tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post7083891625740542176..comments2017-04-18T08:20:16.454-07:00Comments on Dave Fiddles with Cameras: Eulogy for GeoffDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02410730859699014703noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post-57956925239155104902016-01-12T19:18:07.524-08:002016-01-12T19:18:07.524-08:00I just stumbled on the sad and strange news about ...I just stumbled on the sad and strange news about Geoff. I have been away from climbing, Carderock and the U.S. now for many years living in Asia. I was a regular at Carderock from about 1977 though 1980 when I was in High School in Bethseda. I think this is just before you started climbing there? I went to school with Greg C who was a year behind me and I climbed at Seneca and Stone Mountain with Topper and Pete. I would head out to Carderock after school pretty much every afternoon. It all started for me when I kind of stumbled onto Carderock randomly with some friends while exploring the river and canal area. I was fascinated by what I saw there - the elegance and intensity of it - and I was soon going there by myself and scrambling around on the easy routes unroped and in my Converse Allstars. It wasn't long before Geoff told me to get lost or to start tying in or I was going to get hurt. He wasn't very nice about it either but, as you so perfectly say above, he really had everyone's safety in mind and his default mode of engagement with people was to first berate them. That is what he did to me. Undeterred, I eventually saved $25 for a pair of EBs and a chalk bag. I also bought Royal Robins Basic and Advanced Rockcraft and I learned how to tie a bowline on a coil which is what the regulars used instead of a harness at the time. It took time, but eventually I was kind of accepted by Geoff and the other regulars including John G and Bob B and there was a guy named Mike W who was always there too. I met alot of real characters, great climbers and genuinely interesting people who I think had a big influence on who I am today. Most were some years older than me. I think Geoff was about 17 years older than me, so when I knew him he must have been in his mid 30s. I remember he wore the older style blue Vasque edging boots and I remember he could stand on the smallest of holds. It was incredible. He had a very controlled and static style. Ne never lunged or really used any arm strength although he was obviously very, very strong. Everything was about knowing the moves, where the holds were, sequence and exactly how to position his weight over his feet so they would stay on those tiny holds. I learned alot from him. I didn't know too much about his personal life. It occurs to me that alot of the climbers I knew from Carderock were not the most open or socially adept people. But as we had this great love of climbing in common, the bonds, in a narrow sort of way, were very strong. I respected him greatly for what he loved and for his approach to it. Climbing, bouldering in particular, as it was practiced at Carderock in those years was a great way to live. I am glad it was there for me. Geoff was a big part of it. It is strange to say that I will miss him as I haven't seen him in 30 years, but I am very sad to learn of his death and I will always remember him as a man with whom I shared a great love for a great sport during a formative period in my life. JH (fusakopelo53@hotmail.com) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post-37820351948504010202014-08-09T20:19:16.769-07:002014-08-09T20:19:16.769-07:00Geoff was about 6'4" I believe and lived ...Geoff was about 6'4" I believe and lived in north Arlington, not far from Glebe Road, but not on it. I forget the name of his first wife; his second was Linda. He did indeed ride motorcycles when he was young. I also have not seen a formal obit for him, though there were various articles in climbing magazines and blogs. Eventually when his murderer's trial is done, there might be an article in the Post Magazine. Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02410730859699014703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post-58250951855442514292014-07-25T00:10:03.519-07:002014-07-25T00:10:03.519-07:00Very nice blog about Geoff. Was Geoff about 6'...Very nice blog about Geoff. Was Geoff about 6'3" and did he once live in Arlington on Glebe Road? Was his first wife named Sharon? Did he used to ride a motorcycle? I would like to see an obituary for him, but can't find one on the internet.Nancy Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596538079346257956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post-31826761870770986012014-02-21T20:40:53.540-08:002014-02-21T20:40:53.540-08:00Thank you.
Tim RaderThank you.<br /><br />Tim RaderAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04016246139177874362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post-58405331103117442062014-02-05T13:30:04.310-08:002014-02-05T13:30:04.310-08:00I was also moved... I never knew Geoff, but I thin...I was also moved... I never knew Geoff, but I think we all run into those similar to Geoff in our own local crags. Thanks for putting together this beautiful eulogy.K. Marc Dufresnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01480697371505267289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9173420424668645583.post-36902266957581189312014-01-17T15:56:13.483-08:002014-01-17T15:56:13.483-08:00This is a wonderful remembrance and also a beautif...This is a wonderful remembrance and also a beautiful meditation on the mystery of why we climb. Thank you.Peter Bealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15576690594320743452noreply@blogger.com