming that Stalone flick.

I remember being in bed in the loft watching a nail expose itself then dissapear into the wall with each new burst of sustained wind. Thinking, "there is nowhere near enough material in this thing to kill me. If it decides to bust up it's only going to hurt like a mother".

Prod.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 7, 2007 - 02:13pm PT
I've done a fair bit of shooting there.


And I remember running into Earl right after Canyon Country Climbs.
maldaly

Trad climber
Boulder, CO
Mar 7, 2007 - 02:50pm PT
I spent a week there one night...
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 7, 2007 - 03:09pm PT
It's a sweet spot for sure.
Made a lot of ledge fly's for Russ & bagged a lot of Eldo time.
10 years in situ for me: enough's enuff.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 7, 2007 - 03:13pm PT
Didn't it used to be a pony express station? Twelve inch thick oak door.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 7, 2007 - 03:27pm PT
Rumor has it Jello wrote the Ice Experience while living in the "Coop".

Some Sibleyville, AKA Macho Acres (achers) highlights:

For my part, yer basic hillbilly hang:


Here in my part of the shop, sewed up a lot of stuff fer Fish, a few things for Malcom, & other items too:

Me & Prod preppin' on the premises:

Views didn't suk:

Some nearby rock ops:
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 7, 2007 - 03:29pm PT
Yes Ron,
Paul's house, down the hill from the upthread pics, was built by the French in the 1800's and was used as a pony express stop.
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Mar 7, 2007 - 07:49pm PT
That's right, Tar, I wrote the Ice Experience while living in the Coop, back around '78 or so. Also remember a night when the roof did that about-to-lift-off-to-Kansas thing in a big windstorm. Paul and I were all over it with ropes and pitons pounded into the soft sandstone that makes up the bedrock. Fine pedigree, the coop!
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 7, 2007 - 08:26pm PT
I lived in the chicken coop from fall 2000 to 2002 and did a fair bit of writing there too, getting my first piece of fiction published while in residence.

It was OK I guess...to be honest, the place just seemed kinda creepy, like, I'm not sure the vibes were all that great.

Haunted?

Maybe.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 7, 2007 - 08:51pm PT
That Ethiopian place was cool. I'm glad Alison warned me about the protocol.

When the waitress put the first bite in my mouth I just sat there like the King of Abyssinia and smiled.
elcap-pics

climber
Crestline CA
Mar 7, 2007 - 09:24pm PT
Yo... I was never there but did climb the Nose in 71 with Paul, who was a wild and crazy guy in those days... hope he is well...
Tom
WBraun

climber
Mar 7, 2007 - 09:28pm PT
We worked for Mike Weiss on Star Trek V. Sibley was there also, that's when I met him. Interesting character.

Where is he now?
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 7, 2007 - 09:29pm PT
The Ethiopian place was cool and it kinda sucks now that it's gone.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 7, 2007 - 09:31pm PT
Paul still lives in Marshall Werner, right outside of Eldorado Springs.

He is doing well.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 7, 2007 - 10:03pm PT
The actual Sibley manor was a stage coach stop, and then a doctors office in old marshall.

It is one of the oldest - if not the oldest - continuously lived in places in Boulder.

The chicken coop was built on a slab that was poured to seal the gates of hell.

Sure of it.
maldaly

Trad climber
Boulder, CO
Mar 7, 2007 - 10:09pm PT
The old coal mine under his house is still on fire and you get a whiff of sulfur once in a while. I think his cat weighs almost 40 pouds now...
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 7, 2007 - 10:37pm PT
The coal mine fire is just a cover story.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 7, 2007 - 11:08pm PT
The mining history is pretty rich.
There are miles of underground passageways.
This is a snippet from a publication by Paul's neighboor, Joanna:


She has recorded for posterity many oral histories, on videotape,
Of oldsters who's memories plunge the depths of old Boulder, mining or otherwise.

Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 7, 2007 - 11:11pm PT
Sibley's cat is a demon from hell.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 8, 2007 - 02:36am PT
You have to remember the truth about Marshall, the mines and Sibleyville.

