Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Volume 3 published September 2012...
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Royal+Robbins
Rob,
I liked volume 1 "To Be Brave" very much, too - with all the childhood misadventures transitioning to early climbing adventures.
Jim,
I rarely read books, and don't read climbing magazines cover to cover anymore. But I've always liked Royal's articles and adventures. I used to have many years of Summit magazines and got to read some of his great stuff like "Cutting Canadian Capers"! (Edith Cavell, etc.)
P.S. Can you tell us a story sometime about the club where people hunt down the last members of an endangered species? I always thought this was a great spoof on environmentalism! I heard the story from my climbing friend who met you in the 70s, Brinton Young.
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DanaB
climber
CT
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I have alway found it difficult and unsatisying to read about climbing. I much more enjoy reading about activities i know little about
I'm not criticizing people who like to read about climbing, but I agree with Jim. Climbing books, climbing magazines, and (especially) climbing videos never interested me too much. Personal preference, nothing more.
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s Royal was, as Pat Ament said, the Spirit of the Age. It's hard to imagine that period without him setting the pace. It's good he's writing and keeping his intellect alive.
;>)
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Clint! Thanks for bringing up Royal's books. I have the first two, but was not aware that #3 had been published. I owe it to myself, to buy it and read it.
Re your question for Donini:
P.S. Can you tell us a story sometime about the club where people hunt down the last members of an endangered species? I always thought this was a great spoof on environmentalism!
I don't have any Donini memories on the subject, but Ray Bradbury did a 1952 short story, with an ugly & scary twist on the subject.
Here's the Wiki-link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sound_of_Thunder
Bradbury did "think-ahead!"
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steveA
Trad climber
bedford,massachusetts
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I still remember watching Robbins climb in the Gunks with McCarthy, probably in 1968.
They had already climbed a bunch of hard routes and were finishing up on Retribution-5.10. This is when 5.10 WAS the top grade BITD.
There was a huge crowd watching and Royal was at the crux move. McCarthy didn't tell Royal about the key hold, which if not used, in my opinion would put the climb in the 5.11 range for sure.
Royal cruised the move, which amazed me.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Fritz, thanks, but I'd say that article is more about time travel paradox? I meant the concept of helping extinction along in the present day.... :-)
There is a brief interview of Royal in the latest issue of Climbing (just received it today).
It gave a URL where the book can be bought directly, and it also offers signed copies:
http://royalrobbinsthebook.com/
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Roxy
Trad climber
CA Central Coast
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I too went to buy Fail Falling - cashing in on a gift card - when I saw The Golden Age. So I bought 'em both.
Halfway through Fail Falling and eager to get onto The Golden Age.
With three more volumes to go curious how many will be about his kayaking adventures. Pumped to read about the Triple Crown of first descents RR and Reg Lake and YC did back in the 80s.
That's gotta be worth two volumes of his life. As a reader I hope so anyways.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
san jose, ca
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:)
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Ron Anderson
Trad climber
Soon to be Nipple suckling Liberal
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^^^in my copy of "Spirit of the age"
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Roxy
Trad climber
CA Central Coast
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signed copies of books by their authors is way bithcin'
so jealous,
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BooDawg
Social climber
Butterfly Town
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First, I fully acknowledge Royal's climbing accomplishments, his positive influence on our ethics, his excellent writing that has appeared in many climbing magazines and journals, and his positive influence on younger generations of youth, whether they came into climbing or not.
Second, I really appreciate the effort it takes to write the memoirs that Royal is writing, and I feel honored to have read all three volumes that have come out so far. Thank you, Royal (and Liz), for your efforts and for getting them into print.
Third, I'd like to invite all who are interested in Royal's life and in the climbs and other climbers of that era to read Joe Fitschen's autobiography, "Going Up." He writes nearly as much about Royal as he does about himself, and the reader gets deep insights into the minds and hearts of both of these guys during their formative years in L.A. and through the years that they were in the army and afterward. Excellent reading! Thank you, Joe.
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