Bachar solos Leave It To Beaver

[beezman]

I think he would dominate Ninja Warrior if he was still here.

[OMin0u5]

I found out its 5.8. Other source stated 5.9, where did you get 5.12a?

[stacky512a]

@OMin0u5 More Monkey is 5.11b and The Beaver is 12a

[TadRapidly]

Funny but check out a pair of Fires now--they feel as clunky as mountain boots! RIP, JB.

[GaiaMind]

Rest in Peace brother, we miss the light you brought to all of us.

[hjhrocks]

But impressive!!!

[hjhrocks]

Its only 5.12a

[MRCOLEUBER]

@hjhrocks only a 5.12a with no rope free climb that get to the middle look down and say well its only a 5.12a hahahaha

[bwong0]

1:09 he looks exactly like Owen Wilson

[iwasmexican]

no number of pullups will prepare you for 5m of burly roof crack climbing like that though...

[sarvelaj]

jeez, whats that rated?

[masivatak]

his math is bad but then again he might be the baddest!

[Spandex08]

@masivatak There are 52 weeks in a year and he said he takes one or two days off from a week. So it is possible - only that there are a lot more weeks with 1 day rest and less with 2 day rest.

[ndtitanlady]

the roof climb is called more monkey thank funky btw

[ndtitanlady]

@ndtitanlady more monkey than* funky

[1138thz]

I used to watch Long and Bachar climbing the hardest stuff on intersection rock, the old woman and a number of other formations un-roped. Great guys, great climbers and dudes that did not have bloated egos in any way. And if you asked either of them for a pointer or two on something that would be trivial for them such as a 5.9 or 10a they were not above giving that advise with grace and a positive vibe.

[southwestwingchun]

Power of the stripey socks!

[noeltupas]

0:45 ... damns he's climbing So High.... EPIC.

[petkol]

I'm I the only one twisting around in the cheir, making sure I'm not falling off?

[petkol]

I'm I the only one twisting around in the cheir, making I'm not falling off?

[G3org3Master]

I can do that! in zero g

[digitsdelight]

Just a side note to all...be sure you're 100% sure where you'll spend eternity before you hit your midnight hour!

[fumanxxx]

This is "More Monkey Than Funky". Not "Leave It To Beaver".

I watched a guy free solo this in the late '80s. Stunning.

[digitsdelight]

@fumanxxx...keep watching, you'll see Leave It To Beaver as well.

[mackles]

Puckered butt hole zoom @ 4:50

[tippedcam]

"leave it to Beaver" is 5.12a in Joshua Tree Climbing book. Which by Josh standards is very difficult. This is considered a classic in Joshua Tree.

[zachatak]

tommy the troller

[berengervsdago]

Non so se era più coraggioso o più pazzo...

[19diamir93]

R.I.P.

[caryallendavis]

I had tube socks like that

[tdawgmoneymoney7]

DID HE DIED!!!!?!?!?!?! Oh wait he did...

Great old school video and I love the non climbers commentary. Good find!

[bendotwood]

climb is rated as extremly difficult. thats real helpful. give us a number.

[LazyFatGuy]

owen wilson climbs rocks ??

[pasto76]

you've been climbing for 15 years but dont know the difference between free climbing and free SOLOING?

[southwestwingchun]

@pasto76 , soloing, =no ropes or protection Freeclimbing=using ropes, and placing nuts/cams etc, and leaving the rock ''free'' of any damage or crap. i maybe a year too late, and you already know now. but happy climbing anyway.

[Dawidgi]

@pasto76 wow!

[EvHstyleTaPMaster]

how people can consider his death an accident is beyond me, if you play with fire you get burned, ive been rock climbing for 15 years, and i know as well as most rock climbers just how ridiculous and stupid climbing without gear is, anyone who is considering trying free climbing ,i seriously urge you to reconsider,look what happens to the best of them.he was an amazing climber but a very irresponsible one, he was an open critic AGAINST using safety gear

no tears on this end

[nNorthWestern]

i agree no symphaty from here, but who are we to judge the way someone lives

try to think the best feeling you ever had, if john got that same feeling from free soloing than i think i understand why he did it even if i dont agree with what he says or gambles

[DonaldBumsfeld]

@EvHstyleTaPMaster

don't comment on things you know nothing about

[digitsdelight]

@EvHstyleTaPMaster...I agree with you but I just did a search and nobody posted a reference to his death as being an "accident" on this page. I was in EMS for 17 years and an "accident" applies to the innocent person that gets hit by a drunk driver. The drunk driver had it coming, as with others that cause traumatic events.

John was a part of my climbing history. What a story he was! I hope he is with his Maker.

[azhum]

Haha those shorts....