The history books are clear on this - lots of miners died down in the mines - the conditions were bad and we'll never know how many met their fate in the Marshall Mines, and are still down there - get it - it's like living on top of a cemetery.

Haunted - creepy.
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 8, 2007 - 08:05am PT
Haunted? Never got that vibe, but I don’t believe in that kind of stuff anyways. Maybe how we felt about the place is a reflection of where we were and currently are in our life. For me I longingly look back at the simplicity of it all. Maybe you had gas or something Ray.

Ok Roy as I have been gone for a long time give me an update on other Sibleyvillians..

Katie the Bus Lady.
Red Head Coopete.
Sasha.
John Cook.
Did Alfonzo live there for a while?
Did Allison Sheets ever live there?
How about Tonya’s boyfriend, what the hell is he doing?

Prod.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 8, 2007 - 12:04pm PT
Katie Cassidy the Bus Lady: had a baby (with Jim Erickson no less) moved to New Jersey (not with Jim).
Randi Eyre: died in '99 in a bike race.
Red Head Coop'ette: had a baby moved a bit east.
Sasha: lives in Montana & posts up here as "Unimog"
John Cook: lived up in my kneck of the woods, now in Boulder with g-friend, "Donna".
Did Alfonzo live there for a while?: maybe not.
Did Allison Sheets ever live there?: could be.
How about Tonya’s boyfriend, what the hell is he doing?: Kim Carpenter; he's around, we spent a bunch of time together last winter at the JT 70's climber reunion.

A lot of well known locals have lived in the COOP:
Jeff Lowe
Colin Lantz
Mike O'Donnel
Ray Olson
Guy Kenny (now a male stripper)
John Cook
Sasha Montagu
Others Jello might reveal...
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 8, 2007 - 01:02pm PT
Alison is an Eldo girl. (Wish she'd join us here.)
Back in the day she had cozy digs in no less than the Ivy Baldwin cabin. There's a german word I can say (but not spell) that perfectly describes the comfortable little spot she had, and goes double for her place just down the street now.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 8, 2007 - 01:05pm PT
Got the spelling;

gemutlich


(doesn't really translate well, and I don't know how to do those dot things)
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 8, 2007 - 10:45pm PT
I'm just kidding about the creepy vibes...
There's nothing really weird at all out there...
Not sure why I got that, well, that funny feeling...
Probably gas.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 8, 2007 - 10:51pm PT
hahaha!
that's good stuff.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 8, 2007 - 11:13pm PT
Here's a shot of the cool cabin Gabe built that could be used for a photo-shoot or a movie...
Mark Cantor fixed up the bus really well and was living there when I bailed, he makes a mean Vodka Martini shaken not stirred...
The window sill inside the coop during my tenure...
upstairs in the chicken coop man if them walls could talk...
Coop front door with cool tame dragonfly - the place really was enchanted...the animals were all so chill and everything...
Dig this huge rat I killed in the outhouse...
I called him "King Rat"...
My little neighbor...
Cecil liked my little neighbor...
And I liked Cecil - the poor cat just seemed a little sick of being cooped up inside - Sib couldn't let it out 'cause it would attack anything on four legs...
There was good reading out there...
And the place really charmed the...er, well I had good company too...
Chicks, you know.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 8, 2007 - 11:24pm PT
Werner Braun said:
"Sibley was there also, that's when I met him. Interesting character".


So, it's only fair, given it's Paul's namesake thread, that we see sumthin' like of what Werner was talkin' about; you know, so's we can see just what sort ah guy might be the host of this marginaly storied locale and stopover for the gnarled & the true.

Without further ado & even less fanfare,
I present you Chiloe's awesome Paul Sibley portrait from RMNP 1971:



...and 29 years later, in 2000:

Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 8, 2007 - 11:45pm PT
Paul Sibley is a kind, gentle and compassionate human being. A real dude and a fine individual as well. His collection of art books and sh#t is really huge and the funk of that reeking shack he lives in is special, too.
Toker Villain

Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
Mar 9, 2007 - 12:11am PT
Nicht gemutlich aber wild.
Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Mar 9, 2007 - 01:41am PT
I am taken back - to the past and to the future - thanks to you RR (Ray and Roy). Sibley is all-time real; unique. Tanks for the mamories, bra!

