Ah! the desert in '74. Snowing, blizzard conditions, a rack of pitons, friends that had never climbed before (or ever would again). <br> <br> What could ever go wrong??

RKM > Pictures of history &…

Ah! the desert in '74. Snowing, blizzard conditions, a rack of pitons, friends that had never climbed before (or ever would again). <br>
<br>
What could ever go wrong??

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1974 Kim Miller, Grant Moedl and Larry Conrad. First Grade VI, NW Face of Half Dome.<br>
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Skipped the Grade V, had never used Jumars, only aided on telephone pools, had never hauled, drug up Kelty Packs with external frames, lots of beef jerkey, hardly any water - a real learning experience.

Top out on the Nose with wives and friends - June '75

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RKM

Dec 5, 2013

“Ah! the desert in '74. Snowing, blizzard conditions, a rack of pitons, friends that had never climbed before (or ever would again).

What could ever go wrong??”

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Nearby Photos

1971, I found time for other interests when I was 19.
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<br>
The 17 year old future Mrs. Miller

El Cap Tower in June '75. Swami belt and Levis!<br>
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With the late Floyd 'Tex' Bossier.

1976 Leslie Miller near the summit of Sassolungo (Langkofel). Dolomites<br>
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Summer in Europe.

Top out on Lunar Ecstasy - Zion's. November 1997<br>
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A fairly early ascent of this beautiful route.<br>
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Photo - Brian Smoot

An early attempt on the Coffin Roof.<br>
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Jonathan Smoot belaying.

1968: Don Decker - who taught me to love climbing. <br>
<br>
English Lit professor at Ricks College in Rexburg, ID. <br>
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Summit of the Grand Teton. <br>
<br>
Don was later killed third classing in the Tetons - leaving a wife and nine children.

Leslie Miller - Hornli Ridge in '76. Mismatched gloves repurposed from a garbage can in Zermatt.

1969 Just out of high school - learning to climb. <br>
<br>
What's funny about this picture and the hip belay is that Yvon Chouinard is on the other end of the rope.<br>
<br>
Yeah, paid him $15.00 for a day of climbing and teaching. Got the boat ride across Jenny's Lake as part of the deal.

Daddy-daughter date - Ancient Art

1969 Arnold Woodruff Miller (dad) - age 55. Belaying on the Exum Ridge. Between the ages of 55 and 65 he climbed most of the Teton Peaks.

Joseph Henry Miller - but we call him 'Pete'
<br>

<br>
Castle Rock Parking Lot.

Wow! My very own book of climbing pictures for my 60th birthday. <br>

1976 All the right gear for an ascent of the Hornli Ridge - Matterhorn.<br>
<br>
We (I) had a little encounter with one of the local Zermatt guides when he thought my wife was climbing to fast. <br>
<br>
Apparently, they think the Hornli ridge is their's. No problem, happy to mix it up on the slopes above the North Face!

Summit of Matterhorn. About 9:00 am. Celebration with a $5.00 ('76 price) can of coke.<br>
<br>
August 8th, 1976

Three generations, on the rocks!
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<br>
Backyard Boulders - Castle Rock State Park, Idaho 2013
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<br>
Parker, Marshall and Grandpa

1974 Kim Miller, Grant Moedl and Larry Conrad. First Grade VI, NW Face of Half Dome.<br>
<br>
Skipped the Grade V, had never used Jumars, only aided on telephone pools, had never hauled, drug up Kelty Packs with external frames, lots of beef jerkey, hardly any water - a real learning experience.

Ah! the desert in '74. Snowing, blizzard conditions, a rack of pitons, friends that had never climbed before (or ever would again). <br>
<br>
What could ever go wrong??

Top out on the Nose with wives and friends - June '75

1982 Last pitch of Shiprock. Totally camouflaged to avoid detection.

Where we spent 90% of the nights. Student Eurail Passes. 1976

1980 Just lead 'Death and Transfiguration' - 11b, Boulder area.<br>
<br>
RKM, Pat Ament and Cam ? Photo - Mark Ward.

Joanne Urioste - Red Rocks.
<br>

<br>
Been climbing with her forever. And yeah, we're the same age.

You ever lead something 'back in the day' and think you were really cool - only to figure out later that you were really stupid?<br>
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And, damn lucky!<br>
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Automatic Control Theory - Santaquin Canyon, Utah

Tighten up the right one a little, I plan on 'sending' this baby on site!<br>
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City of Rocks, Sept 2013 with Joe.

One of the first few ascents of Swoop Gimp or Be Dust in Zion's. Still plenty of pins at that time.<br>
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Mid '90's with Jason Jones

Joanne Urioste following the crux pitch on a very early ascent of Levitation 29.<br>
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Early 80's. State of the art gear and shoes.

