Photos by Phil Bard, Rob Robinson, Randy Vogel, Mike Graham, Bill Serniuk, John Gill, Bruce Willey and Werner Braun - On July 5, the climbing world lost one of its greatest icons: John Bachar. The free-spirited Californian was a symbol of American free climbing and free soloing, with a strong traditional climbing ethic. The blonde-haired, surfer-esque and charismatic Bachar will be remembered for many of his earlier achievements, including his daring 1980s free solos of Yosemite routes like Outer Limits (5.10c), New Dimensions (5.11a), Butterfingers (5.11a), Butterballs (5.11c), and later, the sport routes Enterprise (5.12b), in the Owens River Gorge, and The Gift (5.12c), at Red Rocks. Read more.
John on the first lead of Acid Crack (5.12d) in 1983, Joshua Tree Nat. Park. Photo: Randy Vogel.
Photo by Bill Serniuk
Bachar on the Yosemite classic Midnight Lightning (V8). Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
John Bachar, Mike Graham and Ron Kauk after the fifth ascent of the Shield, El Cap. From the book "The Stonemasters" California Rock Climbers of the Seventies. Photo courtesy of Mike Graham
Photo courtesy Werner Braun Collection
Bachar in the mid 1970s at Lost Canyon in Southern Colorado. Photo by John Gill / www.johngill.net
Photo courtesy Werner Braun Collection.
Bachar's Revenge(5.9). Photo by Christian Pondella
A rare roped image, Bombs Over Tokyo on Daff Dome. Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
Clarence Cashner (Cash), Bachar and Jobee. Photo by Bill Serniuk
Climbing Magazine Issue No. 192. Photo by John McDonald
Climbing Magazine Issue No. 84. Photo by Lanny Johnson
John Bachar soloing Crack-a-go-go (5.11c). Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
"I have spent the better part of today staring at a file containing most of the 3000+ images I took of John over the years, thinking at times that it summed up a large part of his life. I'm wrong probably, but at least for me there are many moments of sheer amazement in those images. Moments that certainly define John to some degree. His finesse and grace. His near perfection of the craft. A feeling, on my part, of great honor at getting to be there. " —Phil Bard Bachar in Dexter Canyon in 1988. Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
"I always liked the way John looked like a phantom in this image. Fingertips 1986" —Phil Bard Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
On an early shoot of On the Lamb, with Fire prototypes that were never put in production. Alongside his chalk bag is a toothbrush and his car key. Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
Bachar on the speed bag. Photo by Bill Serniuk
An evening jaunt up Rawl Drive. Photo by Phil Bard / www.philbard.com
