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TOBIN, THE STONEMASTERS, AND ME 1970 -1980 by Rick Accomazzo
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Bumping for So Cal Climbers who haven't had an opportunity to see Rick and his slides and discussion about the Book. |
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I look forward to reading this book. Over a 20-year period, as an adult, I lived in 2 locations close to the Sorenson family home in Covina (they lived on E. Level St. ), but I did not know Tobin- he passed away before I started climbing. However, a few years ago, I talked with his brother via Supertopo, who at the time was living in the Sacramento area. We exchanged some info on that part of Covina, and he told me of how he and Tobin would go exploring along the seasonal stream that ran just south of the Masonic property, and how, later on, Tobin would sometimes bust climbing moves on the side of their house. He also told me their mother continued to live in that house until her passing in the early 2000s, if memory serves. |
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Donald- You'll be interested in some of the Covina stories in the book. Covina still had some rural character in the 1950s, including the stream you mention. Tobin and his siblings were free range kids who spent a lot of time in the local outdoors. Tim told me that, as kids, he and Tobin got ahold of some pitons and practiced aid climbing on a neighborhood tree, but Tim took a ground fall on the route. A couple of Southern California slide shows and book signings in the next couple weeks: Thursday, July 17, 2025 at the Cardiff Patagonia store in Encinitas, 7:00 pm. Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Santa Monica Patagonia store, 7:00 pm. Free, but RSVP to the store websites. Can't make it to the shows? Buy the book here: |
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Thanks, Rick. Good luck in all your future endeavors. |
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Looking forward to the show tonight at the Cardiff Patagonia store in Encinitas. Hope to see a bunch of folks from the San Diego area. RSVP on the website so they know how many people to expect. https://tobinthestonemastersandme19701.splashthat.com/ |
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Fantastic book and a great read. Thanks for all your hard work Rick. I finally got around to ordering a copy, and while nursing a very modest hand injury I picked it up while van camping with my wife and doggo in Teton Canyon and finished it the same day, I couldn’t put it down! I loved how you finished with the North Face of Alberta is still waiting of its first solo ascent, and all I could think of is the next gen, Balin taking a stab at it sometime soon…. |
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Double J- Thanks for reading and your kind comments; much appreciated! With regard to attempting the solo ascent of the North Face of Alberta, the brilliant Colorado rock climber and alpinist, Mark Wilford, tried twice to do it, in the decade following Tobin's death in 1980. Each time he got to the rock band and retreated. The first time, he traversed several horizontal pitches to the Northwest ridge and retreated down that. The next summer, he got to the rock band again, decided against continuing, and traversed again to the Northwest Ridge, and this time climbed it to the summit. It is an insane place to be climbing alone and Mark's climb, traverse , and ascent of the ridge was a tremendous feat in itself. |
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Had a very fun show at the Cardiff Patagonia store in Encinitas last Thursday night. Thanks very much to Patagonia and the store for hosting and providing tacos and Patagonia brand beer. The great climber, El Cap base jumping pioneer , big wave surfer, and old friend Randy Leavitt made a cameo appearance and it was great to hear him talk about his own wild experiences during the question period. My last show in the LA area until the fall will be at the flagship Patagonia store in Santa Monica at 7:00 pm this Thursday. Doors open at 6:30 and there will be refreshments generously provided by the store. Here is the store's announcement: It is great to be in So Cal and hope to see many old and new friends there. |
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I will be doing my book slideshow at the Patagonia store in Santa Monica at 7:00 pm this Thursday July 24, 2025. Doors open at 6:30 and there will be refreshments generously provided by the store. I am excited to let you know that John Long will be there to read from his wonderful foreword and share some thoughts on Tobin, who he said in the book was "the most remarkable person I have ever met." Also attending will be Mike Graham and Robs Muir. This is an opportunity to get your book signed by several of the original, So Cal Stonemasters. Here is the store's announcement: Hope to see you there! |
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Thanks again to Patagonia for hosting my slideshows at its Cardiff and Santa Monica stores during July. It was great to see old friends there, including Randy Leavitt, John Long, Rob Muir, and Mike Graham. Coast to coast shows are coming up in the fall: Yosemite, then a couple of iconic mountain stores on the East Coast, then back to Southern California.
