Customer Reviews

The Stonemasters: California Rock Climbers in the Seventies

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This is a large coffee table book detailing the climbing accomplishments of of a group of S California climbers that went on to be some of the best, most well known climbers of the last 30 years. A piece of history. Some of these stories have circulated for years by word of mouth in the climbing community. It's great to read them first hand by those who were actually there. The book is well written and hard to put down. Because most of the Photos are old they leave a little to be desired. However, all in all a great book that I will treaThe Stonemasters: California Rock Climbers in the Seventiessure.

Thank you to John Long and Dean Fidelman for assembling this book. For anyone who spent time in the 1970s climbing, this book will ring close to home. If you were fortunate to wander around California climbing then, it will brighten specific and indelible memories - forged in adventure's crucible - and perhaps a bit faded today. For those younger and less fortunate to not be climbing then, absorbing the history and achievements will hopefully instill new passion and understanding. But no matter your generation or background there is value here.

Consider this example of vision, when ours blended for a time with theirs. Three of us pulled onto El Cap Spire in June 1979. It was quiet and we were alone with our thoughts of the day. The route above was unknown to us, and the normal doubts mixed with confidence played in our heads. Then it all calmed down and we knew the future and our fleeting mastery of it. Why ? Softly floating up from the meadow came a few soft notes of jazz, then a bit stronger as twilight's quiet descended. The saxophone continued for about an hour ... John Bacher's soft message to anyone really listening. We were. Bravo John.

This book is a fantastic chronicle of the climbing and climbers of that era. The stories are top shelf, the pictures outstanding, and the stoke unrivaled. Buy two because you are going to ruin the first one with drool.

This is a great book!! It brings into print a time and spirit that is doubtful will ever be recreated or repeated. John Long's writing is as good as ever and the stories by other climbers help bring different perspectives to Stonemasters. The photographs, while not technically of today's standards, also capture the spirit of the time. Those of us who are contemporaries of the Stonemasters will look at the photos of these young men and think back on our lives at that time. The adventures, risks taken and successes and the loss of friends doing what they love best. For younger climbers this book shows that without these men climbing would not be what it is today. For those of us in the climbing community this is a must own!

Having been initiated into the climbing world at about the same time and occasionally bouldering with a few of them (Stonemasters), this book brings back so many fond memories. Having climbed in the same locations, time period and being able to relive these memories, friendships and memories is great. I highly recommend this book. A must have and read.

Russ Butner

Stone Masters is an amazing work. This book is truly a piece of art. John Long's heroic prose combined with beautiful vintage photography offer a unique look into the glorious and troubled lives of the cutting edge rock climbing culture of the seventies. Hilarity and heartbreak come in equal measure here. For anyone who has loved climbing in Yosemite, Joshua Tree, or Tahquitz, and wishes to know more of the history behind these areas, this book is a must have.