Author Topic: Climbing With Skelton (Read 23924 times)

mynameismud · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2008, 08:49:12 AM »

You post while your dreaming?

joe · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2008, 10:11:30 AM »

"Hey, at least it forced me to upgrade."

why would you need to upgrade? some of your gear is less than 30 years old.

Brad Young · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2008, 05:59:43 PM »

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.

mungeclimber · « **Reply #23 on:** March 09, 2008, 09:20:08 PM »

Ron will outlive us all and out climb us.

Brad Young · « **Reply #24 on:** March 10, 2008, 06:36:22 AM »

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...

mynameismud · « **Reply #25 on:** March 10, 2008, 07:57:40 AM »

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.

Brad Young · « **Reply #26 on:** March 10, 2008, 08:44:17 AM »

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).

mudworm · « **Reply #27 on:** March 10, 2008, 09:38:32 AM »

Quote from: Brad Young

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!

Quote from: Brad Young

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?

mynameismud · « **Reply #28 on:** March 10, 2008, 10:16:10 AM »

Well if it has taken Skelton over 60 years to figure this out I am not doing so bad.

Quote from: Brad Young on March 10, 2008, 08:44:17 AM

(Historically he is mostly unaware that phones work two ways, but that is getting better).

mungeclimber · « **Reply #29 on:** March 11, 2008, 08:41:04 PM »

phone? you mean a mobile device with intardweb capabilities so I can communicate with fellow climbers?

F4? · « **Reply #30 on:** March 12, 2008, 07:11:00 AM »

phone? you mean a mobile device with intardweb capabilities so I can communicate with fellow climbers?

Quote

Doesn't free beer better facilitate communication between climbers?

Brad Young · « **Reply #31 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:28:27 PM »

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

joe · « **Reply #32 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:37:09 PM »

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.

Brad Young · « **Reply #33 on:** May 08, 2008, 08:41:31 AM »

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?

The Big · « **Reply #34 on:** May 08, 2008, 08:48:38 AM »

Quote from: Brad Young

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.

squiddo · « **Reply #35 on:** May 08, 2008, 12:21:25 PM »

never trust the English:-)

Brad Young · « **Reply #36 on:** January 21, 2009, 08:59:09 PM »

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.

mynameismud · « **Reply #37 on:** January 22, 2009, 07:31:18 AM »

To cool. Here's to Ron sending.

Bought RockandIce last Month, will have to buy Climbing this Month.

joe · « **Reply #38 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:12:28 PM »

I've finished reading my copy. you're welcome to it.

Brad Young · « **Reply #39 on:** February 04, 2009, 08:28:04 PM »

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:

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.

News:

Author Topic: Climbing With Skelton (Read 23924 times)