· Yosemite Facelift: Thursday, September 25, 2025 8:30 pm at the theater behind the Visitors Center in Yosemite Valley. · International Mountain Equipment: Saturday, October 11, 2025, North Conway, New Hampshire · Rock and Snow: New Paltz, New York, October 18, 2025. · Beckman institute Auditorium: Pasadena, California, October 29, 2025. Get the book here: stonemasterbooks.com |
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Another reader jumping in to say that it was a great read! Thoughtfully put together and a truly remarkable character in an era full of remarkable characters. Thanks Rick and RIP Tobin. PS, strong work on the Drus couloir direct! What a line |
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Just placed an order. Really looking forward to reading it! One of my absolute favorite climbing books is The Bond, by Simon McCartney. It also features one of the Stonemasters, Jack Roberts. A fantastic read that I wholeheartedly recommend. |
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Bug Boy- Thanks! Regarding the Dru Couloir Direct, Ueli Steck had a film crew when he climbed it and the video shows the climbing and the line really well. https://youtu.be/tT3hyLvYNNo?si=m-1d9mZukX5LeEah MikeJ- Simon McCartney‘s book about climbing in Alaska with Jack Roberts is a modern classic, which won the Boardman Tasker Award in 2015. Jack was Tobin‘s partner on the first winter ascent of the Grand Central Couloir on Mt. Kitchener. There is a truly harrowing account of this climb in my book, written by Tobin himself. |
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I learned that the book is a finalist for the 2025 Boardman Tasker Award for Mountain Literature! This is an annual prize given to what judges in the UK determine to be the best mountain book of the year. Here is the judges’ summary: The book chronicles the life of the author’s friend and climbing partner, Tobin Sorenson, a member of the legendary 1970s climbing collective known as The Stonemasters. The book details their adventures and the evolution of modern climbing through the lens of Sorenson’s exceptional talent, which some considered the best in the world. It is a powerful tribute to Sorenson, who died tragically at a young age and a vivid portrait of a golden era of climbing. I’m looking forward to meeting folks at the following presentations in the next weeks: Yosemite Facelift: Thursday, September 25, 2025 8:30 pm at the theater behind the Visitors Center in Yosemite Valley. International Mountain Equipment: Saturday, October 11, 2025, North Conway, New Hampshire Rock and Snow: New Paltz, New York, October 18, 2025. Beckman institute Auditorium: Pasadena, California, October 29, 2025.
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Rick Accomazzowrote: So cool!!! |
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Congrats on the books finalist nomination Rick, Well deserved, hope you win. Tad |
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I just finished reading it, over two days. It was a fantastic read. Very hard to put down. It was funny, inspiring and sad all at once. I'm not great with words but it deserves a place on the top shelf with my absolute favorites in mountain literature. Thank you, Rick, for writing it and thank you, Randy, for making this thread, which made me aware of it's existence. |
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Coast-to-Coast presentations coming up this month! International Mountain Equipment: 7:00 pm, Saturday, October 11, 2025, North Conway, New Hampshire. Special guest: Henry Barber. Rock and Snow: New Paltz, New York, 7:00 pm, October 18, 2025. Beckman institute Auditorium: Pasadena, California, 7:00 pm, October 29, 2025. Special Guest:John Long. Had a fantastic time talking about Tobin and the book before a big crowd at the Facelift in Yosemite! Thanks to Ken Yeager, Jim Thomsen, and the Yosemite Climbing Association crew for the opportunity to speak at their wonderful event. |
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Hi Rick, I just finished the book. Having only started climbing four years ago (at age 53), and having missed out on so much climbing history, I’ve been reading many climbing books the last couple years. This book is truly exceptional. I’ll undoubtably read it again. Thank you for all the hard work you put into it. While reading about somebody’s passing is never enjoyable, this book overall is very enjoyable, and impactful. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to at least know of Tobin through your book. Thanks again and cheers, Dan |
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Dan-thanks for reading it and posting your nice comment! My next book talk will be: Beckman institute Auditorium: Pasadena, California, 7:00 pm, Wednesday, October 29, 2025. This promises to be a great evening! The inimitable John Long will join me to talk about the Stonemasters and Tobin‘s remarkable climbing career. The Southern California Mountaineering Association and The Access Fund are sponsoring the event and there will be presentations on critical access and conservation issues affecting local climbing areas and beyond. There will be books available at the event, or you can order one from: |
