From : Gregory Henson
Sent : October 1, 2004 12:35:34 PM
To : ardarvin@gmail.com
Subject : more buildering
Once again I noticed your difficulty of finding buildering content for you website (hence the couple of paragraphs I read a few days ago) so I thought I'd send you some more pictures. The end of the sequence is close up of the last move as it is a dyno to the top (quite scary but really fun). All Pictures are taken in Kansas City, MO.: G. Henson is the climber: M. Hilton is the photographer.
Ok, WTF? Is this a joke? If so, then nice one. Hilarious. I really hope you aren't trying to pass this sequence off as legit. Anyone can see that the grate is different in the last shot. And unless your photographer has go-go-gadget legs, he's standing right beside you, making the move about 6 ft off the ground.
If you are going to try and fake it, at least go up the building some other way and hang down from the top.
Gregory responds:
Sorry dude. It was kind of a joke. The last picture is not same grate, but...but really is the same move as the end of the route. I just wanted you to see what the end looked like. We tried to get a good picture at the other grate, but did not have a good enough camera. The move is only dyno to the extent that you have to stand all the way up. Your feet leave the grate, but only about 2 inches. I have done the route about 4 times, and the first time was with a rope. It's only scary because the second time my foot slipped and I had to catch myself. I am sorry if you think I really was trying to fake something. I don't care enough to fake anything (I'm a licensed Pastor for a church so I also try very hard not to lie). Anyway, I was just trying to give you something because I know you're always struggling for buildering content. Sorry for confusing you or whatever it was I did.
-greg
PS: I do want to thank you for the feature on your website. It's nice to know you automatically think the worst. After being a climbing instructor, high ropes instructor, and climbing a 60 foot climbing tower (with no ropes due to the fact they were all being used) to rescue a little kid (the route was only a 5.10 though so I guess that lessens the gesture), it's nice to know you seriously think I would be scared to do that move. However, you must be very good at the "spot the difference" game.
No need to apologize. You are right, I am always struggling for buildering content, and you provided it in the best possible way. What's better then a sequence of some climb than a faked sequence? I try to keep things as exciting as possible on this website, for a subject that is otherwise a little on the dull side. Sure buildering is hella fun to do, but it's not that fun to write about or photograph unless it's something really impressive. So when you give me a sequence which is so obviously faked, and you don't tell me otherwise, how can I not jump at the chance to have fun with it? And no need to take things personally, I mean really I should be the one offended that you'd think I was such a pushover.
"Did not have a good enough camera." Come on. Seriously? There you go again thinking I was born yesterday. Last I checked even the crappiest cameras were indifferent to subject matter. A camera that is afraid of danger, that's a new one.
In the end, whether you really did the move is secondary. What matters is that you tried to trick me, and you got busted. That's entertainment.
PS: Perhaps next time a kid gets stuck in the climbing gym you should get someone to lower off and use their rope. You could climb quicker, be a lot safer, and really...are you setting a good example by soloing in front of the kiddies? After all, you are a pastor.
