Monday, March 18, 2024

What Not: A Favorite Climbing Photo; Divers; Iron Men

I asked three bricklayers what they were doing 

The first said laying some bricks

The second said making some money

The third said helping to erect a great building

                                                - Unknown


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Go big or stick to the day job...

A few years back we were contacted by an individual asking if we had any "favorite" climbing images we'd like to contribute to a publication of some sort that they were workin' on. Never specified that they had to be one of ours.

"Sure!"

Sent 'em this, un-captioned and unexplained - 

Image©️Royal Robbins - Spirit of the Age, 1998, Pat Ament/Author, Stackpole Books/Publisher
Imagine the forgone life this guy (left) would have had, had he succumbed to this shitty clerk job at the local bank

Subsequently, never received a response regarding our submittal

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While rummaging thru the archives we came across an old disc of a few assorted images from the day job:

On a mission

"Spec-Op" lock & dam project - operation classified

One of the boys hard at work

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Bridge inspection

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Preppin' a sectional mini-barge, then out on the lake

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Always interesting work when the divers are involved...

Divers puttin' in steady four hour split-shifts, zero visibility, vacuum-dredging a silted up gatehouse at a lake dam for later inspection

After nearly an hour and a half negotiating the final five miles of inbound city gridlock, breaking dawn finds us arriving at the next job situated along Pittsburgh's north shore riverbank. We're scheduled to meet (recently departed) Bob Brown, owner of Three Rivers Diving. Zero hour 7am. Bob's small barge is moored shoreline. We're lookin' about. No Bob. Must have run out to get himself a coffee. We settle back and watch the bumper to bumper rush hour congestion creeping snail pace along the West End Bridge, maybe a hundred feet over-spanning the Ohio River. It's mid-summer and shaping up weather-wise to be a good day out on the water. Great way to get paid. An early morning misty fog is limiting visibility downriver from our vantage point to just past the bridge span. Maybe a quarter mile. Ten minutes out and the rush hour resound is penetrated by the distant droning of a four-stroke Evinrude outboard. A 20ft aluminum workskiff penetrates the mist and a smilin' Bob motors upriver and docks... "I brought the barge up last night!"

F*k that - no traffic jams for Bob.

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Commute isn't always settin' in traffic

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A simple rig we came up with for assisting with structural inspection and testing at Pittsburgh's (then named) Heinz Field.

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We're gonna' have to locate a disk that we know we have of a few steel erection projects...

Prince Georges, County, Md. Early AM. The ironworkers are gearin' up for another day of settin' structural steel for framing a new "modern-style" church building. Erection is complete up to roof level. One of the two guys settin' high steel for the day is workin' his way nonchalantly up the flange of a 1:1 pitch hip rafter framing the church "steeple". Probably 60ft off the ground floor. He's got a 50ft coil of air hose slung over the right shoulder counter-weighting the 20lb air impact wrench he's carryin' left hand.

Same crew, another project. We're ground level checkin' the plumb tolerance of a few steel columns. Hear someone calling out to get our attention. Look left, right, then all around. Where is he? Look up. Two floors above our caller is perched mid-span along the three-inch flange of an open-web steel floor joist. Until "buttoned up", a bit deflecting framing member to say the least. Hunched waist over, hands on knees. Comfortable as if standin' on a four foot sidewalk. 

For all the "mountain climbing" that we did, will have to admit that we never really got comfortable the (infrequent) times we had to follow those ironworkers around above the floor decking. Is quite a difference being anchored to a rope on a cliff face and having only to focus on ascent as opposed to balancing (then) untethered along narrow beams while prioritized with concentrating on the job at hand. Hard men those guys. 

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Drivin' into the shop and notice that the guys have cordoned a small, maybe 12' x 12', section of the equipment yard off with four corner spaced traffic cones and caution tape. Not a convenient spot, either, for negotiating 25ft trailers, mobile drills and heavy equipment access to the shop bay door. What the f*k did they do now, kill somebody?
"Hey - what's up with the traffic cones!?"
"A Killdeer laid four eggs right there in the gravel!!"
As Killdeers do - those guys aren't so tough and menacing as they let on.

