Climbing trivia - a fun way to learn

I would like to learn something (or a lot) new today about climbing. Not just rock or ice but ALL climbing disciplines!

My question to you all: what city was Mallory in when he uttered the famous phrase ”Because they are there”? Why was he there (what was he doing)?

What trivia questions can you ask us (Mtn. Proj "public") that you think will stump us?

Big walls, 8000ers, bouldering, it doesn't matter the topic. Let's learn something new and get even more motivated.

Thank you for sharing.

Fritz Weissner lead the 1939 American k2 expedition. Who lead the 1938 American expedition? Why was this leader of the 1938 expedition pissed at, annoyed with Fritz (well name one reason at least)?

One more mountaineering question came to mind: in 1950 the French made the first successful 8000m summit on/of Annapurna. What mountain was the expedition originally going to climb; what mountain before they turned their attention to Annapurna did they scout (same as first question of course) but found to be "impossible and/or improbable"?

Great thread. Alright "Stoned" Let's do this!

Paul Petzoldt was the leader of the 1938 K2 expedition. Petzoldt was annoyed with Weissner because Weissner would not allow him to be included in the ascent party. Weissner also publicly opposed Petzoldt’s inclusion in the American Alpine Club after Petzoldt nabbed the FA of the north face of the Grand Teton while Weissner was sleeping (Weissner was sleeping at the base of the route planning a morning ascent).

I'll bite on the Annapurna question, since I just finished that book. The original mountain was Dhaulagiri, another 8000 meter. Only after scounting around it did they find no reasonable approach, with Herzog considering the risk to the expedition as a whole unjustifiable.

Good job dudes! Now what questions do you have to ask us?

What is the speed record, car to car, to climb Wallface Mountain, Adirondacks?

What route did Ray Jardine climb in Yosemite with his new camming units that caught everyones attention and threw cams into the mainstream? Hint: it was the hardest route ever free climbed in the valley at the time.

Jan and Herb Conn are famous climbers but what other activity (besides climbing) are they also famous for?

What was the first V13 climbed and where? V14? V15? Who did it, who sent them?

In 1988 the Salathe wall was freed. The route was steep and scary even for the climbers. Who were the climbers AND what was their morning ritual to get them over their fear so they could proceed fully?

West Face of El Cap?

When was the first official guided ascent of Everest? Who was the guide and who was the client? What was the client attempting (hint: its a famous challenge still sought after today by many, its expensive)?

The Stoned Master wrote:Jan and Herb Conn are famous climbers but what other activity (besides climbing) are they also famous for?

The Paul Piana and Todd Skinner part is easy. But I don't know. Smoke some weed maybe. You'd have to be high to free the headwall.

It is caving. Good job.

Piana and skinner would take 40ft+ whipper purposely every morn to get over their fears right away. That's badass.

What is the first route at the gunks weissner climbed called? What section of the gunks is it at? What year was it climbed?

The duke of abruzzi most know because of k2. What major first ascent did the duke of abruzzi do in alaska? (He did more than one first ascent but this mountain is well known even by some non-climbers)

Anyone have questions they'd not mind asking? Really bored at work...

The Stoned Master wrote:What is the first route at the gunks weissner climbed called? What section of the gunks is it at? What year was it climbed?

Very awesome thread Stone...

Mt St Elias and I was just about to ask that one myself cuz I thought it was a cool link. The Duke must have had serious nuts.

It is in millbrook and the year, if my memory serves me, was 1935. I'm trying not to "google" anything. Could have been 34. Regardless 1934/35 was the year(s). Impressive and awesome either way.

"The Duke must have had serious nuts."

Definitly. I wonder what he was like "behind the scenes"? Like what was he like if you had to wait out a storm in a tent for days with him?

He had an awesome sense of wonder and was an experienced all around outdoorsman for sure. If I had that money id be traveling like him as well!

Who was the first party to climb el cap in a day? What route and how long?

This next question is vague purposely:

What famous climber took two years off, didn't climb at all, rode around on his motorcycle THEN returned to climbing to put up the two hardest free climbing routes in america within two weeks of eachother and getting back into climbing? (could have been world but I believe france, maybe germany already had several ascents done in the difficulty range) ? Hint: they were at least 5.14 and bolted