John Long (climber)

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John Long (born 1953) is a well-known American rock climber and author. A one-time divinity student at Claremont School of Theology and an ex-weightlifter, in the early 1970s Long was a founding member of an elite group of Yosemite climbers now called the "Stonemasters". Others in this group – the heirs of the pioneers of the golden age of Yosemite climbing - include (but are not limited to) Ron Kauk, John Bachar, and Jim Bridwell.

Long's many climbing feats include the first one-day ascent of the 3,000 foot Nose route on El Capitan. He was also a boulderer and free-climber of some note. In 1972 he led the Paisano Overhang (5.12c) on Suicide Rock in Southern California. And in 1976 he climbed Hangover, a 5.13 route at nearby Tahquitz Rock. Also, in that year, he made the first free ascent (5.11) of the Chouinard-Herbert route on Sentinel Rock in Yosemite. As an adventurer, he participated in a coast-to-coast traverse of Borneo.

A prolific author, Long's best known books are the "How to Climb" series.

[edit] References

Powells Books
Ament, Pat (2002). "Wizards of Rock: A History of Free Climbing in America", Wilderness Press
Hill, Lynn (2002). "Climbing Free", W. W. Norton & Co.