2008 Woodie Awards
World-renowned adventurer visits Plattsburgh State
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Josh Colligan
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
Originally published: 2/15/08 at 5:47 PM EST
Last update: 2/15/08 at 5:47 PM EST
Henry Barber, named by Climbing Magazine as one of the "10 stars of American climbing", gave a lecture titled "Journey to the Soul: An International Perspective on Climbing History, Ethics, and Style" Wednesday night at Krinovitz Recital Hall.
Barber took the audience on a ride zigzagging across the globe, showing them rock-climbing in its purest form from some of Earth's purest locations.
He spoke mainly about climbing ethically, climbing for you, and climbing cleanly.
"He is the most influential climber of the last quarter-century," Larry Soroka, director of The Adirondack Experience and chair of expeditionary studies, said.
Barber said, "Sharing your specialty with others is essential to growing the sport."
Trying to help the sport of rock-climbing grow, Barber never lost sight of the most important aspect - ethics.
"The ethics are to preserve the environment and that's the most important thing," Barber said. "Ethics are really the heritage of that area and what gives the area a lot of its ora."
When Barber first climbed in East Germany he used chalk to give himself a better grip. "The people embraced it, but then they saw that it scarred the rock, and they said 'no,'" Barber said. "So, when I went back I didn't use it."
He added, "It's really arrogant to travel and impose your style and your ethics on another place."
Soroka said, "He doesn't care how hard you climb. He cares how you climb."
With his incredible list of first ascents, including his 1976 two and a half-hour solo ascent of Sentinel Rock in Yosemite National Park, Barber said it's not about the competition. "It's really about the experiences and integrity, giving the most chance to the environment and still being able to do it," Barber said. "Knowing what I did and how I did it is more important than getting first ascent."
Barber broke down decade-old barriers without even realizing. Looking back, he said he sees it has done nothing in certain parts of the world, but has energized people in others, such as Australia.
Barber took the audience on a ride zigzagging across the globe, showing them rock-climbing in its purest form from some of Earth's purest locations.
He spoke mainly about climbing ethically, climbing for you, and climbing cleanly.
"He is the most influential climber of the last quarter-century," Larry Soroka, director of The Adirondack Experience and chair of expeditionary studies, said.
Barber said, "Sharing your specialty with others is essential to growing the sport."
Trying to help the sport of rock-climbing grow, Barber never lost sight of the most important aspect - ethics.
"The ethics are to preserve the environment and that's the most important thing," Barber said. "Ethics are really the heritage of that area and what gives the area a lot of its ora."
When Barber first climbed in East Germany he used chalk to give himself a better grip. "The people embraced it, but then they saw that it scarred the rock, and they said 'no,'" Barber said. "So, when I went back I didn't use it."
He added, "It's really arrogant to travel and impose your style and your ethics on another place."
Soroka said, "He doesn't care how hard you climb. He cares how you climb."
With his incredible list of first ascents, including his 1976 two and a half-hour solo ascent of Sentinel Rock in Yosemite National Park, Barber said it's not about the competition. "It's really about the experiences and integrity, giving the most chance to the environment and still being able to do it," Barber said. "Knowing what I did and how I did it is more important than getting first ascent."
Barber broke down decade-old barriers without even realizing. Looking back, he said he sees it has done nothing in certain parts of the world, but has energized people in others, such as Australia.
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