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Human spine found near Prince of Darkness

Original Post
Tyson Anderson · · SLC, UT · Joined May 2007 · Points: 126

[update]

The remains were found to be John Rosholt. www.mountainproject.com/v/nevada/john_rosholt_rip/106964267

RIP

lasvegassun.com/news/2010/n…

Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi? · · Vegas · Joined May 2005 · Points: 4,115

I wonder if they are in fact "human remains" or did the newspaper jump to conclusions. If it is human, they should look into some of the cases, depending on how old the remains are, of hikers, climbers, and suicidal folks reported missing over the years in Southern Nevada. That area isn't the most ideal of "body dumping" grounds for criminals in our neck of the woods.

JPVallone · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 195

Did they only find the spine and it said it was wrapped in a T shirt, thats some weird stuff right there!

Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi? · · Vegas · Joined May 2005 · Points: 4,115

Animals probably hauled off most of the body, and bones.

Joe Huggins · · Grand Junction · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 105

I don't like being morbid,but this makes me wonder; what happened to Rosholt? A lot of unknowns left after a short blurb like that.

Danny Meyers · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 201
Joe Huggins wrote:I don't like being morbid,but this makes me wonder; what happened to Rosholt? A lot of unknowns left after a short blurb like that.
John was a very talented climber, strong, experienced and very analytical - I don't believe that he would have ended up soloing in Black Velvet Canyon after leaving his vehicle (a Toyota 4WD) in the Silverton's parking lot. But I have to admit that when I heard this report, it made me think of John. And, after hearing the news, another local climber texted me wondering if they'd finally found him. Ultimately, I believe that John was too proficient a climber for it to cause his disappearance.
Bill Duncan · · Glade Park, CO · Joined Mar 2005 · Points: 3,410
Dan Meyers wrote: John was a very talented climber, strong, experienced and very analytical - I don't believe that he would have ended up soloing in Black Velvet Canyon after leaving his vehicle (a Toyota 4WD) in the Silverton's parking lot. But I have to admit that when I heard this report, it made me think of John. And, after hearing the news, another local climber texted me wondering if they'd finally found him. Ultimately, I believe that John was too proficient a climber for it to cause his disappearance.
Rick Blair wrote:Isn't there a lot of UFO activity in that there desert around Vegas?
Hmmmm. Could be.
alpinglow · · city, state · Joined Mar 2001 · Points: 25

Where exactly was this?
Anywhere near the base of Prince of Darkness gets 15 visitors a week?

How come noone has seen this before?

John Hegyes · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Feb 2002 · Points: 5,636

Here's a link to a report on the KVBC website with video:

Hikers find partial human spine in Red Rock Conservation Area

GMBurns · · The Fucking Moon, man, the… · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 470

I find it odd they talk about the remoteness of the area. Each time I've ever been there I've been one of a dozen or so parties between Frogland and Epi on any given day; it just gets a lot of traffic.

Very weird it hasn't been seen before.

Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi? · · Vegas · Joined May 2005 · Points: 4,115

It could have been washed down from somewhere during rains. It rarely rains in Southern Nevada, but when it does it pours, and if you have ever been out in Red Rock in downpours, you'll know that waterfalls come out of nowhere (quite beautiful, actually); tearing through gulleys, and pouring down the canyon walls (pay extra attention to all the water streaks on Red Rock Canyon's walls if you're climbing in inclement weather, and be cautious in gulleys, and in chimneys- y'all should know this already).

Sims · · Centennial · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 655
GMBurns wrote:I find it odd they talk about the remoteness of the area. Each time I've ever been there I've been one of a dozen or so parties between Frogland and Epi on any given day; it just gets a lot of traffic. Very weird it hasn't been seen before.
Define remote. Many perhaps not enough, find anything beyond the pavement is remote.
saxfiend · · Decatur, GA · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 4,221

I recall when John Rosholt was reported missing on rc.com years ago, and for some reason it's haunted me ever since. I didn't know him, but something just seemed lonely and unfair about his disappearance. I thought about him in particular when my partner and I did Johnny Vegas a couple of years ago (supposedly that was Rosholt's nickname).

Sorry to interrupt the levity that seems to go along with the discovery of some unfortunate person's remains, but if this turns out to be Rosholt, I hope this brings peace to his spirit and to those who miss him.

JL

harihari · · VANCOUVER · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 101

OK, Rosholt story.

John and Peder Ourom were working on a new pitch on the Squamish Buttress. This new pitch was right beside the 10c pitch. Anybody who has climbed in Squamish knows that, on weekend afternoons, this pitch is a bottleneck, where party after party throws themselves at it and lineups are long. Fortunately, there is a palatial balcony from which to watch the action.

Anyway, Rosholt is up there in his aiders, flicking rocks out of the 12- crack they are working on. And along comes a guided party. The guide gets up in a huff when the odd bit of moss and pebble come down from the new crack fifteen feet right of the tourist route.

"Hey!" he yells up at Rosholt, "would you mind waiting until my clients and I have climbed past?"

"No way" says Rosholt, "progress can't wait!" They sent a few hours later and they called the pitch Progress Can't Wait.

Joe Huggins · · Grand Junction · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 105
Dan Meyers wrote: John was a very talented climber, strong, experienced and very analytical -
I'm not suggesting that John was soloing;(he talked me into tandem-soloing the Bulge in Eldo...he went first). I think I'm like a lot of people who wonder if he pissed off the wrong guy by winning his money in a game of Holdem. If you've played poker with Rosholt, you know not to take more money than you could afford to lose, and he was making his living at it long before it was a TV show. I realize that it's a pretty long stretch to imagine that some nefarious asshole killed him and dumped his body in Black Velvet; but it makes me wonder, and it makes me sad to think that we may never know what happened to him.
YDPL8S · · Santa Monica, Ca. · Joined Aug 2003 · Points: 540

He was a close friend and a strong climbing force to all of those in the climbing community in Gunnison in the 70's. He and I were in the geology department together @ WSC. I have a ton of "Gambler" stories, as do most that ever spent any time with him. Good Guy!!

John in happier times:

Climbers picnic - Spring 1976 -

natebloser · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 10

I was on Dream of Wild Turkeys on Friday when the helicopter came in for the recovery operation. It went to the top of the route, then hovered over our heads for about 30 minutes. It left, then came back later. We assumed they were looking for a party that got caught out Thursday night. It was 24 deg. F at the trail head when we started, so a bivy would be no fun. It's sad to hear that someone lost their life up there. Nate

phil broscovak · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 1,631

My gut feeling is that these remains are not John.
Why would he leave his packed vehicle in the casino parking lot to go 3rd classing in Black Velvet Canyon? How many mob wet workers are competent climbers capable of depositing a stiff well off the deck? I'd think none. I hope they figure this out and bring closure to someone's family and friends. RIP.

YDPL8S · · Santa Monica, Ca. · Joined Aug 2003 · Points: 540

I agree Phil.

phil broscovak · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 1,631

Can any of you local Las Vegans fill in some info? Like where and how high up the cliff were the rest of the remains found?

Doug Foust · · Oroville, WA · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 165

The news stories were pretty bad, they kept saying they thought it was a hiker but then described a technical rescue making it sound like it was high on the wall somewhere.

Anyone out in the canyon that day that might have accurate info?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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