A SUMMER AFTERNOON WITH BACHAR AND BRIDWELL

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Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 12, 2009 - 06:18pm PT
A SUMMER AFTERNOON WITH BACHAR AND BRIDWELL

One summer afternoon in 1975 John Bachar, Bridwell and I went to the base of El Cap to have fun, take a play day. John was 18 years old and the year before had done among other things the FA of the tiny Short But Thin with Tobin Sorenson; we ended up at its base which is between The Slack and La Cosita. So we all just hung out there, roped the little 5.11b route and had fun in the shade for a few hours. After awhile it seemed that we were done but then John without any announcement, got up and walked over to the base of his climb again this last time without a rope while Jim and I sat in the talus. It was one of John’s very early solos. The last photo here shows him just about to clear the ropes away for his solo. He enjoyed it clearly and seemed to derive an important sensation from his 30 foot climb. Jim and I weren’t worried as we watched and of course John climbed perfectly. At the time it seemed the perfectly natural next thing to do. Jim had been kind of mentoring Bachar for a few years and they were close friends.











Scout 2

Trad climber
Placerville
Jul 12, 2009 - 06:36pm PT
Hey peter
thanks for posting that little gem, more days like that...

Cheers
Russ Walling

Gym climber
Poofter's Froth, Wyoming
Jul 12, 2009 - 06:58pm PT
Way to break with the moldy stuff! Bravo!
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Jul 12, 2009 - 07:00pm PT
Well done Peter! Great pictures of Jim and John. Hits my nostalgia button.
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 12, 2009 - 07:02pm PT
me too, friends!
'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
Jul 12, 2009 - 07:07pm PT
Great stuff! Were you too mesmerized to take a photo of John's solo ascent?
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 12, 2009 - 07:11pm PT
PtPP, I think I had packed the Nikon by that point. I think John had been kind of inwardly debating whether to solo it and just as it became apparent we were leaving really soon, he fired it off, you see.
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
Jul 12, 2009 - 07:59pm PT
that's a good set of images.

what would we have done without the internet?

thx Peter.
martygarrison

Trad climber
The Great North these days......
Jul 12, 2009 - 08:04pm PT
great post!
MisterE

Trad climber
One Step Beyond!
Jul 12, 2009 - 08:19pm PT
What a gem - Peter hits the right notes yet again.

Erik
graham

Social climber
Ventura, California
Jul 12, 2009 - 08:24pm PT
Those were the best!

Thx
Mimi

climber
Jul 12, 2009 - 08:31pm PT
Thanks Peter. Just what we needed.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jul 12, 2009 - 08:51pm PT
thanks for the work to show us those great images from a summer afternoon 34 years ago

who knows where the time goes?

seamus mcshane

climber
Jul 12, 2009 - 09:08pm PT
Days like that are the only ones we really remember.

Great weather, great rock, great times, and better friends.

RIP John Bachar.

Amazing history Mr. Haan. Bravo!
pyro

Big Wall climber
Calabasas
Jul 12, 2009 - 09:08pm PT
this is so awesome!
totally stoked to see this!

Rick A

climber
Boulder, Colorado
Jul 12, 2009 - 11:22pm PT
Thanks, Peter.
Rick
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Jul 12, 2009 - 11:34pm PT
The years go by like flipping thru the pages of a book. Thank you Peter for capturing an afternoon in time that years later is appreciated by so many. I was just up there at the base of La Cosita, and like so many climbs and places, you can sense the passage of the ones before you if only you take the time. Its one of the things that make the Valley such a special place. Right on.
bluering

Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
Jul 12, 2009 - 11:54pm PT
The years go by like flipping thru the pages of a book. Thank you Peter for capturing an afternoon in time that years later is appreciated by so many.

Geez, that's so true. Thanks, Peter!
Lynne Leichtfuss

Social climber
valley center, ca
Jul 13, 2009 - 01:21am PT
Really Special Peter Haan, and thanks .......

Of so many pics that have been posted of Mr. JB I like your last one. It's right up there with the best. A photo that shows the long strong legs....and I'm told it's all about the legs in climbing. :D Peace to you Peter and Cheers to a great Dude.
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Jul 13, 2009 - 01:40am PT
It is indeed short but thin - I remember it being a quite balancy lieback/stem thing. Here's Eric Weinstein on it, in October 1976.
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