-CoopedUpJello
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 9, 2007 - 09:22am PT
Yo Ray, ok there was some odd stuff out there, great pics.

Where did Gabe build his little Zen den? Was that the hole he was digging up behind the bus?

Has Sibley grown up yet or is he still just a strong little kid. His exuberance and mischievousness always made me laugh.

Prod.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 9, 2007 - 10:40am PT
Grown Up, say you Prod?
Not in the Macho Acres lexicon:

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 9, 2007 - 10:51am PT
Paul's son Gabe,
Champion ski racer,
Now in a computer robotics doctorate program at Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena California,
Working on his project in the Macho Acres north forty:


OK, maybe Gabe grew up.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 9, 2007 - 12:45pm PT
Sibley would - on occasion and for no reason that I could see other than pure hell-raising fun - fire his RIFLE into the sky from his front porch!

I loved him for that.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 9, 2007 - 11:12pm PT
More pics of dreamy SibleyVille aka "Macho Acres".
Where: "Once you check in, you've checked out!"
hehehe.

OK, no pun intended, here's the Stupa dedicated to Roger Marshall, Catherine Freer, & Randi Eyre:


The view toward's Joanna's house:


Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 9, 2007 - 11:20pm PT
So, the shop was a fun place, still is.
Meet lotsa fun people & do cool projects there.

Here's Paul & Billy, fussing over an African relic, soon to be repaired:



Yup, Bill Roos, veteran of 35 years service as an instructor at Colorado Outward Bound,
And one ah my all time fave guys:


Snow pit digging apron which we sewed up, plus gadgets:

Awesome shot of Billy, before climbing saved him!
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 10, 2007 - 12:14am PT
Hey Roy,

did Catherine Freer ever live in the coup?

I first met her in '77/78 - she'd just done 5th pitch Rostrum.

Impressive.

I forget what her partners name was - an equally capable-looking
female. They were at the gym in the SAR site - kind of a rainy afternoon.

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 10, 2007 - 12:33am PT
Dunno Ray,
I met her out in JT in '80, had Thanksgiving dinner with Catherine, Todd Bibler, Dan Michael, Don Wilson & a few others; this long before I met Paul.

She was quite an impressive person. She had a mustard color Ford van in the Valley and it was tidily rigged out with spice racks in the doors. A true vagabond dedicated climber and one of the first women I'd met to really embrace that in such a committed way.

Maybe her partners name was Julie Brueger?
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 10, 2007 - 12:55am PT
The name Julie rings a bell - and yes, Catherine was one of the earliest full-on committed female climbers I know of as well, the aura of a champion. She was unlike most I've met before or since.

Got a couple more worthwhile images for this post soon.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 10, 2007 - 01:27am PT
Cool,
Roll 'em out Ray!
Prod (Guy) is no doubt out for the night, but he'll check in later.

A few folks have dwelled in the bus; Katie Cassidy, Sasha, Randi:



Randi, just about to put one in me...

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 10, 2007 - 01:45am PT
Randi Eyre's 1996 pastel, "Gabes House",
One of over a hundred on digital file at the Boulder Historical Society:


Randi in her downtown Boulder gallery, in the Colorado Building foyer:


Climbing in the Doli's:




Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 10, 2007 - 11:26pm PT
Some of the Sibley Ville Kids,
Out on special Rock Ops.
That's the building behind them, where Eldorado Springs daylights,
So the world class spring water is collected right in there.


Prod, John, Tracy, Sasha, & Cowboy Roy, circa 1990:

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 10, 2007 - 11:29pm PT
Preparation is key, for a proper and jubilant outing,
Eldorado Canyon, Anthill Direct, with the Birdwalk start:




Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 10, 2007 - 11:31pm PT
Bona Fortuna!




...and back safe & mostly sound.
goatboy smellz

climber
colorado
Mar 10, 2007 - 11:48pm PT
hot damn roy, keep it up!
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 11, 2007 - 12:03am PT
Man O Man Goatster,
Everybody's got their idea of foot wear, or not as you can see,
But I really miss those Dan Post Italian leather ranch wellingtons.

