Trip Report
TR: Born Under a Bad Sign, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Ca.
Sunday October 4, 2009 11:19pm
photo not found
Missing photo ID#129933


The full trip report by myself and Walt Shipley is at this link:

http://www.fishproducts.com/topos/badsignTR/badsignTR.html

  Trip Report Views: 5,768
Russ Walling
About the Author
Russ Walling is a gym climber from Poofter's Froth, Wyoming.

Comments
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Oct 5, 2009 - 02:29am PT
hey there russ... say, oh my... i have never yet seen so many great trip reports from your and your partners, such as all this...

whewwwwww... i will never have time to read all this, but sometime i will come back and take more peeks...

say, i really liked this----there's nothing like "swell partners" they really make a trip, for sure:
As could be predicted, once I was safely back at the Deli, I had regrets and feelings of failure. Russ Walling, a.k.a., "The Fish" and "Mussy", would soon offer to join me for the inevitable "rematch" the following year. It was going to be great fun. The Fish is so thoroughly entertaining to be around that the terror of the route would be masked.
(R) I recall it being the other way around. I was looking forward to climbing with Walt because "he" is such a riot. I had done a bunch of freeclimbs with Walt, and his utter go-for-it and self depreciating manner made him a great partner.



*say, i loved the tram sign being in your ?room?---say, would love to see a picture of it... :)

thanks for the neat links shared here...
man oh man, great stuff...
yep--i know, it's all at the "fish" site.... :)
god bless, to you, russ ... :)
Rankin

Social climber
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  Oct 24, 2009 - 09:44am PT
Best TR ever! I don't know how I've missed this one until now, as I've pa roused Mussy's Bedtime Stories on several occasions. I talked with Walt a few times when I worked at the Mountain Shop in 98. He would lurk in the shop and watch the kayaking videos playing on the shop TV. He was so amped, he kept saying "Woah man, that's some big water, man!" It's cool you guys hooked up...what a couple of characters!
Russ Walling

Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
Author's Reply  Nov 5, 2012 - 11:32pm PT
1600 views and 3 comments bump!
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Nov 5, 2012 - 11:47pm PT
Amazing trip report. Thank you for sharing the story.
Mark Hudon

Trad climber
On the road.
  Nov 5, 2012 - 11:48pm PT
I read this one on your site, Russ. Awesome TR!
tom Carter

Social climber
  Nov 6, 2012 - 01:05am PT
I must have read this at least 3-5 times. It is terrific. Wonderful to hear Walt and Russ together (in a way).

Thanks again!
Fat Dad

Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
  Nov 6, 2012 - 01:11am PT
I read it on your site too.
mctwisted

Trad climber
e.p.
  Nov 6, 2012 - 09:41am PT
good to read that again this morning, nice to have the great pics in there also, to really convey the severity of the ascent.

good to see pics of russ and walt and remember the good ol days


Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
sawatch choss
  Nov 6, 2012 - 12:34pm PT
I have to poop now.
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Dec 26, 2012 - 02:20pm PT
Thanks to those who bumped this excellent TR.

John
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
  Dec 26, 2012 - 03:38pm PT
Phew! This reminds me why I gave up hard aid climbing before there was hard aid climbing. Great TR.
StahlBro

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
  Dec 26, 2012 - 07:14pm PT
Thanks for bringing this back. Great TR Russ!
WBraun

climber
  Dec 26, 2012 - 07:48pm PT
There's hardly any comments to this TR because after they get done reading it they're all blown away and speechless.

Then they slink back to their fond memories of doing the "Nutcracker" in a day, guns and boobs ......
couchmaster

climber
  Dec 26, 2012 - 08:30pm PT
Blown away and speechless fer sure.....Thanks for sharing it Russ.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Dec 27, 2012 - 10:26pm PT
Amazing TR, bad a$$
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
  Dec 27, 2012 - 10:45pm PT
Awesomeness is upon us!
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
  Dec 27, 2012 - 11:28pm PT
Excellent!
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
  Dec 27, 2012 - 11:31pm PT
Sick tr. Thanks Russ, for sharing Walts final essay.
prickle

Gym climber
globe,az
  Dec 29, 2012 - 07:38pm PT
great report, thanks
Double D

climber
  Dec 29, 2012 - 08:18pm PT
Best not be drinking when you read this or your screen will get wet... jes say'n
BASE104

Social climber
An Oil Field
  Dec 29, 2012 - 09:33pm PT
I'm the one who brought up the beer and jumped off.

Just felt I needed props for that......
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