TOBIN, THE STONEMASTERS, AND ME 1970-1980 by Rick Accomazzo: book event coming up!

I am very excited  to be speaking at the 29 Palms Rock Rumble Royale on Friday night, December 13, 2024. This is a multi-day bouldering contest, climbing community gathering, and conservation extravaganza put on by Cliffhanger Guides.  The event seeks to unite the climbing community in the effort to protect and preserve the places we love.  

https://cliffhangerguides.com/1st-annual-29-palms-rock-rumble-royale/

 The bouldering contest will be held in Joshua Tree National Park, but the event itself will take place in the 29 Palms Community Center at Freedom Plaza, which has a sizable auditorium space. Stonemaster Books will have a booth there where signed copies of my book and entire Stonemaster catalogue can be purchased. 

 I will be presenting my slide show, with the rare opportunity to chat about it on stage with a group of friends who need no introduction: John Long, Lynn Hill, Mike Graham, and Dean Fidelman. 

 This  is a ticketed event, with various prices depending on the level of participation. For just the Friday night of my show, the ticket costs $25 and can be obtained at the website above.  

 Hope SoCal climbers can make it, but if not, the book can be ordered here:

  stonemasterbooks.com/

Any chance the event was recorded? I wasn't able to make it due to cubicle complications on Friday afternoon :(

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P.S. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, Rick. It was a touching tribute to Tobin and really illuminated his character beyond the legendary stories we still hear around the crag. The closing remarks on our climbing memories and how returning to the same climbs can transport us back to another time resonated with me too. I always thought the same thing, the rocks never forget!

JT- Glad you enjoyed it! The Joshua tree show was a memorable night with Lynn Hill, Mari Gingery, Mike Lechlinski, Dean Fidelman, and Mike Graham joining me on stage to chat about Tobin and the early days of the Stonemasters. John Long wasn’t able to make it because of some last-minute issues, but we have talked about doing an event together in SoCal this year, perhaps in the summer. I don’t know  of anyone recording the Joshua tree evening, but another SoCal show is in the works and I’ll post the details here when arranged.

On the issue of crags and memories, Proust famously observed that memories can be unlocked somehow by the feel of  a physical object. Next summer I hope to do some of that on classics at Tahquitz and Suicide. As you put it so well, the rocks never forget!

Awesome thank you Rick! Psyched to hear of another show in the works!

I'll keep an eye out for you at Idy this summer. I will be the weirdo with your book at the ready for an impromptu signing ;)

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P.S. Just had a re-read of the Vampire story. So classic. I break out the "Watch me, I'm gonna dyno" line all the time to freak out my belayers. The trick is to do actually do it once in a while so it's believable. And yes, the razor crimp on the traverse over to that bucket hold is still there!