Did a whole bunch of approaches in them kuh-boy kickers,
From Yos to Eldo and all over in between and twice in the middle!
slayton

Trad climber
Morongo Valley, Ca
Mar 11, 2007 - 12:12am PT
Tar,

You are the master of memories I've never had.

Threads like this is what keep ST unique and worth reading.


sean
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 11, 2007 - 12:34am PT
I agree - those pics are great!
Here's my remainder:

The Bus in all it's uber hippie-bus grandeur.
A short story I was writing on Sibley's kitchen table.
Lord of the mice, the rats, the bunnies, the dogs, the coyotes, the fox and sometimes the people too - for gods sake it's Cicil the Cat!
Just my imagination.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 11, 2007 - 12:36am PT
Keep that Majik alive Sean!
We're all more or less kickin' down that dusty trail together,
Or at least it's nice when we do...

...You really pegged that uber kitty Ray.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 11, 2007 - 12:36am PT
You know, it's really great that there are places like Sibleyville.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 11, 2007 - 01:07am PT
That's so true Ray!

The people really make it all happen,
With Paul at the epicenter of the raw beauty and jovial goodness.

Paul Sibley, Steve Pomerance, Karl "Dicken" Arndt, June 1999:

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 11, 2007 - 01:09am PT


Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 11, 2007 - 01:11am PT
To name a few...
slayton

Trad climber
Morongo Valley, Ca
Mar 11, 2007 - 01:14am PT
Jeebus Tar!!

Keep that scanner Majik alive.


Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 11, 2007 - 06:38am PT
last one for me...
Coup - top level - late summer 2000
the amazing Phil Holman looking amazed we've run out of weed!
a mild but distinct look of terror in Phil's eyes...
For those of you who don't know, Phil Holman was the real force behind the early cultural development at Neptunes - an outright genius artist and I never say that. He's up north with Tami Knight and everyone I know who knows Phil misses him bad.
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 11, 2007 - 11:33am PT
Wow Roy,

That takes me back. Was that the time we were eating pills that Sasha brought back from Asia, or somewhere, drinking Bud, and nearly epoched out as it was pitch black and cold as the 5th climber got to the top. Thanks to Billy Roos and some mega back pack powered flash light we scrambled down some 3rd and 4th class gullies to his house for some more beers?

Those were the days, What was that song?

Pills and booze, pills and booze
First you win then you lose

Or something along those lines.

Prod
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 11, 2007 - 11:41am PT
Yup,
That just about nails it.

Per usual, I decided rather late in the day that we all ought to do a 5 pitch route.

Also as usual, I topped out in complete comfort and good light.
I brought you up and went down to get the big spotlight, or milk & cookies or whatever.

When I showed up in Billy's living room there in Eldo Springs he said, "Hmmm; lemme see, it's passed dark, I gotta guy standing here alone in his harness asking for a light. Doesn't look good at the outset Roy."
tenesmus

Trad climber
slc
Mar 11, 2007 - 02:47pm PT
"Paul's son Gabe,
Champion ski racer,
Now in a computer robotics doctorate program at Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena California,
Working on his project in the Macho Acres north forty: "

I climbed a lot with Gabe when he was at Emory University in Atlanta. He's a great guy - super sharp and idealistic. He lived with Wayne J and Evan and Jessee McG. and some other guys who all eventually spent time in Boulder. I was about 8 years older than those guys but they were super motivated to climb. Being in Grad school with a bunch of uptight stiffy types made Gabe and Company a HUGE breath of fresh air. Those guys kinds saved me.
hossjulia

Trad climber
Eastside
Mar 11, 2007 - 06:16pm PT
I spent lots of time in that area, working at the junction, enjoying that great Ethiopian food, riding my horse just down the road. Roy, remember the horse blankets! LOL! I still have one of the ones you repaired for me. Dirt cheap compared to others too!

Loved that place, I really wanted to live in that bus!
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 11, 2007 - 10:13pm PT
Yah Hoss,
Horse blankys & finger food, livin' in a schoolbus, whutalife.

tenesmus'
I met most of Gabe's pals. Few on the Taco would make the connection between Jesse the Yos ranger & Gabe.

