MudNCrud Forums
Climbing and ... Climbing => Everywhere Else => Topic started by: Brad Young on February 09, 2008, 10:24:19 PM
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Last August I got news that made me wonder if I'd ever climb with the old bugger again. Today we did Outer Limits and Crack-a-Go-Go in the Valley. I wouldn't say he's strong, but he got up Crack-a-Go-Go on TR with no falls, second try. Not bad. His hair's growing back too.
One of the other regulars here didn't climb with Skelton, but apparently climbed with his rack. I'll let him post up his own story (unless he doesn't cough up, in which case I'll post up about why Skelton was late meeting me).
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Last August I got news that made me wonder if I'd ever climb with the old bugger again. Today we did Outer Limits and Crack-a-Go-Go in the Valley. I wouldn't say he's strong, but he got up Crack-a-Go-Go on TR with no falls, second try. Not bad. His hair's growing back too.
One of the other regulars here didn't climb with Skelton, but apparently climbed with his rack. I'll let him post up his own story (unless he doesn't cough up, in which case I'll post up about why Skelton was late meeting me).
turns out the others that were going to be at Parkline didn't show, so it was good Ron got to climb without having to wait for us.
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Finish the story.
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For people who don't know, our friend (Ron) Skelton just got out of his battle with cancer. He finished his eighth (hopefully the last ever) chemo on Jan 17. They did not find cancer cells in the last CT scan. So, he is on his way to recovery. Woohoo! :D
I wouldn't say he's strong, but he got up Crack-a-Go-Go on TR with no falls, second try. Not bad.
You don't call that strong? Man, I feel sooooo weak!
BTW, Ron and Liz just started operating a really nice Bed & Breakfast 2 miles from Yosemite. Check it out if you get chance! Click here (http://www.yosemitebluebutterflyinn.com/) for the link. (Or see the News flash on top.)
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Alright, Munge now we really want to know.
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Miwok and I didn't understand each other and neither of us brought a full rack and we didn't coordinate with Ron ahead of time about gear. It was just lucky that we got a hold of Ron in the morning before he headed to the Cookie, otherwise Brad's invite to Ron would have been more serious.
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Miwok and I didn't understand each other...
Did you say "douche"?
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douche describes a person's character, not a miscommunication per se.
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You know he was quite pleased to be able to help out. And going to get his rack made him arrive 25 seconds after I did (big traffic/construction snarl up in the Valley delayed me).
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douche describes a person's character, not a miscommunication per se.
I know. I was just wondering if the reason you miscommunicated was someone mentioned the word "douche".
Sorry. I was just messing... It was just a new word I recently learned (http://www.mudncrud.com/forums/index.php?topic=621.0). Still excited about it. ;D
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Nice usage of the word mudworm. Gold star.
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I know. I was just wondering if the reason you miscommunicated was someone mentioned the word "douche".
Sorry. I was just messing... It was just a new word I recently learned (http://www.mudncrud.com/forums/index.php?topic=621.0). Still excited about it. ;D
Another one corrupted... :)
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I know. I was just wondering if the reason you miscommunicated was someone mentioned the word "douche".
Sorry. I was just messing... It was just a new word I recently learned (http://www.mudncrud.com/forums/index.php?topic=621.0). Still excited about it. ;D
oh bruther
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Hey, a friend pointed out that my original post may have been a little too strong, maybe insulting to Robert. If so, I sincerely apologize to Rob. I was amused by the miscommunication that resulted in their forgetting a rack. Not only have I done the same thing, that very day we left my rope up at the Cookie. I thought Ron was carrying it down and he thought I was carrying it down. Later I got an email from Clint that he had it! Also, Ron was truly pleased that he could help.
Back to the point: if my thread was insulting, please accept my sincere apology.
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Later I got an email from Clint that he had it!
Figures the booty man would have it ;)
I've done one worse. New Years eve '93 or '94 at the monolith and it's getting dark. I had set a rack of draws down by my pack. Two weeks later I go to un-pack my pack....hmmm feels really, really light.....oh no!
And then the topper is to have EC Joe on supertopo claim one of the best finds at the Pinnalces was a rack....small world??
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no, small rack ;D
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EC joe?
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Yep, EC Joe. Eddie C Joe from the north bay (Moraga I think). He posted up on ST a month or so ago.
Hey, at least it forced me to upgrade.
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You have friends?
Hey, a friend pointed out....
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Yeah, and you're one of them. Highlight of your life.
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You post while your dreaming?
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"Hey, at least it forced me to upgrade."
why would you need to upgrade? some of your gear is less than 30 years old.
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So, yesterday, seven weeks post chemo, using a rack he's not familiar with, Skelton led Lunatic Fringe in perfect style. Today he was sore, but he still grabbed TRs today on Waverly Wafer (he hung) and Wheat Thin (no problemo). And his hair's almost an inch long, still with some color. All in all, he's doing pretty damn well.
