This geocache is dedicated to Hans Kraus (1905-1996), a pioneer of rock climbing, and one of the most important people in Gunks climbing history. His life story is truly amazing. He was a legendary rock climber, known for daring and dangerous first ascents, as well as one of the great unsung medical pioneers of the 20th century. Hans Kraus, the orthopedic surgeon, was President Kennedy’s White House back doctor, and who Time Magazine considered among the greatest doctors ever.
He was born in Austria in 1905 and settled in New York when his family fled Europe just before World War II in 1938. In 1940 he met Fritz Wiessner, who would become a lifelong friend and climbing partner. Wiessner had discovered the Shawangunk Mountains (“the Gunks”) in 1935 and together Hans and Fritz spent every spare day developing climbing routes. Many of the most popular moderate classic climbs in the Gunks are Kraus first ascents. One of Kraus' and Fritz' most significant efforts at the Gunks was High Exposure, a bold climb that involves a blind reach around an overhung corner 150 feet up in the air. It is often considered THE classic Gunks climb and a must-do because of the scary moves and steep, airy and exposed upper section. When done in 1941, with a hemp rope and three soft-iron pitons for protection, High Exposure was a world-class accomplishment. Today it is considered fairly easy, based on its 5.6 grade (climbing difficulty ratings go from 5.0 up to 5.15). From where the cache is, look up to the cliff at the pointed buttress with the large ledge two-thirds of the way up. High Exposure ascends the left side up to the big ledge, the climber then traverses under the roof to the right side and reaches around above, and then climbs up the steep face on the right side to the top. Imagine being up there the first time, with primitive equipment by today’s standards, the rock covered with lichen, not knowing if there would be enough hand and footholds above you.
Hans Kraus was also known for being one of the fathers of sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. His method of “immediate mobilization” was at odds with traditional medicine of the time, and in the 1940s, he made the first connection between exercise and health. He even predicted the current U.S. health crisis of epidemic obesity. Along with Bonnie Prudden, his climbing partner and accomplished climber in her own right, he campaigned for better physical exercise programs for children, making headline news throughout the second half of the 1950s, and authored several books on exercise, sports medicine, and physical therapy. President Eisenhower established the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports based on Kraus’ studies on children’s fitness. He was President John F. Kennedy's back doctor and was the only doctor able to alleviate his chronic back pain using his unique exercise-based approach. He had many famous businessmen and celebrities as patients, among them Eleanor Roosevelt, Greta Garbo, Arthur Godfrey, Katharine Hepburn, Angela Lansbury, Lauren Bacall, Yul Brynner, Danny Kaye, Rita Hayworth and many more. Despite his success, he always treated climbers for free and reduced his rates for those who couldn’t afford his services.
He also became especially well known in the skiing circles, performing some amazing cures and was elected into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1974.
In 1984 at the age of 79, Kraus stopped climbing completely, due to arthritis, and the cumulative effects of various injuries. He died at the age of 90 in 1996 of prostrate cancer.
Quotes
“An aura of energy about the man…Sizzle and spunk, exuberance, confidence, great physical strength, high-voltage enthusiasm, bursting vitality.”
Sports Illustrated feature article, 6/15/1981.
“You will always remain on the top of the list by those who dearly loved and worked with the President.”
John F. Kennedy’s Chief White House doctor, George Burkley, in a note to Hans Kraus, dated 11/30/1963.
“(Kraus’ routes) represent great moments in American climbing. They are proud, committing and were, for their respective periods, groundbreaking.”
Rock and Ice Magazine, 12/2004.
The Cache
To find the cache, stroll along the Undercliff Road carriage road and follow the coordinates to a plaque in honor of two pioneers of rock climbing in the Gunks. On the plaque is a dedication date. Add the day of the month to the last 3 digits of the first coordinate:
N41 44.722
and add the last 2 digits of the year to the last 3 digits of the second coordinate:
W074 10.544
to find the coordinates of the cache.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.
Continue down the carriage road to the cache - there is no need for bushwhacking. The terrain is 3 because it is a rock scramble, however it's a very short scramble on a former pathway up to the base of the cliffs (it has since been replaced with another trail). It is an ammo can hiding on the former approach trail to Hans Kraus' most classic (and most popular) climb at the Gunks. Please use stealth and rehide the cache so it can't be easily seen.
The person who is first to find of this cache will be sent a copy of the book Into The Unknown: The Remarkable Life of Hans Kraus, a biography of Hans Kraus, by Susan E.B. Schwartz (2005). When you log your find, send me your name and mailing address.
On busy weekends, especially in the autumn, finding parking can be difficult. Best bet is to arrive before 9am or late in the afternoon.
The Mohonk Preserve is a private land conservation organization established to protect the Shawangunk Ridge, it is not public land funded by the government. There is a day use fee to use the preserve which funds its maintenance and programs. For the current day pass fees, check the Mohonk Preserve website. Note that dogs must be leashed at all times.
The information in this cache description was researched from Wikipedia and the book Into The Unknown: The Remarkable Life of Hans Kraus, by Susan E.B. Schwartz, and some text and pictures from the book are reprinted here with permission from the author.