Pinnacles Forever!

Mike Russell, Bill Hunt and Bob Walton in the West Side parking lot, 1977

Friend, neighbor and civic leader Karen Jernigan invited me to speak at a meeting of Pinnacles Gateway Partners on March 14th. This group is devoted to sustaining, supporting and promoting Pinnacles National Park. My very pleasant task was to share some climbing stories and photos with members of the group, many of whom have no experience with rock climbing. Longtime leader of the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth founder David Brower initiated technical climbing at Pinnacles in 1934. Tens of thousands have enjoyed the Park’s crags since then. Aside from enjoying our sport, climbers have also shouldered the burdens of protecting and enhancing Pinnacles. We work with the good people of the NPS to support their mission. Climbing culture is strong at Pinnacles and that culture is one of stewardship. I shared that with the Gateway folks. Here’s a link to an article about my presentation:  https://benitolink.com/features/pinnacles-gateway-partners-welcomes-veteran-rock-climber?fbclid=IwAR3a8ES_MGZmY78LN8b83Zb41rZF7lXYjYuTdh4UyID36Z2nWdjTDxxkYZk

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A Bear for Lunch

Editor Richard Loller generously added this Yosemite reminiscence to his Preservation Foundation site. When you take teenagers to mountains where bears reside, they will inevitably meet. Here’s the link:

http://www.storyhouse.org/robertwa2.html

The Ogre’s Secret! Bogerd Climbs!

My very first Bogerd story – The Ogre’s Secret – found a home in Broadswords and Blasters, issue 6. Friend and raconteur Ed McKean gave me an idea for this one long ago. John Miller and I worked together a few years back on teaching materials intended to drop students into a Minecraft world of vikings and castles. That project inspired me to look at this story again and get it up to speed.  It’s a romp and nothing more, but I hope you’ll enjoy it!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJLFGDQ/

“Avarice” is almost here!

I’m alone again . . .

My climbing story “Fallen Angel” is included in the latest anthology of the Seven Deadly Sins series. Avarice will come out on April 3rd, but its cover is here already. I thought I’d share it with you all.

Avarice!

I thought I’d give you a heads up. I’ve made a modest contribution to what promises to be a great anthology. Avarice is the latest volume in The Seven Deadly Sins, a YA Anthology and will be available early in April. My story “Fallen Angel” is tucked into the mix of compelling stories. I’ll update you as publication approaches.

“Moroni” is published in SciFan

I tussled with this story (from 3,000 words down to 900 and back again!) before I got it right, so that’s probably why it’s one of my favorites. Also, I got to write about the Palisades! I got the idea from a long ago climbing trip during which partner Wayne Thompson took a brief dive into one of the North Pal glacier’s crevices.  Pick it up on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/SciFanTM-Magazine-May-2017-Editorial-ebook/dp/B071R56XS4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1493212003&sr=8-6&keywords=scifan+magazine&linkCode=sl1&tag=blooandshad03-20&linkId=c0876a807379eaf2304f033db38540a7

 

Climbers’ Light

Son Jon made a notable journey through New Zealand a few years back. He went far and high and by himself to take many wonderful photos. I paired one with a mountain poem of mine and the Ekphrastic Review just published both. Do take a look.

http://www.ekphrastic.net