Friday, February 2, 2024

Western Pennsylvania Ice IV (Cinema Part 14)

Final chapter in our early '00's "ice fest" quadrilogy. On the whole a collection of film shorts that were later "dissected" from the lot, some re-worked, for individual uploading to the former website. Most we've previously posted herein in one form or another - Tim and Laura on 'Internet Connection' - Tim and Doyle on 'The Sick-le' - Griz and Brint's brilliant master class in "ice craft" with their on sight FA of 'The Beast', interspersed with selected clips of assorted "constituents of the order" of the time:

'Western Pennsylvania Ice IV' - 2007
Running Time - 38min (Approx.)

Seeing the big picture. Was always drawn to the "time capsule" aspect of photography. Don't exactly recall where we read this quote. A comment from a "first contact" primitive Amazonian tribesman (or something like that) after viewing his polaroid image for the first time... "I shall never die"

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Brief Flings

 Took a one day advantage of the short three day winter last weekend:


All gone by mid-week. Was enough precip and thaw to get creeks a bit up and runnin'. Always like the contrast between the white froth of the creeks and the various shades of brown throughout the woods:

The (seldom mentioned) short run along the final one mile of this Yough feeder stream ain't bad at higher level, just to experience two small drops as it winds through a local park. Is a bit of a narrow flume ride after that. Bit of an amusement ride through two tunnels - the second of which is a several hundred foot stretch of box culvert (under the railroad) before it dumps ya' into the Yough. Was worth a (long ago) one-time experience. The box culvert definitely warrants a pre-inspection, though. 

Disclaimer: Mentioned here for historical purposes only. Could be considered a not very bright thing ta' do. And the box culvert is posted railroad property. 

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Western Pennsylvania Ice III (Cinema Part 13)

 "Have a groovy Sunday!"
                                                   - Doyle Tarwater

Sure did! A return to the "Ultima Thule" of SWPA climbing. As we recall, the 2005-2006 ice season was pretty lean to non-existent. Think that all of the climbing and photography was done during the month of February. May be wrong, but ain't goin' back and checkin'. 

Highlights the first productive visit to the cliff - Tim Anderson's FFA of 'Final Obligation', partnered with Tom Kopler and Doyle Tarwater. Tim forced to bail on what would have been the FFA of 'The Beast' because of sketchy conditions. FA on TR of 'Son of Beast'. FA on TR of mixed 'Monsta' - one heck of a photographic line. Also remember that the 300ft of Bluewater static line got froze in on that route and couldn't be retrieved until springtime. Dorky dialog as usual - but we could never find a narrator who would work for the cheap rate of a six-pack of PBR's and two hot dogs that we were payin':

Western Pennsylvania Ice III (2006)
Running Time: 15min (Approx.)

They didn't come more motivated to climb big, steep ice than Tim.

Disclaimer: We aren't condoning anyone venturing into that place. As we understand it has long been posted 'No Trespassing'. Wasn't back during our visits. Encountered a security guard for the lower quarry back in the day who had no problem with us being there. Posting this video for historical purposes only.

This post dedicated to Doyle. If we already did, then now he's got two.

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Sons of Hercules

Breaking news, as they say - we were just informed that Strongman Matt and Good-man Rob were newly inducted into the prodigious ranks of the Sons of Hercules! Quite impressive!!.

The boys were whisked up to the heights of Mt. Olympus by none other than the big man, Zeus himself. There a lavish induction ceremony was held, attended by all the gods and goddesses of rank. Above the boys pose for a few photos and share a few laughs with the invitees. That's Zeus and goddess Hera front and seated. Amongst the crowd can be spotted Apollo, Ares, Poseidon, Athena - to name a few. Aphrodite lookin' good as usual.

(Internet Images)
Herc himself bestowed the award and later exhibited a few feats of strength - literally bringing down the temple. 

A short four minute video presentation accompanied the ceremony:


Congratulations guys - we couldn't be prouder!

