" always thought his was a wonderful and funny ( and totally true) statement"
Tahquitz rock tops out at 8000' in southern California. 1000' of climbing..may be? With a 30 minute approach in flips required.
Le Droites tops out at 13,000 feet and is in the middle of the alps with all that implies. Even on skis it is close to an hour approach from the GM lift and the face is a full 1600m, not feet. Easy enough to die on the approach if you aren't paying attention.
I am sure when it is in condition Tahquitz offers some fun ice and mixed. But let's not get too carried away on comparisons. Because there isn't one past both formations being granite. Tahquitz would no doubt be good training for Le Droites.
Rick Accomazzoo may well have made that comparison (although I doubt it) but if he did you can bet he wasn't being serious. Jack Roberts and Accomazzoo did le Droites N face in '77. But I'll ask Rick and Jack now that I am curious. Not the hardest climb in the alps but no comparison to anything on Tahquitz either.
Jack's picture of Rick from '77.
I know Jack's opinion mirror's my own as played in Cham togetehr this winter.
But I asked Rick...here is comment just so no on gets confused and ends up in Cham after a good winter in Tahquitz.
Rick:
"When Mike Graham and I got back from the Alps in the summer of 76, this was our
stock response to the question, "How was it?":
"Good training for the North Face of Tahquitz in winter."
Don't remember an article in a magazine, though, where this was quoted.
It was tongue in cheek of course and not even original. I can't find the quote now,
but one of the British climbers, maybe Patey, had said something like , "The Alps
are good training for winter climbing in Scotland" after one of the early visits by
the Brits to Chamonix."