And I might make special mention of the goings on with the beers upthread. The guy in the yellow fleece drinking the beer before climbing (that's Prod) was really bustin' the rules. We weren't supposed to crack those brewski until we got off the deck.
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 12, 2007 - 11:12pm PT
Lotta people were regular visitors out at the compound.

Dan "Clean Dan" Granduski especially, here with Jana Lee:


Tim "TNT" Toula, strong man, Teton mtn guide, guidebook writer extrordinaire:



And then there was the "Coopette", Jennifer, who put in a handfull of years in the COOP:

She was a spicy little Devil; me and paul called her "Bubbles", Susan, her best friend named her "Jen-Fir"...



The commonality of SibleyVille inhabitants & guests,
All climbers through & through to the last drop!

Jello

Social climber
No Ut
Mar 13, 2007 - 02:06am PT
In-f#ckin'-credible memories and thread. TB, you've done it again. Let's have a Coop reunion!
Chiloe

Trad climber
Lee, NH
Mar 13, 2007 - 10:24am PT
Paul was a generous guy long before he settled in out at Marshall. I owe him big-time for letting me crash in his attic for a month, when I first came to Eldo owning nothing but a sleeping bag and a '53 Ford.

Wrote a story once about a day when Paul and I might have died, but someone else did instead. Very sad, very sobering experience.

But from a much brighter day in 1971, my best scanned picture of Paul -- on the summit of Spearhead after the 2nd ascent of Covington's Obviously Four Believers, which we thought was a pretty cool thing at the time.

Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 13, 2007 - 10:31am PT
I find that shot to be magnificent and it also displays a bit of the mischievous nature of Paul, if you know how to see it.

I took the liberty of posting a downsized version upthread, but I really think it works best BIG!
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 13, 2007 - 10:31am PT
I agree whole heartedly with Jello. Tar, if I didn't know how you feel about being touched I'd hug you for your efforts here.

I'm in for a reunion.

Prod.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 13, 2007 - 10:47am PT
Prod, Tarbuster,

Many thanks for the posts.
Chiloe

Trad climber
Lee, NH
Mar 13, 2007 - 11:31am PT
I took the liberty of posting a downsized version upthread, but I really think it works best BIG!

Just saw that after reading throught the whole (great!) thread. Brought back fond memories about Paul, Gabe and Bill too.
unimog

climber
windy corner in the west
Mar 14, 2007 - 12:07am PT
I to lived there in the 80 whith Roy the late Randi eyre and Greg Robenson it was a wounderful place and still is soent a night there 2 weeks ago.

Sasha
Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2007 - 10:57am PT
Yo Sasha,

Guy Kenny here, been a while how are things with you? Where do you live now?

Prod.
unimog

climber
windy corner in the west
Mar 15, 2007 - 09:02pm PT
Guy
How are you and where are you .
I am still living in NW Montana and spend as much time at the ranch in alberta .
i am in Australia at the moment but get my email from Roy and ill contact you when i get home.

Sasha
flyxc

Trad climber
Otisfield, Maine
Mar 19, 2007 - 08:40pm PT
Great topic (sorry for the slow reply someone just mentioned the topic to me). Jarred free many memories of Eldo in the eighties.

One of my climbing partners went on to become the mother of one of Paul's Children. Just curious if anyone knew what she is up to? I believe her name was Deborah

Peace
Scott


Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 19, 2007 - 10:30pm PT
Hey Scott,
That would be Deborah & their son Clayton.

Deborah is terrific and bright and fun.

I climbed a bit with Deborah as well; she & Paul just got married and she left the South to move back up to Marshall, so that's a great big happy full circle, like 17 years worth!

Cheers,
Roy
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 19, 2007 - 10:40pm PT
Wow, that's great news I'm really happy for them.
flyxc

Trad climber
Otisfield, Maine
Mar 20, 2007 - 03:48pm PT
Roy

That is awesome to hear. I am psyched for them. If you see Deborah give her my regards (from Scott Berk)

Prod

Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2007 - 11:06am PT
Hold the f***ing presses Tar. Sib got married? I vaigly remember Deborah I think she just had their child around the time I was at the coop 90 91ish? Does that sound right. When did they get married? Details....

