Discussion Topic |
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| Messages 1 - 35 of total 35 in this topic |
Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 5, 2007 - 12:38am PT
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Anybody know the identity of this partner of Warren's on Keeler Needle?
Thanks,
Ken
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Loom
climber
The Whiteboard Jungle
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I just googled this.
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10b4me
climber
bitd
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just the story. he was a hitchhiker that Harding picked up. had never climbed before, but ended up on the fa of Keeler Needle.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Yeah "A hitchhiker who went farther than he ever dreamed," or words to that effect.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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If any of you Banff or Canmore folks have a chance to ask Tim Auger about the mysterious Frank, it would be interesting to hear his recollections. The warden might know.
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 5, 2007 - 01:09am PT
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I know what he did. I would like to know who he really is (real name)and talk to him. Any clues?
Thanks,
Ken
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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this is a better link to the AAJ article..
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 5, 2007 - 04:07am PT
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Ed, Do you know him or who he really is? I have seen the write-ups, thank you so much for your help,
Ken
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Ken - I don't know the identity of "Desert Frank" and the number of people who might is getting smaller...
...Rowell didn't seem any closer to knowing back in 1973. The only other person who may have an idea might be Beryl Knauth, but I have no idea of her fate. My guess is that Harding didn't know himself.
Another thought would be that Steve Roper might know or have researched that bit of climbing history.
Have Harding's climbing papers, etc, been collected by someone?
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 5, 2007 - 12:06pm PT
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Ed, Are you going to the East Side C4 reunion July 13-15? Beryl will be there. Thanks for your suggestions.
Ken
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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won't be at the reunion, July is brutal for me at work, I feel especially guilty already trying to procrastinate on what has to get done.
but this is just whining...
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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That would be amazing if you could really find that guy. I wonder if he's still alive.
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 8, 2009 - 01:21pm PT
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Guido, DR, BBA, anyone?
Ken
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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I wonder if Powell would know? I never asked him about Frank.
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Gene
climber
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Ken,
Does Glen Denny know?
This is from the history of the route written by Roper in the ST High Sierra guide.
Any peak as spectacular as Keeler Needle is
bound to attract the big names in climbing.
Warren Harding, the most accomplished
big wall first ascentionist in Sierra Nevada,
was joined on the first ascent in 1960 by
Glen Denny, Rob McKnight and Desert
Frank. The ascent took four-and-a-half days
in 1960. Twelve years passed before their
route was repeated.
The ascent led to much gossip, especially
concerning how Harding coerced Desert
Frank to join the expedition. Rumor had
it that Frank never climbed before the
ascent and Harding solicited him from a
local bar for the sole purpose of carrying
the team’s wine. Harding staunchly denied
these allegations, saying the two actually
met in Yosemite’s Mountain Room Bar and
that he “personally gave Frank quite a few
hours of instruction.” Harding could never
remember Frank’s last name, though.
gm
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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What a great Freekin' story.
Man I hope this one plays out rather than dead ending....
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Midzone
climber
San Francisco
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Mar 12, 2009 - 06:44pm PT
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Desert Frank is Frank Gronberg, very much alive and well in the Seattle area. He was sited at Glen Denny's slide show at the Mountaineers last fall.
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Mar 12, 2009 - 07:02pm PT
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Awesome.
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jstan
climber
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Mar 12, 2009 - 07:16pm PT
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Alright. Enough of this easy stuff.
Who was on the grassy knoll?
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mooch
Big Wall climber
The Immaculate Conception
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Mar 12, 2009 - 08:27pm PT
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Even harder....
Who is the grossy noel?
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 13, 2009 - 12:40am PT
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Sewellymon,
Great job ! As mysterious as the man has been over the years, I would not have thought it was that easy. The wonders of the internet.
Thanks,
Ken
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mooch
Big Wall climber
The Immaculate Conception
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Mar 13, 2009 - 02:08am PT
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Approaching 97 years young and still recounts the FA of East Buttress on Mt. Whitney like it was last week.....
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Gene
climber
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Mar 13, 2009 - 09:12am PT
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Bump for the ST Cold Case Crew.
Edit: Mooch,
GD looks like he's ready to go do it again. Great picture.
g
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Mar 13, 2009 - 09:55am PT
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WOW good job, but I for one will keep the tale alive!! Too many laughs over the years.......the bar in Lone Pine, Warren challenging a stranger, "if you were any kind of a man...etc". Perhaps Harding would want it that way? Sierra Heil.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Mar 13, 2009 - 10:32am PT
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so kewl on many levels.
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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Mar 13, 2009 - 11:18am PT
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Well this is cool!
If you are reading this Frank, consider joining by posting your own comments. It is fun to reconnect on ST.
Also, I would urge you to make up stories about being Desert Frank--alla Warren's tales. You can waeve in all the facts but make up the rest--it's the Internet!
Just kidding.
Hope to meet you in the Valley at another reunion.
Best regards, Roger Breedlove (late 60s and 70s Valley Climber)
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Mar 13, 2009 - 11:30am PT
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I'll have to go and get the lowdown straight from the man himself and in town too! Thanks for the sleuthing folks!!!
Ken and I always figured this mystery would get solved via the wonders of the ST!
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BruceHildenbrand
Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
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Feb 11, 2016 - 10:17pm PT
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Glenn Denny has just completed a book with 22 stories about climbing in the late 50's and early 60's. It will be published by the Yosemite Conservancy and is scheduled to be available in April 2016.
One of the stories is about Desert Frank. I am not going to give away any details but just how he got that name is a really good tale!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Feb 11, 2016 - 10:24pm PT
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So did Grossman ever go interrogate Desert Frank?
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Feb 12, 2016 - 05:04am PT
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A shorty, but one of the best threads of all time.
Just imagine what it might be like in Frank's mind. Keeler Needle, 1960, Harding, Denny....wow.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Feb 12, 2016 - 05:21am PT
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As a shorty , I must agree
I spent time I did not have, reading the whole thread and my son missed the school bus. It was -2 that's two degrees below zero and I drive a diesel ...
At every turn and almost in every thread the Super really is in the Taco!
Thank you all for making it so...
Sushi for all
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Feb 12, 2016 - 10:24am PT
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Thanks for the prompt folks...
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Feb 12, 2016 - 10:37am PT
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You know......reading through this thread, it makes me think that we are in an era of great change, communication and history-wise.
We now have these great communication tools, and this thread demonstrates the possibilities.......
But we are also at the end of the lifespan of the participants of the Golden Age, and the possibility of getting their stories and thoughts captured.
The pictures get thrown away. The descriptions are discarded.
Threads like these give me hope.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Feb 12, 2016 - 02:27pm PT
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Is Desert Frank still around? (hope he's doing well)
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