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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 26, 2007 - 09:50pm PT
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Handjam Belay:
Thanks for that tidbit. I need to look into this a little further. Yes, amazingly humble, I think we're talking about the same guy, is his full name maybe Cameron Cross?
When I was repping out here one of the kids we sponsored told me that Cameron had solod Astro Man and that after doing so, upon reflection, he didn't think it such a smart thing; it surely seems plausible that the young reporter of Cameron's solo climb didn't know the difference between Astro Dog and Astro Man.
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Sep 26, 2007 - 11:35pm PT
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I'm lost...and old....and crinkly...but what's Astrodog?
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Tarbuster
climber
right here, right now
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Sep 26, 2007 - 11:47pm PT
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John,
Astro Dog is a climb in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
Also, Handjam Belay may be talking about Cameron Teague (RIP).
(I'm going to get to the bottom of this reportage thing on Astro Man.)
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Tripod? Swellguy? Halfwit? Smegma?
climber
Calyfucinphornya
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Sep 26, 2007 - 11:58pm PT
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I climbed with Alex a couple of times about a year ago. I don't find it hard to believe that he has soloed both these routes in a day. To watch him on the rock is impressive. He has remarkably smooth granite technique, a very cool head, and needless to say gobs of strength and endurance. I though while watching him that he was the next Caldwell. What is perhaps most suprising is how young and what short time on the rock he has had. Alex was a gym monkey since age 13 and didn't even start climbing outside until 3 or 4 years ago. I'm guessing he's 23 at most. That he could climb so well so fast is pretty amazing. I've seen and read of a lot of young, hard gym climbers that tranfer to real rock at high grades, but almost always on sport routes. To master the difficult techniques that traditional granite requires in those high grades just blows me away. I don't think he has hit his ceiling yet by any stretch of the imagination. Perhaps most concerning is the pressure that inevitably comes with notoriety on such a young head. The need to continue to outdo himself interms of not only difficulty but boldness. He's a very cool young guy. Hard not to like. I just hope that the next big heading isn't about falling off the first free solo attempt of Freerider. I just know it's going through his head. Take a breath Alex.
Regards, Aidan
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Salamanizer
Mountain climber
Vacaville Ca,
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Sep 27, 2007 - 12:51am PT
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Watched him onsight the Silly Willy crack (Lovers Leap .12c) a few weeks back, very impressive. Then belayed him while we backed off a .11+R route right after. He knows his abilitys and climbs well within his means. I'm pretty sure he knows the brightest flame burns quickest.
Alex is the guy out there who's having the most fun, plain and simple.
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Degaine
climber
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Sep 27, 2007 - 04:42am PT
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Aidan,
This is the young Alex from Granite Arch, right? If so I think he was around 14 years old in 2001 which puts him at barely 20 at the moment.
Climbed a bunch in the gym with him in Sac (Granite Arch and Pipeworks), been smooth and talented...and super humble since the beginning.
In any case, nice work, Alex! Hope all is well with you.
Darin
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Lostinwoods
Trad climber
Lahaina, Maui
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Sep 28, 2007 - 04:23am PT
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Alex, you are a fierce beast!
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Lostinwoods
Trad climber
Lahaina, Maui
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Sep 28, 2007 - 04:28am PT
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A couple of years ago, alex broke his wrist...ill let him tell u how... He was climbing 12's soon after cast and all (he modified it of course)One of the nicest, and most genuine people I've ever met.... miss u bro...
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James
climber
A tent in the redwoods
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 28, 2007 - 11:10am PT
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Yesterday Alex and I walked into the ledge on the Rostrum and climbed the Excellent Adventure to the Rostrum roof. Alex onsighted the 5.13 trad pitch.
He's 22 now.
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Tahoe climber
Trad climber
a dark-green forester out west
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Sep 28, 2007 - 11:34am PT
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Props to both of you. Keep it fun!
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itso
climber
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Sep 28, 2007 - 01:19pm PT
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Amazing!
Big Props to you Alex!
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WBraun
climber
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Sep 28, 2007 - 10:09pm PT
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Yes, excellent Alex.
It's not an easy thing to do. The mind starts to talk when you get to the base.
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Handjam Belay
Gym climber
expat from the truth
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Sep 28, 2007 - 11:42pm PT
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Not Cameron teague...the youngster from Montrose.
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Shack
Big Wall climber
Reno NV
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Sep 29, 2007 - 12:16am PT
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Ever since I heard the story about that guy who died when he got wedged in the Harding slot, and the SAR guys had remove his bloated corpse in the summer heat....
well, never mind.
That is amazing.
Are there any spots to rest on Astroman?
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Matt
Trad climber
never ever pissing into the wind
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Sep 29, 2007 - 12:33am PT
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that might be more of a rural legend, no?
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Shack
Big Wall climber
Reno NV
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Sep 29, 2007 - 12:45am PT
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I'm pretty sure I heard it from Russ...but it was 20 years ago.
I think the story goes that the climber fell from higher up in the slot and got wedged in at the bottom, with his legs dangling free, and suffocated.
By the time the SAR guys got there, the guy had bloated up and he was wedged in super tight.
Werner? Russ? Details?
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k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
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Sep 29, 2007 - 03:05pm PT
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My buddies were high on the Rostrum when Alex breezed by. "Hey, do you want some beta for this pitch?" he said as he hung out at the .11b corner.
"Sure Mate!"
Alex at the Sentinel boulders:
Nothing like onsighting V4 in your tennies while taking a rest day...
Afterwards I felt kinda of small after saying how the V7 looked hard.
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Blowboarder
Boulder climber
Back in the mix
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Sep 29, 2007 - 04:41pm PT
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Astroman has good rests all over it. Every time I fell out of the Endurance Corner, I rested on the rope. Very relaxing.
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jsavage
climber
Bishop, CA
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bump
this is too significant to be four pages deep right now
props
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bldr
Trad climber
roseville
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Congrats to Alex.
Dgaine you are correct about alex, amazing climber. Not bad progress from that kid who always rode his bike to the gym.
For years it could be a struggle to get alex outside but he was always fun to climb with. I don't think there is a climb in existence that alex wouldn't try for a bag of M&Ms.
-jordan
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