Totally agree.


I state in the beginning of this, http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/5 ... owing.html that my partners are everything, and have helped me be better then I thought I was. Its cool since they also help you stay humble. No matter what I do, they will always remind me that I'm a gumbie and always will be

My main partner nowadays is Matt


and Shelley (who along with Lisa are the two people who lead closest to their limit among the people I know)


And unfortunately a lot of amazing partners have moved away (or I have) but I'd like to climb with them, ski with them or just BS since they are great people

I climbed ALOT with Mike last year. Great partner, understated, opened my eyes a lot but unfortunately he has moved away to take a Pediatrics Intensive Care position in Spokane


Lisa was a great person to climb with, laugh with, and has just a great outlook on life.



Used to climb with Doug a lot in the Bay Area


and suffered in amazing places with Hugo

Not to minimize other partners I've had, or what I've learned from them, but this guy has dragged me up more than a few climbs, and I learned a bunch of stuff along the way.





We've had some good adventures.



Luckily, patience is one of Brian's many virtues.



A Parting Shot

My go-to partner for as long as I can remember.

Nice topic and fantastic photos!!!

Having been in the military, I can still say that the partnership developed in climbing is unique. It cannot be compared to military comraderie, because in climbing you get yourselves into a mess voluntarily!

My brother has been my best and longest-lasting climbing partner, 37 years. Here we are together on the summit of Milestone Mountain in the Sierras. I'll never forget my brother's lead up vertical crumbling volcanic ash that got us off a horribly dangerous volcanic neck in New Mexico.



Here's my brother from 37 years ago:



Young Chu, my Korean brother, has been my friend for over 30 years. We climbed together in Seoul last year:



Bill Crouse, 7 times on the summit of Everest, has also been my friend for over 30 years, although our last climb together was a winter ascent of the Prow in 1985. I'll never forget Bills words, the time I was climbing a hard 5.10 above a questionable belay and about to fall: "Oh, no you're not gonna fall!" He kept me from falling and stopped us from creating "Anchors Away II" on the other side of Glacier Point Apron.



Another good friend and climbing buddy is Carroll Holthaus (second from right).



Then there's Ted Waltman Left) and Bob Bury (right)



Bob was famous for his Pancakes "New Orleans Style" (blackened):

Peter and PJ on Gaylor Peak



Highland Peak



The future.

JasonH wrote:[img]

Yeah, Baby!

borut wrote:

Holy smokes! Doesn't it make you nervous to go out with your son on rock like that?

Wonderful thread!


Two of my earliest and greatest partners on Capitol Peak's Knife Edge in 1994, Vern Garner (saintgrizzly here on SP) and Mark Anderson-


And in 2004, Mark joined Ellen and I for a climb of Jura Knob in the San Juans. We don't climb together as much as we used to due to various circumstances, but I suspect Mark will rejoin us more regularly in the future as circumstances permit. A wonderful partmer for sure.


One of our first climbs together was Mount Sneffels in 1982. OUr first outing together was to Ice Lake Basin near Silverton. What a story! But that's another thread.


Vern and I began climbing together in 1978. In the late 1990s, he moved to Montana. Here he is seen climbing with our group in 2002 up Mount Richtofen in the NW corner of Rocky Mountain National Park during a vacation.


Vern in 1991 on Tijeras Peak, an obscure but fantastic 13er in the Sangre De Cristos, south of the well known Crestone Peaks (background).


Jim Lierman was my third climbing partner. He started climbing with me in the 1990s. Circumstances have curtailed his climbing for the time being. On the far right is the lady who would later become my wife, Ms. Ellen. This is the day we met, on a climb of Mount Democrat's SE ridge. She would go on to be my greatest lifelong climbing partner and best friend, as well as my wonderful wife. I'm a lucky guy. As Mark says, she literally hiked into my life.


Jim descends from the fantastic Arapaho Peaks route, with me above directing fellow climbing partner Dave Beldus, pushing 70 at the time of this photo.


Jim preps his poles after scrambling down from Paiute Peak in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in 2004.


One of my most favorite pictures, Jim coaches his friend Paul out onto the ledge to begin the final ascent to the summit of Wetterhorn Peak. This was Paul's 2nd 14er! If anyone could get a beginner up and down a mountain safely, it's Jim. Ellen is on the right.


Since my three climbing partners have gone on to other areas and interests, Ellen has been my soul mate. She's seen here during an SP outing to Kit Carson in 2004.


Here we are in front of Capitol Peak, one of our favorite climbs.


SP member truchas climbed Pyramid Peak with us in 2008.


SP member PeakFreak climbed Mount Shasta with us in 2004, along with Mount Elbert and Mount Massive in Colorado in 2002.


Our hiking group, The Usual Suspects, joined with a bunch of SP folks for a climb of Marble Mountain in the Sangre De Cristos last year, for our most successful SP Gathering in Colorado yet.


Ellen on Capitol Peak's Knife Edge.


Long time SP member Fred Spicker and Vern Garner (saintgrizzly) descend Bishops Cap in Glacier National Park in 2004.


Moni Spicker, another long time member (married to Fred). We've climbed with them several times over the years.


2006 Winter SP Gathering hosted by long time member Alan Ellis.


Truchas and cruzit (Jackie Ellis) after a harrowing climb of Chimney Rock in the San Juans.


SP's ground floor members Alan and Jackie Ellis pose for their Christmas card on top of Marble Mountain at the 2009 SP gathering.


Last year's gathering on top of Marble Mountain in the Sangre De Cristos.

SUMMITPOST GATHERINGS


Organized by Alan Ellis, the first SP Gathering in Colorado was a small but nice success. This event is now a wonderful and very successful tradition.

2007 Colorado Summer Gathering

2008 Colorado Summer Gathering

2009 Colorado Summer Gathing

A good partner is worth more than gold.

edit=additions

Trishna, Peter. Trishna.

Yea, even us Noob's have some pards already. Matt and My 17 year old Son
<a href="http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/?action=view¤t=Mnt_Adams_12275_Elv.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/Mnt_Adams_12275_Elv.jpg" border="0" alt="Summit of Mt Adams"></a>
Dan, Matt, myself and my Son Tanner
<a href="http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/?action=view¤t=S5000082.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/S5000082.jpg" border="0" alt="Resting at Pikers Peak"></a>
Splattski
<a href="http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/?action=view¤t=S5000022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/S5000022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Dean and Splattski
<a href="http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/?action=view¤t=Splattski.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/Splattski.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
SawtoothSean and Splattski
<a href="http://s617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/?action=view¤t=CervidaeNewYears.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt258/deltaoperator17/CervidaeNewYears.jpg" border="0" alt="Sean and John"></a>