Disclaimer: Not responsible for content going right over the heads of all but the stoutest of 3%'s.
Thanks: A bit of content and format borrowed from YouTube/G. Coker - nice work.

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Antarctic Nazis, Part 3: Herdegen's Locker, Chapter II - Professor Trygg

Another amazing tale from the inner sanctum of 'Commander Herdegen's Locker'..... prepare to be astounded:

Commander Herdegen's Locker, Chapter II - Professor Trygg (2023)
Running Time: 10 min (Approx.)

Chapter I replay:
Commander Herdegen's Locker (2023)
Running Time: 12 min. (Approx.)

 Apart from live action and still images, photography is entirely stop motion/miniatures and keyed plate backgrounds. We're not goin' into much other detail. We (maybe-maybe not) developed a (simple) process or two that we're keep'n secret - like a magician not divulging his magic. Or, more appropriately, the 'sacred geometry' secrets of the ancient cathedral and temple builders. 

The 'Colossus' sequence is paean to virtuoso 'Ray Harryhausen's' brilliant 'Talos' segment from the classic 
film 'Jason and the Argonauts' (1963)

(Internet Image)

(YouTube Video)
When this trailer unexpectedly sprang up on the TV tube back in the day, that short glimpse of a sword wielding giant straddling the bay and hoisting the ship out of the water had us in front of the set every night for the rest of the week poised for another glance. No "on-demand", home video nor internet replay available back then. And if ya' didn't catch the flick first run at the theatre, it might be ten years before ya' finally got to see it once or twice a year on television.

Disclaimer: We obtained rights to use of all the soundtrack symphonics and effects - we thank the folks over at Pond5. A background plate or two we obtained on-line from sites tabbed as royalty free. Both videos are "experimental" works for on-line/private viewing only. No monetary compensation is involved.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Western Pennsylvania Ice (Cinema Part 12)

 Figured that we'd re-post this video here considering that it went the way of the website:

Western Pennsylvania Ice (2001)
Running time 40min. (Approx.)

 For more information, there's a previous post from 2019, retrievable by clicking here. A bit vintage considering that it's twenty-three years hence. At least one of the boys is no longer with us. The 'Tunnel Cliffs' have long ago been reclaimed by the mining company. 

A giant tin gate has since been constructed at the old 'Irishtown' mine entrance. Think that the site is posted 'No Climbing' now, anyway. The road leading into "Krahlak" has been gated - still, only about a half mile walk in. But, may be posted as well. Now'days winters around here are mostly rain, anyway.

Such is life. Bet that currently there's an ice climbing app you can play on your phone, though - don't even have to get up off the couch.

Pulled a few images from the archives of even earlier times. Nearing top-out at the 'Gun Club' above ('84) in good conditions. Bluewater 11mm rope. Stiff plastic Koflach mountain boots. Wool duds and mitts. No ratcheting-type ice screws. Lowe 'Foot-Fang' rigid crampons - those things were a bit of an innovation over the (subsequently obsolete) hinged strap-on crampons for steep vertical ice. Could relax your calves, too.  Leashed straight-shaft picks and hammers. Still gets the skin to crawling watchin' guys torquing modern picks on stiff dry-tool routes. Didn't take much to snap those old picks. Particularly 'Forrest' tools. Ya' had to be careful just levering them out of an overstuck ice placement. Broke several that way. Recall that on this route this day we broke a pick lower down. Always carried a hammer as a back-up (left hand in the image). Steep Grade 4 ice was a big deal. 

Climber Glenn Thomas on 'Layton Falls' (Grade 3) here. He's got some hinged strap-on crampons. Forest fixed shaft tools. 

Bit of top-roping fun at 'Irishtown' on some sketchy-condition ice. Forrest tools. Forgot to bring the gaiters so had to roll the pant legs - always sliced the heck out of the cuffs stumbling around in crampons. Must be cold this day - got out the wool hat.

More TR fun along Meadow Run up in Ohiopyle SP ('84). Lowe Hummingbird Hammer w/ tubular pic in left hand. 

Didn't take too many photographs back in the early days. Was more concerned with not killing ourselves. Wish we had been a bit more extensive with the photography.