Well, Randy Vogel can easily solo North Overhang, but may be he didn't want to wait for you guys to clear the way and took the easy way out. Going right is Overhang Bypass, 5.7, as I'm sure you know.
Now I'm wondering what kind of tricks did the French climbers have up their sleeves!
In the early 80s, Miguel Carmona and I ran into some of his old Spanish climbing buddies in J Tree. They were visiting from Spain. Small world.
We chatted and Miguel offered everyone a beer. An American bottled beer.
During the conversation Miguel casually twisted the bottle cap off. The Spaniards almost fainted in response. Their eyes were totally wide and they were just starring at Miguel's hands.
Finally one of them said, you must be in a really good shape...
Only then it occurred to both of us, that they never saw easy twist off cap before...
Thank you Alois.
Your story about the twist-off bottle cap is funny and amusing. This reminds of the soda bottles you get in the sherpa houses in the Himalayas. It seems that, at least in the 90s, they used the same bottles over and over again till the bottles looked totally foggy. The new caps they put on are barely on. They can all be twisted off, even if they were not meant to be. And, as the result, all of the carbonation would have escaped and taste completely flat.
Not being a bashful, quiet person myself I am always amazed by others who are silent "demi-gods" (can't think of a good word....) in their field, especially when they are so human and approachable.
I wonder how many each of us have actually hiked with, climbed with, camped with etc. and never realized it?
Thank you very much for the comment Kathy. I am happy to know that you enjoyed my two little stories. To tell you the truth, in my second story, I still feel that Yves was playing games with me. He could have told me that he was already an accomplished climber and he didn't need any instructions from me. But, I too have played this game before. So, I guess I deserved what I got.
Thanks for sharing these fun stories. You were there, but it sounds more like Yves was being respectful to you rather than playing a game. The mark of a true gentleman. My first ever trad lead was on intersection rock, a short little 5.3 on the left of your pictures. Nervous as all hell, especially with others looking on!
Thank you very much tonyo. I have no doubt that Yves was a very respectful gentleman, but I can't help but to think that he could have given me a clue as to why he was out there in Wonderland of rocks taking pictures. I'm sure he was photographing the new 5.13 routes. Shortly after I showed interest in climbing, he told me that he was not going to lead anything. Then I made those foolish assumptions. You may also be right. He didn't want to disrespect me by telling me that he could lead 5.13s. Who knows, I thought the whole thing was kind of interesting!
Glad to know your "short little 5.3," as you put it, didn't discourage you to keep going. I have had my moments of embarrassments and nervousness too, many of them.
Augie Medina - May 7, 2014 7:43 pm - Voted 10/10
Great StoriesThanks for sharing.
Marcsoltan - May 7, 2014 9:22 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great StoriesThanks Augie. My solo trips didn't always end up good. I have some pretty bad ones too.
Marcsoltan - May 8, 2014 11:25 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: ropeless randy vogelWell, Randy Vogel can easily solo North Overhang, but may be he didn't want to wait for you guys to clear the way and took the easy way out. Going right is Overhang Bypass, 5.7, as I'm sure you know.
Now I'm wondering what kind of tricks did the French climbers have up their sleeves!
Silvia Mazzani - May 9, 2014 1:10 pm - Voted 10/10
Fine climbing adventures!I can't imagine which are your "bad solo trips", Marc, but these one are amusing enough! Thanks for sharing with us.
Ciao and cheers.
Silvia
asmrz - May 10, 2014 3:02 am - Voted 10/10
Re: Fine climbing adventures!Hi Marc, love these J Tree stories.
I have one too:
In the early 80s, Miguel Carmona and I ran into some of his old Spanish climbing buddies in J Tree. They were visiting from Spain. Small world.
We chatted and Miguel offered everyone a beer. An American bottled beer.
During the conversation Miguel casually twisted the bottle cap off. The Spaniards almost fainted in response. Their eyes were totally wide and they were just starring at Miguel's hands.
Finally one of them said, you must be in a really good shape...
Only then it occurred to both of us, that they never saw easy twist off cap before...
Cheers. Alois.
Marcsoltan - May 10, 2014 10:43 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Fine climbing adventures!Thank you Alois.
Your story about the twist-off bottle cap is funny and amusing. This reminds of the soda bottles you get in the sherpa houses in the Himalayas. It seems that, at least in the 90s, they used the same bottles over and over again till the bottles looked totally foggy. The new caps they put on are barely on. They can all be twisted off, even if they were not meant to be. And, as the result, all of the carbonation would have escaped and taste completely flat.
Cheers, Marc
silversummit - May 10, 2014 8:45 am - Voted 10/10
Great stories Marc!Not being a bashful, quiet person myself I am always amazed by others who are silent "demi-gods" (can't think of a good word....) in their field, especially when they are so human and approachable.
I wonder how many each of us have actually hiked with, climbed with, camped with etc. and never realized it?
Your stories made my morning!
Kathy
Marcsoltan - May 10, 2014 10:50 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Great stories Marc!Thank you very much for the comment Kathy. I am happy to know that you enjoyed my two little stories. To tell you the truth, in my second story, I still feel that Yves was playing games with me. He could have told me that he was already an accomplished climber and he didn't need any instructions from me. But, I too have played this game before. So, I guess I deserved what I got.
Cheers,
Marc
tonyo - May 11, 2014 3:27 pm - Voted 10/10
Great storiesThanks for sharing these fun stories. You were there, but it sounds more like Yves was being respectful to you rather than playing a game. The mark of a true gentleman. My first ever trad lead was on intersection rock, a short little 5.3 on the left of your pictures. Nervous as all hell, especially with others looking on!
Marcsoltan - May 11, 2014 4:34 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great storiesThank you very much tonyo. I have no doubt that Yves was a very respectful gentleman, but I can't help but to think that he could have given me a clue as to why he was out there in Wonderland of rocks taking pictures. I'm sure he was photographing the new 5.13 routes. Shortly after I showed interest in climbing, he told me that he was not going to lead anything. Then I made those foolish assumptions. You may also be right. He didn't want to disrespect me by telling me that he could lead 5.13s. Who knows, I thought the whole thing was kind of interesting!
Glad to know your "short little 5.3," as you put it, didn't discourage you to keep going. I have had my moments of embarrassments and nervousness too, many of them.