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  1. #1
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    Bill Briggs on Skiing the Grand

    Just showed up on WY PBS:


  2. #2
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    That was great! Thanks!

    “How many times?” Funny.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper View Post

    “How many times?” Funny.
    Yeah, classic! You would think if one was hiking up they would have somewhat of a clue. Not that they were hiking to the peak...but still.

  4. #4
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    "Big challenge, great fun"about sums it up.

    I agree it is a constitutional right for Americans to be assholes...its just too bad that so many take the opportunity...
    iscariot

  5. #5
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    fantastic to get the "play by play" by the man himself.

    Thanks for that!
    Aggressive in my own mind

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate View Post
    Just showed up on WY PBS:

    Thank you for this --

    perhaps my most enduring ski hero
    ( now approaching seventy years ) ...

    Some of his other pioneering routes ( Canadian traverses, for sure ) are probably equally notable. and receive scant attention

    similar accounts shot more than a decade ago in STEEP and ,,, ( 2006 )

    Life has not been easy for Mr. Briggs -- He has my great respect (!)
    long live Bill Briggs ! tj

  7. #7
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    What a remarkable spirit he shows.

    Sent from my LM-G710VM using Tapatalk
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    crafting technology in service of music

  8. #8
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    I LOL'd when I saw the Spademan bindings.

  9. #9
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    I knew about the Spademan's. Do you recall what boot? Extra points if they were Scotts or Hansens. Funny my father had some Spademan's mounted on some K2 Comp 5's. I can't imagine a crazier binding to us for backcountry. The metal plate screwed into the boot sole had to make hiking awkward. Bill Briggs from Augusta, Maine. Great story.

  10. #10
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    I'm still boggled by the physics of skiing/hiking with a fused hip - how does that even work?!?!

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by PB View Post
    I'm still boggled by the physics of skiing/hiking with a fused hip - how does that even work?!?!
    He explains the climbing/hiking part. Watch again.

    I want the poster. Who’s holding?
    Well maybe I'm the faggot America
    I'm not a part of a redneck agenda

  12. #12
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    I skiied with a guy that mounted the Spademan clamp/handle part upside down on his Scott boots routered to make a flush connection. The plate, normally mounted to the boot sole was on his ski's. Wierdest ski rig I've ever seen but nobody could slide off with his boards and it worked pretty damn good..... until the boots over-stressed and busted apart. Not to digress, cool bit of skiing history and a great endeavor for it's day.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fred Pabst View Post
    I knew about the Spademan's. Do you recall what boot? Extra points if they were Scotts or Hansens. Funny my father had some Spademan's mounted on some K2 Comp 5's. I can't imagine a crazier binding to us for backcountry. The metal plate screwed into the boot sole had to make hiking awkward. Bill Briggs from Augusta, Maine. Great story.
    The photo I saw was 1970s vintage K2 boots...
    I am sure as Snow King ski school director, he went through a lot of boots
    ( some of the Canadian traverse photos I have seen were cable bindings with toe irons ( think cable tele binding )
    ( The binding my father always would have preferred
    ( he was completely Unimpressed by the early Fritschi ( precursor to the Freeride ) I gave him )

    oh. editorial comment --
    I don't believe Mr. Briggs did a lot of hiking in plastic ski boots - Spademans or Not :
    Those were Not rubber - lugged soled ski boots...
    Climbing snow and ice, yes ( he describes the process... )
    But for the approach, those men were not counting ounces ( except for when they were ) :
    their equipment was Sturdy.

    Pivettas or Raichle hikers plus ski boots (!)

    Thank you for the memories ! tj

    oh2.
    The other film featuring a profile of Brigg's Grand adventure is, ' The Waiting game '

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by plugboots View Post
    He explains the climbing/hiking part. Watch again.

    I want the poster. Who’s holding?
    My understanding is the poster still cycles in Jackson
    ( it was my first flea-bay purchase almost twenty years ago... )

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by plugboots View Post

    I want the poster. Who’s holding?
    Teton Mountaineering has autographed copies for around fifty bucks. I just picked one up. They were sold out for years and occasionally popped up at Jackson yard sales.

    I’m sure he gets proceeds from every sale. Every mag needs to stop in and get one. It’s a way cool poster.
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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by skiing-in-jackson View Post
    Teton Mountaineering has autographed copies for around fifty bucks. I just picked one up. They were sold out for years and occasionally popped up at Jackson yard sales.

    I’m sure he gets proceeds from every sale. Every mag needs to stop in and get one. It’s a way cool poster.
    That’s where I got mine. Called ‘em and it got sent.

    Link to my story about that poster and Bill Murray:
    https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...86#post2704286

  17. #17
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    I talked to Bill about his skis and Spademans a couple years ago. He said he used cord to tie the spring down after he clicked in. I said that basically makes it a non-releasable binding. He said you’re darn right, I didn’t want to lose my tools up there! Also said the square stock aluminum he glued to the top sheet was the precursor of the Rossi VAS system, and 3M adhesive engineers had seeked him out to talk about his ‘design’. If I see him at breakfast again tomorrow I’ll probably pick up his breakfast again. Large respect.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
    Something about the wrinkle in your forehead tells me there's a fit about to get thrown
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    It's the same old shit that I ain't gonna take off anyone.
    and I never had a shortage of people tryin' to warn me about the dangers I pose to myself.

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  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tye 1on View Post
    I talked to Bill...If I see him at breakfast again tomorrow I’ll probably pick up his breakfast again. Large respect.
    I’d contribute to a gofundme to buy his breakfast for life.

    Good story about tying his bindings closed.

  19. #19
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    Does he still play at Doran's on occasion? At me that is just so cool, from a guy that is just so cool.

    I agree it is a constitutional right for Americans to be assholes...its just too bad that so many take the opportunity...
    iscariot

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by plugboots View Post
    He explains the climbing/hiking part. Watch again.
    Yeah ..... sort of ..... maybe
    Not really a big deal; just makes it even more amazing and mysterious that he did that on prehistoric gear, solo, with a leg that only bent at the knee and ankle. I'm not sure I could even get out o bed with a fused hip.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by hutash View Post
    Does he still play at Doran's on occasion? At me that is just so cool, from a guy that is just so cool.
    I know he does during the summer, its always a treat to get off the river and head in for a pizza and a beer and have the bonus of seeing Bill playing.
    Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I break your concentration?

  22. #22
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    I got the poster almost 10 years ago directly from Briggs; no idea if he still has copies or not. PM sent to plugboots.
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
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    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  23. #23
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    https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/sport...d1c7105d5.html

    hey, guys - this is probably linked in one of the other Bill Briggs threads here - ( I apologize )

    my earlier comments still apply...

    a pioneer...

    with great Respect... tj


    postscript -

    rereading the article just now, it notes Mr. Briggs descent of the Grand was accomplished in Rosemont boots ! !
    there were still a few pair of those around as I was getting into skiing in the mid-1970s... ( we had a pair on display at the hill a year ago... ( I have seen a pair in-use in the last decade. . . ) )

    interesting History...

    thanks... skiJ
    Last edited by skiJ; 05-13-2021 at 10:39 AM.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tri-Ungulate View Post
    Just showed up on WY PBS:

    Good to know there were condescending couples in JH back then.
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  25. #25
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    Last edited by snojones; 05-14-2021 at 04:56 PM.

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