Ah, I climbed with Chris Hunter in Yosemite in 1978. I was responsible for his failure on Stoner's Highway. I couldn't FOLLOW the second pitch...

Hi Jon. It's a small world, or it was - Chris was very steady. I like your phrasing - responsible for his failure, not your own! Leaves the field wide open for the latter....
I've been in the failing to second mode a few times. Never pleasant. And usually on things I ought to have been able to get up, as well!

Maybe I worded that badly... I was trying to assume 100% responsibility! Chris just breezed up the first pitch and dragged me up it. He then breezed up the second and after a lot of scrabbling I gave up trying to follow it - it seemed better to just go down. It was my first time on Yosemite face climbing. I don't know if he went back on it or not.

Effortless brilliance was always something that came to mind watching Chris. Yosemite granite is really challenging, IMHO. Even the faces/slabs which are my forte. Or I thought they were!

Ah Peter I well rememberthis day, you and I were on Monkey Puzzle (if my memory is right) and Chris was on this with Robbie, I'm sure you dropped your lens from about here and amazinly we rocovered it from the base of the route, still in good order. I did pIncushion free a long time ago now, pretty hard and commiting move over that overhang with a stunning slab to finish.