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John Ewbank - RIP 13-Dec-2013 At 7:07:11 AM stevea

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I am shocked to hear this news of John's passing!
John was a dear friend of mine, and I have many fond memories of climbing with him, especially
since he was such a colorful character.
I knew he was recovering from surgery, and had a quick chat with him, only a few weeks ago, but he didn't indicate anything was wrong.
Way back in 1970, I spent a week with John, doing some of his classic's including Goliath,
on Dog Face. I will NEVER forget the incident of me leading the crux A3 or 4? pitch, and inside this expanding flake, a spider came out as big as my hand! I really don't like spiders.
I yelled down to him that if this spider comes out any further,( it was only inches from my nose), that I would jump off, and I really meant it.
He tried to convince me that I was imagining the whole thing!
I kind of tapped on the rock, with my hammer, scaring the spider further into the crack, and hurried by. When we got to the top, John admitted that there are, in fact big spiders on Dog Face.
I have some great photo's of John climbing Genesis, at Mt. Piddington, and will make an effort to get them scanned, and posted here, at a later date.
John climbed up here in New Hampshire (USA), just 2 years ago, and we did some of the classics. He managed to get up a few 5.10's, ( 21), even thou he hadn't been on rock in years. He would be glad that I mentioned that, since he certainly still loved climbing.

I will miss him dearly; especially since he is the 1st of my close climbing mates to pass away.