[boogiboss]

1:10 this is not bachar, is Owen Wilson !!! or maybe hes dad lol.

[cowsruleu]

lets all give a moment and think about what he did for the climbing comunity. too bad hes gone

[dclelen]

Any idea what the first route is? I'd love to give it a go...

[deramus137]

More Monkey Than Funky

[P3313]

What is the rating on Leave it to Beaver? He made it look easy, and you gotta love the tube socks he's wearing.

[dclelen]

Leave it to Beaver is 5.12a according to the consensus on Mountain Project. Almost as burley as those socks!

[wanzek78]

rest in peace !

[Garnetandzidane]

1:09 , Horrible sunglasses...

[trentk90]

such a great influence on climbing. influenced it more than some people will ever know.

[unchapulin]

long life jhon bachar, life for ever, you strong and determination are a great inspiration for me and a lot of generations

[jtheross]

Bachar was killed on a fall, 5th July 2009

[GaiaMind]

Both were innovators of the sport, it is impossible to compare them. that said, John bachar was the best free climber in the world though in his day, and essentially created hard freesoloing. More you can say for dan osman even though the dude was super strong.

[Pfapulle]

Respect..I always wonder how these people then come down to the ground???? Any idea?

[campusmang]

many ways, it depends

rappel

get lowered down by you partner on the other end of the rope

climb down

take a trail

parachute

the guide book usually says how when needed

[brbege]

Legend!

[tektonikplaque]

Respect, we lost a great light.

But as a side note, JB almost lost his life in a car crash. It seems he would be more at ease (?) to end in a fall rather than a car crash. RIP.

I met him only once, at JTree. We talked a long time, and he was so incredibly humble, it took me 2 days to realize who "John" was. Greatness comes with humility.

All the free soloists out there know what they're up against, respect to all of them.

[r90paul]

haha love how its so old school

legend RIP

[pacofdl]

He afforded an impossible challenge against death... Unfortunately death won :-( He was a great man..RIP

[sardamil]

rip

[ViennaForever]

Completely insane! I never understood how he would know that climbing the ceiling was even POSSIBLE!

Age, injuries must have taken their toll. I have to wonder if in his first seconds of fall he thought that he should have listened to a still small warning voice in his head during the last climb before he fell.

[nomad8k]

TRUE LEGEND

RIP

[KisKisMeow]

Great.

RIP man

[ronnieray61]

wow. I used to walk past this several times a week when I was trying desperately to get around gunsmoke at josh. the guide led me to the base of many bachar routes -- generally to say 'crazy. no way.'

a man who lived life exactly as he wanted. have to admire that.

[Oceansiders]

Back in the day I used to cross paths with JB in Josh, the guy never failed to amaze me, he flowed on the rock. He definitely set the bar high!

[AlbinVega1865]

Back in the day when Bachar and Fire Cats ruled the climbing scene. You are already missed JB.

[brharri]

I had the HUGEST crush on him when I was an 18 year old maid in yosemite in the early 80's... I thought he was invincible...R.I.P. John Bachar

[mynosebled]

RIP

[monkeyapeman]

RIP JB

[tommyklinefelter]

Legendary climber, and a kind friend. We'll miss you, John. You inspired a 17 year old derelict kid to move on the rock with confidence and grace, and I'll never forget that. Thanks, dude.

[werdnativ]

RIP John Bachar: July 5, 2009.

[marcopervo]

This is great. I also remember seeing a solo of Paisano Overhang on "That's Incredible" by Tony Yaniro.

[digitsdelight]

@marcopervo...Paisano was never soloed. There is a clip of Tony climbing Paisano Overhang on YouTube from a clip of "On The Rocks" narrated by newscaster, Janet Zapala. Maybe this is what you saw?

[tahoeclimber]

That camera man getting the butt shots must have had a lot of confidence in Bachar's abilities.

[stacky512a]

Walking up the Beaver...........

[quhawks48]

Fran did a good job at narrating this video considering he's a football player.

[billcoe888]

Crew socks: check

Painters Pants: check

Must be early 80's. It doesn't get much better than this. Bacher back in the day. He'd do 20-30 routes in a row cordless. Amazing then, still amazing 30 some years later. They should have followed him around for a few days with that camera and pieced it together. They'd have hundreds of free solo laps in JT.

Good stuff: thanks for sharing it Ed.

[BESOCCA]

Mine were real thin like silk with silver flakes?

Grammicis are climber designed, painters

may wear them also?

I can't remember if I watched this on That's

Incredible prior to 1980? I watched him

down climb Spider probably in less than

1 minute around 1983.

Great stuff.

[ephartouni]

your welcome acopaboy... it is quite a document from back in the day

[acopaboy]

Thanks Ed! heh heh....