Which climber inspires you to climb the way you do?

Peter Croft

Dom wrote:Anyone willing to sacrifice a perfect day of climbing to scrub, dig, bolt, re-bolt, replace an anchor, negotiate access, etc. Without all those sacrifices climbing would not be as good as it is now.

well said.

Tate Reese. (opened Taz on the cat wall) I remember John Varco telling the story of belaying him on his project, Pink Flamingo. He described Tate running it out through the crux, that he just kept paying out rope thinking, "please place a piece, please place a piece". I decided right then and there, that was how I wanted to climb. Once or twice I've even managed it!

Jean-Christophe Lafaille

"Could I but catch one windswept moment to energize my desolation into the ecstasy of remembered love".

My inspiration is Colin Kirkus.

The old guys. Why? they will talk climbing with anyone who loves climbing. They ARE the spirit of climbing, or what it used to be.

Nowadays, its just a bunch of elitist pro-hos. Too cool for anyone less strong is the apparent new motto amongst the very strong...

But to be less negative, my buddy Dan Semi is the best. He was a noob a few years back, and skyrocketed past my abilities within short time. We used to thrash him on 5.8 wide routes at the Turkey perch, he'd come down all scratched up and red faced "THAT WAS FRICKIN AWESOME! I'M LEADING IT"
Now he is telling me stories about these wild 5.10+ roofs at the gunks, and Boulders V7ish... Dude is a bad ass, will climb with anyone that loves climbing, and rocks the old school metal. All that and he gives a good attentive catch. Thanks Dan!

My guiding light was Daniel McClure, with a nice assist from Steve Cheny and cameos from Jeff Lowe, Kevin Donald, Billy Westbay, Earl Wiggans, and Jim Dunn.

I would also have to mention Mike Head.

James Crump wrote:My guiding light was Daniel McClure, with a nice assist from Steve Cheny and cameos from Jeff Lowe, Kevin Donald, Billy Westbay, Earl Wiggans, and Jim Dunn. I would also have to mention Mike Head.

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the guy who just posted, James Crump. he changed the direction my life would take forever with his Yahoo Mountain Guides. he is directly responsible for all the glory and havoc that have been my life. I love you James.

Kurt Ross,

for pushing the limits

of what aid climbing can really be.

youtube.com/watch?v=tXkcI4M…

Hank Caylor wrote: v. I love you James.

As you know, cause you own a piece of my heart, what that love has meant over the years! Sorry you missed the Gripper... If you had been there, it would have been over the top... As it was... We had dancing womens and lasers lights!

Michael is cooking a turducken for t-day n football, if you and dearest Jackie are not heading to Logan... You know where you need to be for T-day! And yes Spanky! I give thanks for you my friend! Thank you? When you are and old and fat has-been, you live through your prodigy's adventures... Oh what fun that has been!
vimeo.com/31061211

I agree with Josh. Matt Segal is inspiring to say the least....

fred nicole...power and grace

Chris treggE wrote:Pete Cleveland. Physician, father, and climber. Plus he said he loves my car and had a wagon just like it in the 60's.

Pete is definitely inspiring.

I had one of those wagons too--called it the rattlesnake.

Layton Kor: self-explanatory

Steve Wunsch: one of the first who was willing to take controlled falls when pro was good but also an absolute master of cool-headed downclimbing on runout terrain (eg Jules Verne).

Dave Baker: did the FA or FFA (pre-cams) of most of my favorite backcountry routes here in southern AZ. Routes that I now carry a double set of cams on and still get scared.

Roger Briggs: for his love and mastery of the Diamond.

others include Earl Wiggins, Ed Webster, Robert Warren, and many others....

Pamela Shanti Pack!!!!

She is the off-width master in my book, and such a wonderful and humble climber.

Mia Tucholke wrote:Pamela Shanti Pack!!!! She is the off-width master in my book, and such a wonderful and humble climber.

+1

Quinn Lee wrote: Pardon my ignorance... who are the guys in this photo (1st page of this thread), and also the other photos that don't have a name? I'm more familiar with names, not their faces that have a few years added on! Btw, thanks to everyone for this awesome list. It's nice to know whose shoulders we stand on, especially those who don't usually get the acknowledgement.

In the group of four, The guy on the left in the wheelchair is Jeff Lowe and the guy standing in the middle is Jim Donini. I don't recognize the other two but like you, I'm sure I've heard their names many times.

David Sahalie wrote:

haha +1

You guys are kidding right?

Jeff Lowe, Jim Donini, Michael Kennedy, George Lowe........

All heros of mine and the must inspirational group of climbers there is.............

Of course the person who has inspired me the most is my husband Dave Tucholke. Thanx for all the fun years of climbing around the world. I hope we have many more years of hitting the road and climbing rock and ice.