Norman Clyde of the Sierra Nevada

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Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Original Post - Aug 26, 2007 - 02:06pm PT
A rare and superb interview with one of the luminaries of the Range of Light. The embodiment of old school grit and determination and one of my heroes for sure!








From The History of the Sierra Nevada by Francis Farquhar.

From Climbing in North America by Chris Jones.
426

Sport climber
Buzzard Point, TN
Aug 26, 2007 - 02:09pm PT
Nice stuff...thought about his boots on Clyde and other peaks when I am up there...
WoodySt

Trad climber
Riverside
Aug 26, 2007 - 04:21pm PT
My kind of guy; he used to blow away marmmots with his old Colt 45. Those were the days. Wherever you are Norman, I hope they let you carry that old revolver.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
Aug 26, 2007 - 04:32pm PT
great stuff! Holy cow thanks Steve.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Aug 26, 2007 - 04:48pm PT
Woody: Did he eat the marmots, too?
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
Aug 26, 2007 - 04:56pm PT
here's his bio -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Clyde


"Clyde lead or participated in many mountain rescues and is credited with saving a number of lives. He said of himself, "I'm like the village half-wit who could always find Old Bes the cow when nobody else could. I just imagine where I'd go if I were Old Bes – and then I go there.""


his wife dying in 1918 may give some insight into Clyde's loner status.

here's another great link:
http://www.stanford.edu/~galic/rettenbacher/clyde.html


and here's his FA list:
http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/norman_clyde/page57.html
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
Aug 26, 2007 - 05:44pm PT
A great collection of his tales

WoodySt

Trad climber
Riverside
Aug 26, 2007 - 07:51pm PT
Good question. Now I have an excuse to find out. Of course, I'll have to experiment with numerous subjects: size, age, gender etc., and various cultural approaches: French, BBQ, Chinese, Thai, Malay, Mexican, Qechua etc. However, being as there are plenty of opportunities, I see no problem in starting as soon as possible.
10b4me

climber
Site C4 in TMCG
Aug 26, 2007 - 08:30pm PT
Clyde was awesome.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Aug 26, 2007 - 08:33pm PT
Perhaps nature could experiment with a marmot roll at FaceLift SushiFest.
Risk

Mountain climber
Minkler, CA
Aug 26, 2007 - 09:04pm PT
According to my dad, legend has it that Norman Clyde would carry an iron anvil and hammer just in case some weary packer needed farrier services along the way. Yes, an anvil. I once carried a cast iron skillet for properly frying fish I knew I would catch, but an anvil? The guy was a legend in the 60’s, known to be wandering the crest with his 100-pound+ pack. As far as I'm concerned, he's still out there. . . .
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 26, 2007 - 09:07pm PT
Great links Ray! The question is, where in the Sierra did he not visit. All the more impressive given the access and gear then available.
I never met Norman but had the pleasure of encountering a kindred soul in the Wind Rivers in the person of Finnis Mitchell after whom Mount Mitchell is named.
I was heading in to the Cirque of the Towers (via Big Sandy opening) with a party of Udalls when this oldtimer pulls up and swings his equally well seasoned frame pack off and to the ground. A big cast iron skillet clanked that this was no ordinary backpacker. As we looked off towards our destination while making small talk with the iron man and his much younger female companion, he asked strangely "Do you like the view?" "Sure do," we said, "it's gorgeous."
The iron man danced over to his enormous pack and fished around inside. Out came a handfull of postcards which he passed around gleefully. "Well, now you can take it home with you." It was a postcard of the very same view with the name Finnis Mitchell in tiny print.
Though not so much a climber, Finnis was a legendary figure in the Winds and used to hand stock the lakes and streams with fingerlings carried in on foot and horseback. Amazing personal vigor and drive. Like Clyde, truly an inspiration.
Raydog

Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
Aug 26, 2007 - 09:18pm PT
RE:
"As far as I'm concerned, he's still out there. . . ."

no doubt
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Aug 27, 2007 - 12:42am PT
Hey Steve, nice post.

This is the only photo I can add to it. This is the Wind Rivers, he is obviously still in his element.


Ken
WoodySt

Trad climber
Riverside
Aug 27, 2007 - 10:20am PT
Also, Old Norman is reponsible for stocking many high lakes with trout during the Depression. He was known as "The Pack that Walked like a Man".
I've been told by some that should know, that the Sierra Club, in their prissy and p.c. way has tried to cleanse some of the old boy's more colorful attributes. I prefer him the way he really was.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 27, 2007 - 10:56am PT
Here is an aerial photo of the Minarets taken during the search for Walter Starr's body. Taken by Francis Farquahar from his book, The History of the Sierra Nevada.

Klimmer

Mountain climber
San Diego
Aug 27, 2007 - 11:37am PT
Thanks for starting this tread. Very important history and the most interesting to read.

I like the story about when he was the Principal or Superintendant for the school district there in Owens Valley, and some young thugs were making trouble, and he pulled a gun out and shot it into the air to scare them off. It worked. Then the people had him released from his job for doing so.

Come-on, there would never be any school violence with teenagers out of control if all the admin. and teachers were licensed to carry guns and use them if necessary. (Ok, people, don't blow a gasket. I'm just kidding!!!!!)

Norman Clyde is the man.
lucho

Gym climber
San Franpsycho
Aug 27, 2007 - 11:56am PT
one word - HARDMAN!
Doug Robinson

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
Aug 27, 2007 - 09:46pm PT
I think it was Smoke Blanchard who repeated Norman's put down of the anvil story. That legend was already circulating while Norman was alive, and he would bristle when it came up:

"It's not true that I carried an anvil in my pack! ... But if I had a nice round stone that fit perfectly in the heel of my boot for replacing Triconi Nails, well that's my business!"
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2007 - 10:46am PT
Doug- Great way to put the legendary anvil to bed! Did you ever get a chance to climb with Norman?
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