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berserk
Mar 19, 2004, 1:13 AM
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Was Henry Barber the greatest climber of all time? Is he to rockclimbing what Pele is to soccer? What other names spring into mind when thinking of great climbers, both present and past? Dean Potter maybe?
I know that you really can't say who's the greatest climber of all times, it's just some fun down memory lane.
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happymondays
Mar 19, 2004, 1:28 AM
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Alex Lowe - deceased, but my choice for best-all arounder of all time.
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curt
Mar 19, 2004, 1:32 AM
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John Stannard is the best rock climber I have ever seen. Steve Wunsch also told me that Stannard was the best climber he had ever seen.
Curt
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deco
Mar 19, 2004, 2:35 AM
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Wolfgang Gullich, the man did everthing, from alpine climbing to the ultimate sport climbing.
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tahoe_rock_master
Mar 19, 2004, 3:10 AM
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In reply to: Dean Potter maybe?
Yea, I'd say so.
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rmiller
Mar 19, 2004, 3:28 AM
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There are just too many that pop into mind!
Layton Kor
Pat Ament
Jim Erickson
Largo
Lynn Hill
Jim Bridwell
Ron Kauk
etc.
etc.
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climbhigh2005
Mar 19, 2004, 11:57 AM
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Lynn Hill all the way
my favs are
Lynn HIll
Chris Sharma
BETH RODDEN
Tommy Caldwell
Adam Hanry
John Sherman
but the last 4 I have met personally and they are great people!
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crag
Mar 19, 2004, 1:32 PM
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Nothing against the poster of this question but I’m glad there is no money in climbing cuz if there were we’d be forced into believing questions like this one are some how important. With money comes a hierarchy in which we’d be forced into conforming to. “Dean Potter just signed a $14 Million deal with VF - owners of Mtn Hdw & BD.” “See him and other top climbing athletes at the Summit or Plummet challenge this coming spring in Yosemite.”
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rokshoxbkr19
Mar 19, 2004, 1:50 PM
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The Dirty Bird man, the Dirty Bird. 11 years of free soloing some super hard stuff. Can you imagine it, climbing 11 years, all onsite, no rope, no gear and only falling once. Too bad, that once was the end, but that is an amazing feet to say the least. I am also saddened by the loss of Dan Osmand who in my mind, could have become the best at whatever he wanted to do.
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holmeslovesguinness
Mar 19, 2004, 3:08 PM
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In reply to: The Dirty Bird man, the Dirty Bird. Can you imagine it, climbing 11 years, all onsite, no rope, no gear and only falling once.
Not that it matters, but apparently he did rope up occasionally (at least I've seen pics of him roped up on stuff). But yeah, he was one bold mofo. The footage in Front Range Freaks of him soloing 5.11s in Eldo is awe inspiring. Insane, but awe inspiring :wink:
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j_ung
Mar 19, 2004, 3:39 PM
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I can't think of anybody in climbing's history who stands so far out of the crowd that he or she is completely in a league of his or her own. There are many amazing people in our history, but to pick just one... I can't say.
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asandh
Mar 19, 2004, 4:33 PM
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:)
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climbingbum
Mar 19, 2004, 4:37 PM
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Croft is up there in my opinion.
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superdiamonddave
Mar 19, 2004, 5:16 PM
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Ummm, hmmm, uhhh, well here goes...
David Lee Roth :wink:
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chupa
Mar 19, 2004, 5:27 PM
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Yes, David Lee Roth is the greatest ever!
Also, in regards to there being money in climbing, I wish there was. If Dean Potter is signing 14 million dollar deals with North Face and Sharma is getting $20,000 per climb over 5.14 then we wouldn't have access issues. We would have public parks dedicated to climbing, more access, better gear, better gyms, less politics and maybe beer sponsorships. I don't know about you but if I was sponsored by anybody I would want to be sponsored by Guiness.
