redacted

sorry

Rest in Peace...John

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

you have been missed and will be missed old friend. RIP.

RIP John. I'm glad there is finally some closure for everyone that loved and knew you. Your spirit lives on.

RIP Hardman John Rosholt.

His name has been brought up frequently in the local climbing community, and elsewhere over the years- sounds like he had many friends, and people who cared about him, and who were looking for him. I climbed "Johnny Vegas" in Red Rock a few weeks ago, and had heard that route was named after him.
Condolences to the family, and friends.

Red wrote:RIP John. I'm glad there is finally some closure for everyone that loved and knew you. Your spirit lives on.

I didn't know him, but that was my sentiment as a fellow climber.

John lugged me up University Wall in Squamish -- one of my most memorable days ever as a climber. The route was a little over my head but John really wanted to climb the whole thing without falling, and I was willing to go along for the ride.

It was around 1997. We met in the parking lot and the next day we were climbing the famed U-Wall. He had been climbing tons in the months before we met; he talked about how re-dedicating himself to the sport was making him happy. He had also decided himself to learning how to eat right. I remember he believed tuna fish had special powers. He mixed spicy Indian pickle with the tuna right in the can.

He was a beast on University Wall. He climbed every hard pitch, never falling, all the while stopping to put in gear every three feet. He would labor over each placement, just hanging out by one arm on overhanging rock. Each piece was -- without doubt -- perfectly placed. I had never climbed with someone as slow or as strong. The longer he hung out the more confident and he became. It defied logic.

The whole route we hauled a little bag. I viewed the hauling as unnecessary, and said so. But John wouldn't hear it. He wanted to be comfortable. You'd think all that hand-over-hand hauling would have tired him out -- it didn't. We brought along a chair for the belayer [me], extra coat, probably some food, and John's shoes for the descent.

On the route, he told me about his profession. I was only 22 years old, so I'm sure I was wide-eyed at his descriptions of traveling the west playing poker and rock-climbing. "That's why people call me the Gambler," he said.

When we reached the final ledge, I was worn out and knew I had just climbed the hardest route of my life. We sat on the sunny ledge for a few minutes. He was feeling good, proud to have set a goal and accomplished it.

John put on his shoes and set off across Bellygood ledge. We simul climbed across the ledge; as on the route, John led. We reached the forest and hiked off -- I barefoot, John -- ever the planner -- in his sneakers.

Russ Walling wrote:The remains found in Black Velvet Canyon have been positively identified as belonging to John.

What source is claiming this? I have been looking at local Vegas media and no mention of positive identification has been made.
Are we jumping the gun on this one?

Wow. This sucks. I know it brings closure for his family, and that is good, but I liked not knowing what happened to him more than I like this. I liked to think he was off hanging on a beach in Thailand or something, although John wasn't like that and would never do that to his family. Of course, there's nothing to like about any of it. That's just a word. John was one of the first people to befriend me when I moved to Boulder in 86. He was a good friend through the years and a great climber. He didn't look the part, but it always amazed me the stuff he could climb, especially thin finger cracks. I'll try to scan some old slides later tonight to share. RIP John. You are sorely missed.

Keen Butterworth wrote: He didn't look the part, but it always amazed me the stuff he could climb, especially thin finger cracks.

Hi Keen, yeah, this sucks; I wrote a bunch of stuff on Supertopo, but your comment made me laugh. John was not a pretentious guy, you underestimated him at your own risk, particularly with cards in his hand! The only way I knew he was stressed while climbing was when he started wiping his hands on his pants. We were in South Lake Tahoe in the summer of '84, we would climb at the Leap, then he would "go to work" at the casino over night, while I camped in a parking garage; next day, do it all over again. Ain't life a trip?

Hey Joe, Good to hear from you. Yeah, John had the poker face thing down pat. I had forgotten about that aspect of his climbing, that he never did use chalk, did he? I'll have to check out the thread on Supertopo.

Keen Butterworth wrote:Hey Joe, Good to hear from you. Yeah, John had the poker face thing down pat. I had forgotten about that aspect of his climbing, that he never did use chalk, did he? I'll have to check out the thread on Supertopo.

Nope; chalk is a "crutch", I never invited him to feel my sweaty palms to prove that some people need it.

Darren Snipes wrote: What source is claiming this? I have been looking at local Vegas media and no mention of positive identification has been made. Are we jumping the gun on this one?

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/18/human-remains-red-rock-canyon-identified-arizona-m/

Thanks Tyson
I remember reading a short article about John Rosholt in the early days of my own climbing. I remember it saying that he had climbed many 5.13 cracks, at that time I didn't know anyone climbed harder than 5.11 on trad gear and it really opened my eyes to what was possible. It is a shame when inspirational people pass on.

Nope; chalk is a "crutch", I never invited him to feel my sweaty palms to prove that some people need it.

This is true, there were a lot of us that felt this way. That being said, I saw John rub his hands with the local dirt many times before that first move off of the ground (don't think I ever heard him say "on belay").

I'll miss you John.
Scott Mossman

Terribly sad news. This has been a five year old mystery in the Las Vegas climbing community, but it gives little satisfaction to have this mystery solved. In the back of my mind, I always hoped that Roshalt disappeared as part of an elaborate scheme, witness protection, perhaps? Something where he was out there laughing about all the speculation... But no, the mystery only gets more complex now. This is a real tragedy...

Though I never knew John Rosholt, I felt a pang when I read that he'd been identified. Like others, I offer condolences to his family and hope this at least gives some closure.

JL

I appreciate the confirmation Tyson.

I never knew John, but have heard many great stories about him from locals here in Vegas that spent time climbing with him. I also recall being impressed by discovering first ascents recorded by him as far away as Squamish and many destinations in between. Every time I have climbed "The Gambler" at the Sweet Pain crag over the past few years, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him.

My deepest condolences to family and friends who personally knew him. Though the absolute mystery of his disappearance, which I closely followed at the time, is not resolved, at least those that cared for him can be somewhat consoled by the fact that he has been found.
RIP

Bucket Head wrote:Bizarre. I wonder what happened to him. His truck was in one of the casino parking lots but he was miles away and alone near black velvet canyon? - and some of his remains were found near the top of Prince of Darkness?

I assume they must have been found near the bottom of POD? What about the theory that he got a ride out there and decided to free solo the route? I wonder if they found a rope or harness?

Our friend John the mystery is only partially solved. What a great guy, he's been missed.

Local AZ TV will be having a spot on the story:

kpho.com/index.html

5:30 & 6:45pm MST

~Susan