I sent a nice large check off to Layton Kor this morning. I then zipped him an email to let him know to expect it in a few days. He sent me a reply back this afternoon, saying:
“Thanks Stewart. I really appreciate the incoming money. I can pay off a bunch of medical bills with all that money. I have a small operation within the next few weeks, a port removal from my shoulder. After which I can go swimming again. I’m really sick of sponge baths! Boy, would I love to put my scuba gear on and head into the ocean. Lately it’s been a little cooler here, but not enough to go climbing yet. Have fun my friend and thanks again.”
I made the photograph above of Layton back in early April when Ed Webster, Dennis Jump, and I went down to visit him for a few days and we did the first ascent of a tower that Layton had his eye on for the past year. In the photo, Layton is leading the first pitch. He did it in his own true unimitable style, carrying only a rack of pitons and a piton hammer, and whailing pins in for protection. When I got up to his little belay stance, Layton had four tied-off knifeblades for the anchor. I said, “Layton, this ain’t enough buddy!” and grabbed his rack and welded two 3/4-inch angles and a wired Stopper into cracks above. We named the tower Kor’s Kastle. Oh, it was kinda rotten too but he loves that sort of rock!
awesome!