I can assure you he means the former. I first met RG in my first year of climbing (72/73) when I was but 17. He was one of those in the rarefied atmosphere that could confidently cruise up a 5.8 (I had no idea at the time that he was climbing much harder stuff). I remember being riveted while on Three Pines watching him lead Something Interesting (rated 5.7 then).

Bill, if you check the link, you'll see that the summit register is dated July 26, 1958, so that will be my 50th climbing birthday (god willing, as the orthodox of my people always add). I was 14 at the time of that ascent, so you can compute my age from that. Whatever may or may not be encoded in looks, I'm afraid I am, after all, that damn old.

And Marc, oh for the days when cruising 5.8 was actually a cause for any kind of admiration! Nowadays, its a lot harder to get any love.

Well Rich, here’s tilting one to you in the hopes you will get to fulfill that 50th B-day wish.

MIKEY FOR CHRISSAKE LEARN HOW TO SPELL.
OR TYPE.
OR BOTH.

I took this one on Saturday...It shouldn't take too long to guess:

Strictly from Nowhere?

Yep. After the renewed discussion in the accident thread, I wanted to go back and check the route out. Nice climb.

Nice photo - looks like you're being belayed by the hand of God . . .

Testing

Talus

I am way late to this but would love to see the pic as I had a bit of an adventure last year looking for the Old Route. Thought it would be cool to do such a historic climb. I think I was at the right starting point but clearly missed something, unless the rating is REALLY OLD SKOOL, since I ended up on something that felt 8ish with about a 40+ footer if i blew it on the way back right to a nice big tree. it was great climbing on a small, thin right facing corner arch.

If anyone knows where I went wrong... I think I missed a traverse left somewhere after the dirty right facing corner.

thanks

Michael