The great Jeff Lowe pondering avalanche danger in Ouray (Camp Bird Mine Road). <br>
<br>
1984.<br>
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Above his head is what would become Bird Brain Boulevard the next year.

Topless beach at Nice, France. 1976

Here's how Moonlight Buttress used to be in the early 70's. A full on A3 third pitch with RURP's in sandstone. Pic by Dave Smith
<br>

<br>
Look at that rack of pins!

Black Ice Couloir, Summer of '82?<br>
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Three ice tools total, one Salewa screw, one wired stopper and one piton, 8mm rope. Perfect rack!<br>
<br>
Bret Olson wearing shorts and Super Gaiters.<br>
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One day trip from Rexburg, even after I spent a few hours in jail in Jackson while Bret came up with the $80 cash to pay the speeding ticket. Jackson Cops - bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do!

Bill Boyle on Lovelace in Zion's. Early '90's.
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<br>
The independent Fang Spire behind him.

Seventy-seven year old George Urioste, June, 2014. Castle Rocks State Park.

June 1974: Northwest Face Half Dome. A poor picture, but an amazing spot that is no longer there. The ledge and chimney on pitch 11 of the regular NW face of Half Dome completely fell off.

1997 Polar Circus - Canada.<br>
<br>
Photo by Bret Ruckman

Talk about some history and friends. Urioste's, June 2016 City of Rocks.

Duane Ackerman:<br>
<br>
This guy has been flying under the radar for years, but is a prolific climber and creator of dozens of fun new routes in COR and Castle Rocks Idaho.

After five days on the Nose! 1975
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The late 'Tex' Bossier, the late Grant Moedl, and RKM
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<br>
Tex wore a Willians , Grant had some homemade job and I stuck with the simple three wrap Swami.

An early ascent of Moses North Face. Late 70's. Long before it was called Pale Fire.<br>
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RKM, Blair Rich, Steve Bowen

Bret and Judy Ruckman - road tripping, July 1989. City of Rocks, Idaho
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<br>
Some of my best friends. I've climbed with Bret for 40 something years - from Valdez to the Gunks to Canadian Rockies to El Potrero, Mexico

Sunrise on Mammoth Terraces - El Cap.<br>
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During one of the two failed attempts on the Salathe'.<br>
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Also, looks like I forgot to tie in for the night.

Son Marshall (in between BASE jumps) and the 'old man' on top of Falzarago Grande

Happy 83rd birthday Jorge, and celebrating ON TOP OF Office Party, Lime Kiln Canyon

Marshall Miller, Lone Peak summit, July, 2014.

Bret Ruckman always had the latest, greatest tools. I was always a generation or two behind.<br>
<br>
Whiteman Falls - Canada, mid '90's

1974 First Grade IV with Larry Conrad. South Buttress Direct of Moran.
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<br>
Next day was the Snaz

Bret Ruckman and I about to climb South Crack on the Maiden. Boulder 1986
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Photo by Judy Ruckman

'I can't believe it's raining'.<br>
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Flew from SLC to Seattle, rented a car and drove through Vancouver to Squamish, spent the night and woke up to a drizzle. Oh well, we have to climb it regardless. We have a flight to catch.<br>
<br>
The Grand Wall . . . in less than perfect conditions. With Jason Jones

Just how I remember the Tetons as a kid.<br>
<br>
Garnet Canyon Meadows.

Brian Smoot after an early ascent of Desert Shield in Zion's.<br>
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I've climbed hundreds of routes with Brian over the years. He and I make a great partnership and continue to climb with each other often.

September 2016 climbing at City of Rocks with Andy Cairns (and little Joe)<br>
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Dave Vaughan Photo

Miller Clan: behind Castle Rock on a rainy spring day

2009 Top of 'Space Boyz' - El Potrero Chico, Mexico<br>
<br>
Photo by Bret Ruckman

Early snow in Castle Valley.

Yikes! Steep Canadian Ice.<br>
<br>
Pilsner Pillar - mid '90's. Yoho National Park, BC.<br>
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Photo by Bret Ruckman

Brian Smoot cleaning, Merrill Bitter jugging - a long way out from the wall.
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<br>
West Face - Leaning Tower - Yosemite 2002
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Just walked up in the morning, did the climb and were back to the car long before dark.

Steve Bowen, base of Wheat Thin after following Waverly Wafer. Late 70's.<br>
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We told him to 'tape up'!

Steve Bowen. Top of Louise Falls, Canada. 1984.<br>
<br>
First and pretty much last ice climb for poor Steve.

Blair Rich - El Cap (Salathe’ Wall) attempt. Mid 80's

On the third day of Half Dome - just below Big Sandy Ledge. <br>
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We made it off that night - barely.

Chasing the sun on the last lap at Breadloaves. Sept 2013.<br>
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Can you spot the approach shoes (Crocs).

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