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madmax
Mar 19, 2004, 5:36 PM
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Tough choice, but I'd have to say that Potter is way up there. The guy has done insane alpine climbs, pushed the limits of free soloing, and has redpointed some of the hardest trad climbs in impeccable style.
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camhead
Mar 19, 2004, 5:57 PM
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robbins, pratt, croft, bachar, hiriyama, and das hubers are at the top of my list.
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thinksinpictures
Mar 19, 2004, 6:31 PM
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In reply to: ...in regards to there being money in climbing, I wish there was. If Dean Potter is signing 14 million dollar deals with North Face and Sharma is getting $20,000 per climb over 5.14 then we wouldn't have access issues. We would have public parks dedicated to climbing, more access, better gear, better gyms, less politics and maybe beer sponsorships. I don't know about you but if I was sponsored by anybody I would want to be sponsored by Guiness.
Yeah, we'd have a bunch of cultivated, manicured, and tourist-filled parks. And even fewer actual natural areas than we already do.
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smellyhippie
Mar 19, 2004, 7:01 PM
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Fred Beckey gets my vote.
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bhilden
Mar 19, 2004, 7:04 PM
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Reinhold Messner without a doubt. In his early days he was an excellent rock climber, establishing some of the most difficult routes in the Dolomites, free soloing new routes of up to 3000 feet in length at the highest grades of the day. His solo of the Les Droite in the late 60's was visionary and totally blew the climbing world away. He understood the progression and development of every aspect of the sport. His two man, alpine style, ascent of an 8000-meter peak in the mid 70's was mind-blowing and again exceptionally visionary. He and Habeler were the first men to climb Everest without oxygen.
On top of all of that, his solo (and the only true solo) of Mount Everest in 1980 is perhaps the greates achievement in the climbing world, period. He was the *only* person on the entire mountain at the time and made a rapid ascent with a new variation up high. Beyond visionary.
Messner has left his mark at the highest standard on rock, snow and ice. Everybody else is just standing on his shoulders, and barely at that.
Bruce
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dredsovrn
Mar 19, 2004, 7:41 PM
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Lots of good ones so far. I don't think you will find consensus. How about Derek Hersey. A decade of free soloing hard routes is tough to beat.
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wonder1978
Mar 19, 2004, 11:20 PM
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I heard many names that definitely belong on the list, but there is one that blows them all away.
I don't know if you guys are ready for this, but here it goes:
The greatest climber of all time, just because of his boundless capacities, and also a free soloer is (drum roll........): MY CAT.
I'm not gonna give you the details of his exploits but lemme tell ya there quite impressive.
Cheers
W.
ps. the second greatest climber of all times is without a doubt my buddy Oliver's cat, may he rest in peace.
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alwaysforward
Mar 20, 2004, 12:07 AM
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Are there really any unsung alpine heroes? I mean I'm sure there are boulderers and sporto's pushing the limits while keeping a low profile
(considering how cutting edge stuff in this field really requires taking into account the subjectiveness of grades and the differene between microcrimpers and microslimpers etc.). I mean there's an 8-year old girl who can send V8 I think... but what about the alpine? Is this kind of thing possible in that arena? The difficulties and magnitude of these ascents are so much different than pure hard rock.
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wonder1978
Mar 20, 2004, 12:32 AM
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still... my cat would beat the crap outta them all, whatever the style. If only I'd get him some sponsors.
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chupa
Mar 20, 2004, 1:29 AM
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We need indoor high altitude simulators. Oxygen deprived, freezing cold miserable places we can hold "mountaineering" competitions. We can have people slogging up 30 feet of indoor "snow" with a plastic bag on their heads, then they can camp out on the summit naked. We can sponsor them and get them lots of money. They'll make a minimum of $50,000 per competition and the big names will make millions. Gear manufacturers will make billions. We will rule the world. And Budwiser will sponsor us all. (Or Coors in a can). That will also clear up access issues for the peaks. We will all be able to do Everest any time we wanted. For only $50.
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