skitchmo Posted May 27, 2007 Posted May 27, 2007 Trip: Cathedral Peak - Southeast buttress Date: 5/21/2007 Trip Report: Trip: Southeast Buttress of Cathedral Peak Date: May 21, 2007 Approach: Amazingly dry for end of May. Tuolumne Mdws climbing is great right now. Trip Report: I am sad to report the end of my 76 year old father's climbing career. Dick Stark started climbing in the early fifties and is a product of the Stanford Alpine Club, manila rope and the dulfersitz rapel. He started me out on Goldline rope tied in with a bowline. We then advanced to using a swami belt to tie in. It was exciting when we started leaving pitons behind for passive nuts. He still looks at cams as newfangled gizmos. He dislocated his shoulder several years ago at the top of the Cockscomb in Tuolumne Mdws, but we had wanted to climb Cathedral Peak one more time before all of his "parts fell off". Unfortunately 200 feet up he dislocated his shoulder again. He then climbed 25 feet of 5.6 with a dislocated shoulder. My wife, Ann, pushed from below, tolerating his spontaneous expressions of frustration (every daughter-in-law's worst nightmare). Once on the ledge where I was waiting, it took about 15 minutes to get his shoulder back in. Like a fool he turned down the Percocet and just cursed and gritted his teeth. He claims the unmistakable clunk of successful reduction was better than sex. We then lowered him off and had a quiet walk out. I pointed out that retiring from rock climbing at 76 is quite respectable and that he is probably the only person to have dislocated a shoulder on two of the peaks in his beloved Cathedral Range. He is now relegated to backpacking and peak bagging but I think he still has a lot of miles in those knobby knees and skinny old legs. Approaching on a low snow year. We at least got in two pitches of fun climbing. Cathedral Peak geriatric orthopedic clinic. Still smiling on the way out. Congradulations on a long and enjoyable climbing career dad. Skitchmo Gear Notes: Small rack inluding shoulder immobilizer. Quote
ZimZam Posted May 29, 2007 Posted May 29, 2007 Hope I'm that rad when I'm his age. Mad props for Pops! Quote
MATT_B Posted May 30, 2007 Posted May 30, 2007 Sounds like dad is a tough guy. Hope he heals well. Thanx for sharing. Quote
hefeweizen Posted June 11, 2007 Posted June 11, 2007 I'm telling all my friends who think they're getting too old! That guy hasn't given into any of the all too common pitfalls of the little voice in your head. Much respect, very inspiring! Quote
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