Soft Kor Climbing Porn

posted by bronco
The classic Layton Kor image.

The classic Layton Kor image.

Layton Kor. Ooh Ahh. The mere mention of this legendary name acts as a verbal Viagra for most modern day bluff scalers. Open up any guidebook for a Western U.S. region and you are likely to find dozens of Kor routes, probably put up in hob-nail boots, homemade etriers, sketchy pins and big brass balls! Well folks, one of the great things about living in and around the People’s Republic of Boulder–we love our rock climbing and our rock climbing heros. That means we get to see their slideshows, movies, and maybe, if your lucky, share a pitch with them. Well, I didn’t share a pitch with Mr. Kor, but I did attend his slideshow last night on the campus of the University of Colorado. Here’s my thoughts…;What can you say, Kor is a grand icon in our little world of climbing. Some dirty toed hippies are probably bowing before a bronze Kor statute somewhere while chanting around a campfire. I’ve heard him called the Messiah and I am pretty sure most of the 1200 pupils that showed up last night for his show were counting on him to perform healing or walk on water or something. Well, he fell short, it was like grass grow, for the lack of a better analogy. In other words it was fucking BORING!!!

Don’t think me a hater, okay, you can, but I speak the truth! Among the flock of self-professing rock climbers this sort of blasphemy would only result in immediate death by stoning, however, hold your stones till I’m through and then you can judge.

Kor on the Salathe.

Kor on the Salathe.

The night began with a bang, however, as I met my good friend J Kennedy at the Southern Sun for pre-show cocktails. After our buzz settled in we embarked on what we thought may be a historic and heralded presentation by one of the legends of rock climbing. We arrived a few minutes late, but the show had just started and we nestled down into our seats as pictures of virgin Alpine granite and Desert sandstone projected on stage. As Kor monotonically read from the script in front of him and asked for slide after slide you could hear in his voice that he was less than psyched to be in this place, surrounded by these people. As many of you know, or may not know, Layton Kor gave up climbing some 20+ years ago shortly after he lost a good friend and climbing partner on the North Face of the Eiger. A tragedy for sure, one that led Kor to a path as a Jehovah’s Witness (who eerily just knocked on my door as I am writing this, for real!). It’s been said that Kor never looked back on his climbing career with fond memories after said conversion, in fact, he condemned his life as a climber to regret and foolishness.

So why the slideshow? Hmmm, what else, MONEY! Maybe I am being unsympathetic, but when Kor needed money for medical bills for his recent ill health, who did he turn too? The climbing community. Seems strange that the community he regrets being a part of should come to the rescue at the tune of $20 a pop to see slides of times he wished he never had. Where were the Jehovah’s? Poof, vanished, like a phantom. No, I don’t know the real nitty gritty details here, but I was a little disappointed at the event and the lack of passion that Kor emanated from the stage. At least fake it, for our sake Layton! So disappointed were Jason and I that we walked out, yep, I walked out on Layton Kor! I know many of you are going to give me shit for this, but I gotta be honest. I hope I don’t skew anyone’s image of Kor, I want to envision him as he was back in the day, psyched, strong, and bold! He had great vision and incredible energy for his time. Sorry Layton, but it was more like limp then verbal Viagra.

You can read Kor’s thoughts on climbing, life and afterlife for yourself in his book Beyond the Vertical.  Although you may not be able to find a copy for less than $150.

Tags: Colorado, Layton Kor, slideshow, Viagra

Friday, October 10th, 2008 Main

1 Comment to Soft Kor Climbing Porn

  1. Good review of the event. I know it sounds heretical, but this didn’t sound too exciting to me and wasn’t sure whether I wanted to attend. Looks like I didn’t miss anything…

    Tom Markiewicz on October 11th, 2008

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