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Ron will outlive us all and out climb us.
:)
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Well, he's already doing the second one. On the first one, his mom's 93 years old and still lives alone and drives herself. So, maybe...
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Whoohoo congrats Ron. Was hoping to get up there this month but this project is taking longer than expected. If you see him again say hey for me.
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Mr Mud, there is a device known as a telephone. It allows communications two ways over distance. While I will, of course, say hey for you, you know he'd love to get a call from you out of the blue, saying hello. (Historically he is mostly unaware that phones work two ways, but that is getting better).
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Well, he's already doing the second one. On the first one, his mom's 93 years old and still lives alone and drives herself. So, maybe...
An amazing family!
Mr Mud, there is a device known as a telephone.
In our house, the telephone might as well be a dead device, because nobody is home until after 9pm, which is usually the cutoff time for making or returning phone calls. Can't really call on the road either because of the hills. But you all know that we are thinking of you, right? :D
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Well if it has taken Skelton over 60 years to figure this out I am not doing so bad.
(Historically he is mostly unaware that phones work two ways, but that is getting better).
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phone? you mean a mobile device with intardweb capabilities so I can communicate with fellow climbers?
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phone? you mean a mobile device with intardweb capabilities so I can communicate with fellow climbers?
Doesn't free beer better facilitate communication between climbers?
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Wow, he's got hair! Climbed with Ron in the Valley today. He's got a full head of (admittedly short) hair again. He led the first pitch of Bitch's Terror (which is also the first half of Bishop's Terrace). He placed one piece of gear, 80 feet up. I managed to redpoint the second pitch. He followed it.
He complains about "being out of shape." I guess it's a bummer finishing chemo and then not being fully back up to speed 4 months later :)
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good job on Bitches Terror.
I ran into your friend Brenda (she was on Bishops T) when I was on Bitches a few weeks ago. I think there is a sketchy section there where the climbing is hard and a fall would be dangerous. so in good form, I stepped on the bolt.
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Mudworm, what was that post here that got deleted? I couldn't tell if it was legit or not. Did you delete it or did the posting party?
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Mudworm, what was that post here that got deleted? I couldn't tell if it was legit or not. Did you delete it or did the posting party?
Banned and killed. Just someone from UK looking for any forum to register in order to make a senseless reply. It's the links in their post/signature they want you to click on.
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never trust the English:-)
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He made page 36 of climbing magazine! January '09 issue. Nice mini-article. ION, he turns 68 on February 4 and is in pretty good shape for the annual lead of Crack-a-Go-Go.
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To cool. Here's to Ron sending.
Bought RockandIce last Month, will have to buy Climbing this Month.
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I've finished reading my copy. you're welcome to it.
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Cross posted from Supertopo forum:
Most climbers who frequent The Valley know or know of Ron Skelton, a long time Valley climber who lives in El Portal. Today is his 68th birthday. As he has done many times, he spent part of his birthday at The Cookie. His normal "birthday lead" is Crack-a-Go-Go. Today we met up there, in perfect weather. He hasn't done this lead on his birthday for the last two years, since it was only in January, 2008 that he finished chemotherapy (successfully, with no signs of any cancer returning).
I'm awfully pleased to say that Ron fired it, perfectly, on lead, although he was a little nervous. Two years ago I seriously wondered whether he'd ever be able to get on it again. This was a great day.
Several locals who are Ron's friends were there getting in some laps and wishing him on. After Crack-a-Go-Go he finished with a TR lap on Red Zinger (or as he calls it Red Zingers, 'cause more than one finger usually gets gummed up).
A few photos:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3254995264_6dd3dba933.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/3254995290_ca4eb5259b.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/3254995304_de56241ea2.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/3254995328_c046cd91f1.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3254995334_b415542799.jpg?v=0)
Two other notes: Ron has huge hands and boulderers might think that chalk bag he's toting is one of their "buckets." No, just a custom made bag that lets the whole hand in at once. And, of course the jeans. He almost always climbs in 'em.
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So there's hope for those of us with small hands to climb crack a gogo?
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Brad, thanks for the cross post! Wow, wish I had been there to witness.
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Congrats to Ron, this is awesome. Would have been nice to be there. Looks like he styled crack a no pro.
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Just read the article. Good stuff. Didn't realize it was marrow. Assumed it was lymph nodes. Glad Ron's still with us. Amazing to think he didn't come to climbing until later in life and not as a child given how good he is.
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"Amazing to think he didn't come to climbing until later in life and not as a child given how good he is."
The advantage he had was learning from masters. Talk to Ron and he'll occasionally and in-passing mention two things. Which routes he did in EBs (usually as you're walking under them), and who he's climbed them with. He learned some seriously good technique from from seriously good climbers. That's what happens when you live 10 minutes from The Cookie.
And how many of you younger Masters of Mud even know what EBs are? (I know you do Rob, but there's probably some other, younger climbers here who don't).