Prod
Tarbuster

climber
right here, right now
Mar 22, 2007 - 12:27pm PT
End of last year Prod; Clatyon is now 16.
There was a small gathering of old friends this winter commemorating the event; pretty much a reunion, mostly people of an age group similar to Sib, Dicken, & Pomerance and of course inclusive of those three.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Mar 22, 2007 - 01:18pm PT
This is really good news - thanks Tar.
Turok

Trad climber
Apr 7, 2007 - 01:38pm PT
A lovely lady named Annie who owned a small ski clothing company "AFRC" (Annie Fanny Racer Chaser) Lived in the coop circa '83. Maybe Paul remembers her last name.
She had a small sewing loft near the old L.A.S. factory.

Turok
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder
Apr 7, 2007 - 01:44pm PT
Thanks Turok.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jan 21, 2012 - 12:42pm PT
I just visited Sibleyville and we were laughing that the esteemed residents should have signed the wall on the way out! LOL
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Jan 21, 2012 - 01:40pm PT
I was in the middle of a really stressful construction project in I guess 1974, building the Catalyst nightclub in Santa Cruz and after about half a year of this nonsense, could hardly bear to deal with its alcoholic bully of an owner Randall Kane, the hipster-beat heir to the Underwood Typewriter fortune. This was a nightmare job and it was a different story each day, coming from him and his strange henchmen whom we called “Kandi Kanes” behind their backs. He even had us hire his totally hung-over know-nothing bartenders as carpenter-laborers whilst a couple of nasty accidents ensued.

So I disappeared for an unscheduled five-day weekend; was it summer or later Spring as I got on the plane in SFO heading for Denver? I never had climbed in the state and was thrilled to give it a try though I had no real connections there. The first day and that night, I was down in Colorado Springs, staying incognito at some vintage motel, having driven a rental car from the airport, and climbing with two young noob guys I met in the Garden. Even though it was my first time at the spot, I quickly ran out of curiosity and headed for Eldo where a couple of hours later bouldering roadside were Sibley, Kevin Donald, Mike Lowe and others. Sibley had been in the Valley a few years prior and we had become friends. Much thanks to him, he now put me up at his wonderful Pony Express Station for the rest of the trip while I climbed with Lowe in Eldo. Tremendous climbing---very reminiscent of a giant Indian Rock (Berkeley); wonderful group of guys and superb weather. We buildered downtown one of the nights even. Were we at the Boulderado? Mike was starting a climbing and guiding business at the mouth of the Canyon in those days. When I returned to my baleful project, I was able to tolerate it for another month, thanks to those guys and the great state of Colorado. Very memorable!
jopay

climber
so.il
Jan 22, 2012 - 02:57pm PT
Enjoying this thread, I remember a rainy day in Eldo when everyone took refuge in Paul Sibley's gear shop. I took a seat on the porch next to Bobby Knight who had just recently had an article in Climbing about a trip to Patagonia, he described for me watching a condor sweep by their belay, needless to say I was in awe.
steveA

Trad climber
bedford,massachusetts
Jan 22, 2012 - 05:04pm PT
Funny,


Jimmy Dunn called me today, just to say hello.

I asked him if he knew Paul Sibley. I know that I visited his place way back,and what I remember most was the underground coal fires, and you could feel the heat coming out of the cracks.

Anyway, Jimmy brought that up in our conversation as well.

He said that he helped Paul clean up the place right after he bought it. Apparently there were a bunch of drug addicts in there, and there were hypodermic needles and crap all over the place.

Long time ago.
Prod

Trad climber
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 22, 2012 - 05:29pm PT
I just visited Sibleyville and we were laughing that the esteemed residents should have signed the wall on the way out! LOL

Black light and a DNA test?

Hey SteveA, those fires are still burning. Anyone know what year they started?

Prod.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Apr 1, 2012 - 01:31pm PT
Sibley Bump...
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Feb 8, 2013 - 12:45pm PT
Bump for Jennifer Martin who was a lodger on the coop, BITD!

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/2066314/RIP-Jennifer
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jun 22, 2016 - 09:09pm PT
Soon to be Septuagenarian Bump...
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