I went to high school with John Bachar. We were on the gymnastics team together. Nice guy that kept to himself. I still remember him climbing the outside of the gym, 3-4 stories tall, climbing the flagstone adorning the outside of the gym's exterior. It was fearful to observe, and I could not imagine how he would get down... But he just came back down one step at a time. Even watching it, I could not imagine how he was pulling it off. RIP.

John Long, you are a remarkable teller of tales. Peace. I miss JB.

I could listen to Largo reading Largo all day Long. ❤

I remember that word for word even to this day. As a young man I read that artical over and over, and yet I still ended up free soloing a 5.11 at J tree. Something about that place...

This is so well told.. John Long is a gift for us all to listen to and feel what it was like to be a climber in the trail blazing era.. truly awesome!

You always were a great storyteller! I remember all the tales at Joshua tree hanging out with my big brother....thanks for remembering john!

that was beautiful.

Those pictures of Leave it to Beaver Solo still looks insane . That’s an incredibly hard climb that I still can’t do on top rope .

That was OUTSTANDING.... when I watch any surfing videos where Greg Noll chimes in... Im immediately drawn in... Same goes for John Long with anything related to climbing... Great Perspective... Bad ass Dudes!!!

I’ve watched and listened to this many times. I’ve shared it many times. I am captivated by the story and the explanation of soloing but most of all a beautiful tribute to a close friend. It makes me want to be a better friend BC I would love to honor a passing friend like you have. Well done Sir. Thank you for sharing 🙏

One of my favorite old stories, what a treat to hear it from the man himself. Hi John!!

I've read this short story a dozen times; it never gets old.

That end line. Maybe he's higher than I can see... Powerful words from a powerful person.

A great story with incredible photographs of historic events, none more so than John Yablonsky's free solo of Spider Line. At 5.11d the hardest freesolo in the US at the time. Also Yabo on Leave it to Beaver 5.12, an ascent he did many times and on one occasion having flubbed the sequence almost losing his life on it.

I did not know John but back in the day he was my idol. I had sesn him once while climbing in Yosemite and it was like seeing the biggest rock star, he was. This was very beautiful, thank you

I recall a couple of us scrambling up Lembert dome decades ago, an easy climb by any standards if you're careful, and we were being careful. Suddenly, Bachar comes running/jumping down, passes us by without a word. I remember looking down his route and could not imagine such a thing.

52 considered a long life he went out what he loved best Climbing Free R.I.P. John!

Thank You John Long...you were an inspiration to me when I met you at Society Turn in Telluride CO. 1980 or so. Allen Pattie and Bill Kees started me climbing and the Climbing Mag. article on Bouldering Mt.San Jacinto set me on a path of climbing for 35 years. So nice to see EB's and Swamu belts...Golden Age...

Wow....that some awesome writting right there... Many of us have been in that situation...with a cord. Without, is a whole other level. RIP Bachar. JohnL,....you sir, shared a day of climbing together with a friend very few of us can understand...well done sir.

A prayer to end my evening. Simply beautiful

Thanks John. Great work.

GORGEOUS, John!! Thanks for that. I miss John...

Absolutely beautiful!

I forgot this piece. Always good to hear every once in a while

God that was a great story!

Beautiful.

This was awesome to listen to.

Well done John. Cheers, Adam

Thanks John for nice reading story

HOOO MAN!!! JOHN LONG!!! You heard from EEEE lately??? MO or Mari??? 1981 - 1986 JT Loved your fireside tale from Borneo ... escaping from "jail" in the night!!! But you are a great writer (and narrater) John! Thank you for all you have shared. Few seem to have brought the martial arts to climbing, as did Bachar (RIP)...count me among those who miss him as well, though I barely knew him. He always did have a way of just climbing right out of the picture😊 Never really had time for that morning cup of slander🤣 ~Mark Perko~

Amazing story!

Bloody legend

Kissed by that devil fear who whispered, "maybe next time." Love reading & listening to this climbing icon. Only 934 views ???

Thanks John.

Thanks John! Great story telling: these 10 minutes felt like one!!!

Who would thumbs down this?!

Both amazing people

To the dead, one owes respect. To the living, only the truth. -Voltaire

John I'm confused. You free soloed half dome, but would'nt that predate Honnold's ground breaking free solo ascent of the NW face? And how did you manage to climb in J Tree on the same day that you climbed half dome? Your narrative of what its like to be gripped and desperate on a solo was poetry. Your pnly hope for salvation being an 11+ or 12 move is unimaginable. I remember watching Bachar free solo the face of intersection rock between the ski tracks years ago. It appeared he might be trying to pull an eliminator on you, but you were right on his tail. There was a hard move up at the top that you both cranked flawlessly, but after you sent it you let out a woooo. That told me that it was a really hard move. Me and my friends were awed as always. Bachar may have been the man, but so were you and so you remain. Thanks for a great narrative.

Oh shit. I feel this.

This was fantastic. Is there a short story compilation by Long that has similar climbing stories?

i met john bouldering at the tree back in the 80s.

Wow

I might’ve missed it-is this an account of left ski track, or something else?

higher than I can see from here

eloquent ...