Word: willig
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...George Willig was the newsmaker of 1977. By scaling a tower of the World Trade Center, he brought a new dimension to the art of mountain climbing. George went...
Mount Rainier, where Everest Climber Jim Whittaker took the members of his 1975 K-2 expedition for some pre-Himalayan conditioning. They can also try their skills on Yosemite's Rixon's pinnacle, a rock spire where an urban alpinist named George Willig developed the confidence that enabled him to conquer Manhattan's World Trade Center. Would-be birdmen can launch their hang gliders from Yosemite's Glacier Point for a 3,500-ft. descent to the park floor. Fishermen can cast their flies -and hopes-after the three-pound rainbow and cutthroat trout that make...
Spring Happening. By the time he had climbed about ten floors, Willig had created a cheerful springtime happening. Down below, spectators were flocking to cheer him on. Television crews arrived. And so did the cops, but they too became caught up in the spirit of the climb. A couple of cops mounted a window washers' scaffold and rode along with Willig for half the way-close enough to be of help if he wanted any. He didn...
...with the aid of some policemen who acted as Sherpas, Willig scaled the final difficult passage to the roof. The jubilant cheers of thousands of spectators and a triumphant cacophony of horns rose faintly to his ears from 1,350 feet below, and he saluted his admirers with a wave. Then Willig turned and fell into the burly arms of the law. He was fingerprinted and questioned, then booked on charges of criminal trespass, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct. The city threatened to sue him for $250,000 in damages-citing the cost of mobilizing the police force, the trouble...
...made the ascent? "It was a personal challenge," he said, "a challenge to my ingenuity." The trade building, Willig said, "was very appealing. Very vertical." Confronted by his talent, temperament and instant popularity, New York City soon surrendered and canceled the $250,000 suit. Instead, said Mayor Abraham Beame, the city would settle for a fine of $1.10-a penny for every floor...