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PASSAGES
Passages celebrates the lives and climbs of climbers who have passed on. We welcome words and photos, and memories from friends, but cannot pay for these stories. Please write to Luke.Laeser at gmail.com with any submissions.
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Tomaz Humar Dies on Langtang Lirung
11/15/09 - Slovenian alpinist Tomaz Humar, who seemed to have nine lives, has used up the last of them on a Nepalese mountainside.  Robert "Bobby" Model Jr. 1973-2009
Robert “Bobby” Model, Jr., 36, of Cody died Sept. 16, 2009, at his home after complications from a brief illness. He had been recovering from a traumatic brain injury sustained in an accident in South Africa more than two years ago. Bobby had defied all odds and was making incredible progress in his recovery. 9/29/09 - Charles Houston, a pioneering American climber and altitude researcher, died at his home in Vermont on September 27. He was 96. Houston was part of the Anglo-American team that made the first ascent of 25,643-foot Nanda Devi in 1936, and he attempted K2 in 1938 and 1953.  Whispering into a Roar
By Majka Burhardt / MajkaBurhardt.com - This is a story without a conclusion. Maybe that will change by the end. At this point, I’m not betting on it. Four weeks ago, I wrote a piece about trying to understand death in the face of more death, and in spite of life. I thought that, by writing it, I would move on from it - be released from it. But here’s the thing about writing about death: it creates conversation about death. And when you write about death and climbing, it creates a roar.  Heinz Duerkop killed in cowardly hit-and-run on June 21, 2009. Help us find his killer!
I must report with great sadness and anger the passing of Heinz Duerkop, long-time Hueco volunteer and icon of the Hueco front office. Heinz was killed by a cowardly asshole hit-and-run driver who ran him over from behind while Heinz was on his morning bike-ride near his home in East El Paso.  Claudio Lliuya and Takao Mitsui
On July 25th, 2009, Peruvian mountain guide, husband and father, Claudio Lliuya, 52, was killed by an avalanche at around 6200 meters on Huascaran (6768m) in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. He was lost along with Takao Mitsui, 68, from Japan, a long time client & friend below the south summit of the mountain that Claudio called his favorite.  Screaming Uncle at a Whisper
By Majka Burhardt / MajkaBurhardt.com - Remembering Craig Luebben, Andrew Swanson, Jonny Copp, Micah Dash, Wade Johnson, and John Bachar - Sunday, August 16th was Craig Luebben’s funeral. Four weeks ago, Craig was the last person I saw at a memorial. We had a long conversation about risks, coming home, what makes it worth it, and what makes you stay. 8/11/09 - Craig Luebben, the well-known Colorado climber, guide, teacher, and author, was killed early Sunday morning when glacial ice collapsed on Mt. Torment in North Cascades National Park. (Updated - 8/13/09) 8/11/09 - The Italian climbing pioneer Riccardo Cassin has passed away on August 6th at his home near Lecco in Northern Italy. The rarely idle Cassin, who continued climbing well into his eighties, made first ascents all over the world in ranges of such as the Alps, Alaska, South America and the Himalaya. 7/31/09 - On Monday, July 27, 2009, climbers from all over the country gathered to mourn the loss of climbing legend John Bachar in Mammoth Lakes, California.  In Memory of John Bachar - 1957-2009
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. 7/06/09 - On July 5, the climbing world lost one of its greatest icons: John Bachar. While climbing alone at the Dike Wall near Mammoth Lakes, California, Bachar fell to the ground, though the circumstances of the fall remain unclear.  A Video Tribute to Our Friends - Jonny, Micah and Wade
Video by adventurefilm.org - This movie was put together with the help of friends and family of Jonny Copp, Micah Dash and Wade Johnson. Just a two minute introduction into the lives of these three amazing humans. There is audio narration, so make sure your volume is up.  AAC Tribute to Jonny, Micah & Wade
Video by David Maren / AmericanAlpineClub.org - Jonny Copp and Micah Dash were longtime, generous supporters of the AAC: doing benefit slide shows, manning the club’s booth at the Outdoor Retailer and other events, and donating many photos and stories to the American Alpine Journal and other AAC publications. In fact, Jonny and Micah’s first ascent of the Shafat Fortress in India was featured in the 2008 AAJ.  John Pilla 1946-2009
John Pilla was the owner and operator of Mountains Unlimited in Waterbury, Connecticut. He passed away unexpectedly on April 9th, 2008 while rock climbing when he suffered a heart attack after completing a tough 5.9+ near Plymouth, Connecticut. 1/27/08 - Speaking on behalf of ATMC, a spokesperson said: ‘The members of the ATMC are very saddened by this terrible accident and the loss of our friends Eamonn, John and Brian. Our thoughts are first and foremost with their families and all other friends at this difficult time to whom we offer our sincere condolences.’  Sean Patrick 1951 - 2009
HERA Foundation founder Sean Patrick, 57, died of complications related to ovarian cancer on January 20, 2009. She was a remarkable person who touched many lives in profound ways. Ms. Patrick was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997 and established the HERA Foundation (health, empowerment, research, awareness) in 2002. Click here to view a photo gallery of Sean Patrick at HERA events by Devaki Murch  Alec Waggoner 1985-2008
Alec Waggoner, of Beloit, KS, tragically lost his life on October 26, 2008, after a bicycle accident in Syracuse, NY. Alec perfectly represented the climbing scene in Kansas: he was energetic, optimistic, determined, and yes, a little crazy at times.  Mike Strassman 1959-2007
Baboquivari 1980: My most memorable climb with Mike Strassman was my first time up Baboquivari Peak, southwest of Tucson, Arizona. The plan was to climb the southeast arête under the light of the full moon. No better way to spend a Friday night, we thought.  Andrea Basque 1963-2008
Climbing with Andrea “Andy” Basque was an outstanding experience that always included lots of laughter and close friendship. Unfortunately, the laughter stopped on August 7, 2008, when Andy fell on Dragontail, in the Stuart Range of Washington State.  Paul Andrew McDaniel 1984-2008
Paul Andrew McDaniel, 22, of Memphis Tennessee passed away on September 14th, 2008. He was OCD about climbing. He climbed all around the country and every weekend over the summer. He also liked mountaineering and the frozen waterfalls of Colorado. 10/08/08 - The tiny nation of Slovenia has lost its second great climber in 2008 to a Himalayan accident. (Updated - 10/09/08) A beloved climbing pioneer is being remembered after succumbing to a heart attack while scaling a route at Smoke Bluffs Park Monday (July 28). Tony Cousins died while climbing Sally Five Fingers, a moderate 5.9 climb on the very popular Neat and Cool wall.  Preston Brennan 1961-2008
Preston never explained to me his lifelong passion for climbing, but I believe it has to do with being in the moment while climbing. While in the flow of climbing a steep rock face I don’t think there is time to dwell on regrets and glories of the past, or to become too occupied with the details and fears of the future. 7/17/08 - Karl Unterkircher, one of the leading lights of Himalayan climbing in recent years, has been killed in a crevasse fall while attempting a new route on Nanga Parbat. |
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