Derek Hersey

Olaf Mitchell wrote:das,da,man n action ! any of you warrior's ever touched those sweet holds ?

Didn't you and I do Rain together once, Olaf?
Very neat climb.

EG

Yes, I believe we did and I think it was before friends came along to protect that section that Derek was on in that image.

Olaf, nothing protects that section very well these days. I would solo it thru the underclings, it's just that reach move past the one bolt up high. GAWD MAN!

Say hi to Willie Nelson in Paia baby!

One of the most enjoyable weeks of my life was spent climbing with Derek in 1979, before he moved to Boulder. We spent most of the time in Cornwall with him dragging me up various routes on Bosigran by day and sleeping in my car in a public car park by night. I was nowhere near his level, but he never made me feel like I was holding him back, it was just fun.

Do any of you guys in Boulder know if Keith Ainsworth is still around there?

Keith Ainsworth is alive and well here in Boulder. I don't see them as much as I once did, but every now and then I get a chance to catch up with "Keif", as Derek referred to him.

Hi Brad,

I recall doing El Matador on The Tower with you and Derek.
Must be close to twenty years ago now.

Hi Brad,
Thanks, I'm glad to hear "Keif"'s still around - if you don't mind, please say hello to him from Tony & Karen when you see him next. Last time we saw him was Derek's 'funeral'...

Tony, I'll definitely say hi to Keif for you. If you send me an email, I could give you contact information.

Tom, great memory! I remember doing El Matador with Derek and another climber pretty close to 20 years ago. Thanks for jogging my memory as to doing it with you. (At this point, I have to admit that it is all one big pitch to me, and my memory is sketchy about climbs I did last month :-) I did a climb over by Carol's Crack on that trip with Derek in the pouring rain. There were days in which Derek may have been slightly slowed down by a hangover, but it was pretty much expected that if one started a pitch, even in the pouring rain, it would get finished in the rain.

I knew Derek first in the late 70s before he went to the states/

I am still sorry he isn't around- a great modest guy, fun to be with/

THE SOULOIST

A soul with the greatest imagination possible
intent on exploring the physical body and inner mind
OR
A soul with no imagination at all

FOr Derek

cetdef@hotmail.co.uk

Alan C.

Only recently found the forum. I posted a comment a few days about Derek and noticed Keith Ainsworth name mentioned and still living in Boulder. Could someone please tell him that his partner from the Rollick stones ( UK premier outcrop!) is trying to contact him- ta-

ps Derek was also known as desperate , perhaps more fondly than dirty!

his favourite retort to a story was a woof, woof, drawn out for emphasis!

I recall many raucous nights drinking strong beer with Derek, Crusher, and the other Brits at Old Chicago (although I generally regretted it the next day!), and I always looked forward to Derek coming into Neptune's with amusing stories- such as when he almost fell off the Eldorado pumphouse trying to get out of his old green jacket. But what I remember most clearly was during one of the worst times when I was going through my divorce, Derek sat with me in the Neptune's library and we talked quietly and seriously about life, goals, love, and heartbreak. It was a side of him I had never seen, and still one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. Cheers, Mate!

Derek's business card

Larry Coats, how are you?? It has been a long time, and I wonder if you remember me after all of these years. Hope you're well wherever you are. I've always wondered what happened to you.

Your post reminds me that I have one of Derek's old business cards, along with some other relics. I have quite a few slides I took of Derek soloing G'mother's Challenge, Hair City (soloing down), Supremacy Crack, and The Scenic Cruise. Also, bunches of slides of climbs we did in Colorado and Utah. I inherited (through Annie W.) some of Derek's clothes. I still wear the old pair of J-Rat shorts that Annie gave me, even though they have many tears in them.

I've even got a copy of the Boulder Daily Camera from that sad day that Derek's picture, and news of his death was on the front page of the paper.

stumbled onto this succession of videos.
wow

youtube.com/watch?v=b3dTIeP…

That's the Front Rang Freaks segment isn't it?

One more image that I just ran across.....

Entry in summit register from the Priest

ALAN COOPER wrote:Only recently found the forum. I posted a comment a few days about Derek and noticed Keith Ainsworth name mentioned and still living in Boulder. Could someone please tell him that his partner from the Rollick stones ( UK premier outcrop!) is trying to contact him- ta- ps Derek was also known as desperate , perhaps more fondly than dirty! his favourite retort to a story was a woof, woof, drawn out for emphasis!

Hi Alan Yes how could I ever forget Never Mind the Rollicks Yes I am living here I can truly say "I'm more boulder than ever" This seems to be the place that people go to find me so here I am keithains@yahoo.com Always glad to hear from the old crew and yes you made a good point his friends used to call him Desperate Derek

Hi Keith

Just sent an email to your private address, yes how could you ever forget the rollick stones, britain's best outcrop and your best leads,

cheers ducks

In the early 90's, I lived next door to Derek's girlfriend. Whenever I'd leave my house, I'd check around to see if Derek was waiting for a bus, and if so, I'd give him a ride. He had the best stories to tell, and was always interested in what you had climbed. A genuine interest...

One time I made a trip up to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. I was just topping out on a route, when I heard his famous call "Hey, you punter!". Derek had just topped out on a route on the other side, and we laughed like hell running into each other so far from home. Of course, he down climbed the route I just struggled up.

I never knew when nor where I'd run into Derek, but he would always take the time to say hello.

yes, derek was just that a genuine guy and in this superfical capitalist world , that's not a bad epitaph to have

Thought you folks might be interested in this thread in the UK.

I was lucky enough to climb with Derek on many occasions in the UK.

He was an amazing bloke.

ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php…