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Hi all:

I'm just finishing an article ("The Jump") on Carl's accident on the Troll Wall in Norway, circa 1984, when we were filming he and Jean for ABC. I'll bust out the whole piece once I have it dicked in a few weeks. Here's the start.

The Jump

Mike Lechlinski and I were squashed into hammocks lased way the hell up the granite face of El Capitan during an early ascent of The Shield, a wall so steep and so long “it takes five minutes to see the ground.” Shortly past dawn we heard the whooshing sound, growing louder and closer, now a hellish roar, as if God were ripping the sky in half. Rockfall. The crown of El Cap had never recovered from that glacier and now it had fallen off and we were done for. Of course the wall there was gently overhanging so any falling objects would harmlessly sail past, far out into space. But this all happened faster than thought so I instinctively burrowed deep as two meteors in human form streaked past at 120 miles per.

I screamed for the living daylights and watched the jumpers plunge into the void. Their arms dove-tailed back and they tracked away from the cliff and popped their chutes well out from the wall, swooping over the treetops, over the road and landing, soft as eiderdown, maybe fifty feet into the meadow. A beater station wagon rumbled up as the snatched up their red and orange canopies and jogged over and dove into the wagon, which quickly motored off. On a scale of one to a shitload, this sixty-second lark ranked up there with being born and slow dancing with Teresa Leon in junior high.

The world of adventure sports – including this quite illegal BASE jump – was just catching fire and anyone in that orbit was expected to wolf down the entire pecan pie, flash fifty routes in a day, and pester girls as though your life depended on it. Thirty odd years later, which seems impossible, I make do with a wedge, that bunny slab, and a blind date with the cashier at Sonic Burgers. Yet in the wonky calculus of fate, space/time and dangerous shit, I’ve always gotten more than I bargained for.

Are you the real Largo? Nice to have you posting here.

I've enjoyed reading your stuff for at least the last 20 years.

I look forward to the full article.

is it true about that plane crash?

Cant wait to read it!

 Just curious... How does Eric Fenz's acct. play into this....

http://www.basejumper.com/Articles/Stories/Trollwall_1984_873.html

I can't really answer that, but if I recall correctly, Largo (John Long) was with Carl on the trip where he died. The legend (which I heard from Rick H, I think) is that John was at the exit point and threw the film of the jump over the edge after the accident.

From my understanding, John Long was not with Carl when he died. In an interview with him he states he was in his cabin resting from the previous days extravaganza when he was notified of Carls accident. He was assisting Carl with the record attempt but did not know of Carl going back up. Carl, went with 2 locals to make the fateful jump. One of the locals was the one who destroyed the film.
There are conflicting reports as to what happened that morning and the article the Jay pointed to does not fully agree with what others have stated. Erik Fenz did, however, make a jump from trollwall with Jean after Carl died.

I'm sure that his article will clarify things.

I got interviewed for a big feature length doc they're making on the event and since then I've been able to pretty much piece together all the bits and pieces into a likely scenario. I was producing shows for David Frost at the time and had hired Carl and Jean. Filming was done when Carl returned and tried a jump he earlier had declared was "crazy," so I always wondered why. I think now I finally know. Story should be done in a few weeks, work permitting.

Feedback from this site is helpful since I'm mainly a climber/kayaker/caver.

John Long

Correct

Tom,

Invite Largo over for Thanksgiving dinner. He will bring some cool pictures and stories. Damn that was yummy !! We will fly him up there in trade for some water round ice jumps in november

Those are some serious guns.

If anybody has names for the "locals" i am happy to try enquire if these people are still around and want to share their story.
I live locally to Troll wall.

True lyrical artist. Excited to read the whole article!

Isn't marah working on this a whole movie with Carl b's stuff....

Yep, I'm pretty sure they are still around the area and one has given an interview that will be included in Marah's film. I can get their names if you really want them...they are brothers from what I remember.

Possibly.
I'm sure it will be a great article!

John has always been a really good adventure writer, I can't wait to read it.

Hey Tom. I'm looking forward to the article. Since we talked years ago, I've also read the stories from the young local jumpers that took Carl to Stabban for the last jump and not John Long. I really would like to hear the story since I have already read one account I won't repeat here. I'll wait and see what the new one says. All I know, is I got pretty fucked up that night after I heard Carl died. He was just an inspirational person that had the foresight to get the sport started in a positive way. This was the real beginning of "extreme sports", and look what we have now with the Red Bull army and the World Wingsuit events. Pretty cool huh?

Wow! I have read a LOT of your stuff. I grew up climbing in the 80's and have really enjoyed the experiences you have shared! Thank You! I can't wait to read the next one.

The present and future achievements are mind boggling, donkey shit Carl...

Last fall, I was fortunate enough to fly from the spot where Carl last stepped off.
I raised an allegorical glass of lemonade to him in thanks.

Looking forward to reading the article.

Craig