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Tricouni
Mountain climber
Vancouver
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Nov 19, 2012 - 02:02pm PT
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The geodetic people got around, but that is not one of their markers, at least not anything like any I've seen before.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 19, 2012 - 08:10pm PT
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Another sort of marker, placed by the Mountain Access Committee/Mountain Rescue Group in the mid 1960s.
The tree has done a fine job of growing around the sign, "Baldwin-Cooper" meaning that it is for the path to the base of the Grand Wall.
Going back to Andy's tag/marker, it's interesting that it has "P. Brown" stamped on it three times. Also that it's screwed in, not nailed. What metal is it made out of? Size? Perhaps there's someone named "P. Brown" who liked to "tag" things he went to? Although it looks old and weathered, as apparently corroborated by it being in a dead-looking burl.
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MH2
climber
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Nov 19, 2012 - 08:40pm PT
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Now that you mention...
When I go back and look, "P. Brown" is also stamped 3 times along the edge of the dog tag. I suspect that P. Brown was an eccentric who may have done this for reasons known only to them.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 20, 2012 - 12:44am PT
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Still trying to figure out the hand-engraved letters on the tag. I blew Andy's photo up a bunch, and looked at it from different angles, but couldn't figure out what the four symbols are.
Not to mention the location, the need to stamp his name seven (7!) times on it, etc etc.
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thekidcormier
Gym climber
squamish, b.c.
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Nov 20, 2012 - 01:39am PT
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Is it just me or was Perrys free ascent of 'commando crack' in '72(according to the newest select in front of me) WAAAAAY ahead of its time. I mean mercy me only got freed 3 years prior.
Any one know who got the 2nd free ascent of commando?
Another proud line freed in the 70s, seemingly ahead of its time, The left side, by Nicholas Taylor and Pete Pearl in '75, the same the right side was freed. Where did these dudes come from.
Sorry to disrupt a great discussion of those mysterious metal markers.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 20, 2012 - 02:18am PT
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The FA of Commando Crack was by Peter Peart and IIRC Brian Thompson, in 1972. The FFA was by Perry and Tim Holwill - the select guide is a bit hard to read.
Peter was an Australian who came here in about 1970. I knew him through the BCMC, and later we were in classes together at UBC. (He became an engineer.) Anyway, Peter was well connected to the Australian climbing scene, and in 1972 Chris Baxter came and climbed here as part of a tour. In 1975, Nic Taylor was here for a few days, and they did the left side of the Pillar, plus Split Beaver. There has been some skepticism regarding this, but then or soon after Nic was one of Australia's leading climbers. Anyway, something I'll talk with Peter about - maybe he even has photos.
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Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
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Nov 20, 2012 - 02:50am PT
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This is a rehash of ancient history.
Re Commando Crack
I think Smaill was referring to this climb when he described an enjoyable climb "if you like cream with your manure." I didn't know what it was called when I freed it as the first pitch of what would become Movin' to Montana in 80-81? with Tim Holwill.
If TCU's were around then, I didn't have any and I'm not sure if they'd fit anyways.
After a couple tries I led it clean with a fistful of green and blue RPs and thought it was hard 5.11 at the time.
It's a great pitch during the few weeks of the year that it's dry.
The Select Guide doesn't accurately reflect this pitch as part of Movin' to Montana.
Re The Left Side
Nic gets credit for the FFA, presumably from the hanging belay under the roof.
Although the veracity of this claim has been questioned, I don't think it was beyond Nic as that was the same year he freed Country Road (24/25) at Buffalo. He was all over The Valley's hardest cracks of the time.
The start of the Left Side was choked with dirt and grass when Daryl and Mike Boris cleaned it out so Bill could lead it free in 77.
(Credit for reaching the Left Side free from Merci Me at 11a/b goes to some tall skinny guy in 79/80.)
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harryhotdog
Social climber
north vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 20, 2012 - 09:56am PT
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What ever happened to Tim and Stew,anybody know. Hey Perry why don't you post up some pics on the coast range thread, I'm sure you have alot, Cheers!
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Nov 21, 2012 - 12:48pm PT
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Thanks, Perry! It will be interesting to learn how Tim and Dick (1972), and then Nic and Peter (1975) got to the start of the left side. Dick was involved in Ten Years After, which is the first half of the Mercy Me to Grand Wall linkup. I wonder?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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No climb from Squamish was included in "Fifty Classic Climbs of North America", published in 1979. It was a book somewhat oriented toward long alpine, and alpine rock, climbing, and to the USA. Still, it contains a number of rock routes. At least a few existing routes at Squamish as of say 1977/78 were of comparable quality to some of those included in the book, such as University Wall.
There is somewhat more about Squamish in "Climbing in North America", published in 1976, although mostly relating to the Grand Wall, and climbing up to 1970.
It's an interesting sidelight as to how Squamish was seen by some at that time.
And there's #900.
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Big Mike
Trad climber
BC
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Dec 11, 2012 - 10:11pm PT
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How is Squamish viewed now I wonder? Most people I met on my trip down south knew where Squamish was, but not many had been here or knew anything about the climbing.
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MH2
climber
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Dec 11, 2012 - 10:18pm PT
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"If there ever was a game show that tested people's knowledge of rock-climbing destinations..
[check Russ Clune in Fifty Favorite Climbs]
...Russ Clune would be the grand-prize winner."
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