I’m sitting in front of my computer, as I do for 8.75 hours every Monday through Thursday and 5 more on Friday, typing up meeting minutes from last week’s construction meeting for my design project. It’s something that has consumed my work life and a little of my free time for the last three years. I’m listening to the Dirtbag Diaries, checking blogs, and wishing I wasn’t doing anything even remotely close to what I’m doing now.
I had a good lunch. I ran a few miles. It was nice to get the blood pumping. All in all so far it’s been a pretty good and pretty standard day in my life. But as I’m accepting Outlook appointments, making plans for my somewhat redundant life, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s a little different about today.
This week saw the passing of three influential alpinists, Micah Dash, Johnny Capp, and Wade Johnson. I say that they were influential only because that was what I read, and from what I can tell, I whole-heartedly believe it. Every account of them that I have read describes them as genuine and compassionate. They seemed to live their lives much of the time for others, be it volunteering for the American Alpine Club or a out-of-the-way gesture to show a friend you care. Now I’m sad to say I never met any of these men and I’m not going to pretend that I can at all relate to the effect that their passing has on the people that were close to them. However, as I eek (very slowly) towards what resembles maturity, I appreciate a bit more the fragility of life and the importance to live life as well as you can. It seems these men were shining examples of these words.
Normally I can’t seem to get too sorrowful about famous climbers passing on. When Todd Skinner died rappelling in the Valley last year, I felt sad for his family and knew it was a huge loss for the climbing community, but it was much not more than that…knowing. For some reason though, this tragedy has seemed to hit a little closer to home. Perhaps it’s because I know some of the people who are so affected by it. Perhaps it is because, as I said before, I’m growing to appreciate and respect life a little more in my old age. Either way, I wanted to at least take the chance to call attention to their lives in my own way.
With that, I want to extend my sincere condolences to those who are suffering from the loss of these men. You can read more about them and letters/articles from their friends and family at the following links.
http://www.americanalpineclub.org/news/climbersmournaschinaavalanchetakesheavytoll
http://pimpinandcrimpin.com/
http://climbing.about.com/b/2009/06/08/letter-to-climber-jonny-copp-killed-in-chinese-avalanche.htm
http://www.jercollins.com/uncategorized/jonny-copp
I had a good lunch. I ran a few miles. It was nice to get the blood pumping. All in all so far it’s been a pretty good and pretty standard day in my life. But as I’m accepting Outlook appointments, making plans for my somewhat redundant life, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s a little different about today.
This week saw the passing of three influential alpinists, Micah Dash, Johnny Capp, and Wade Johnson. I say that they were influential only because that was what I read, and from what I can tell, I whole-heartedly believe it. Every account of them that I have read describes them as genuine and compassionate. They seemed to live their lives much of the time for others, be it volunteering for the American Alpine Club or a out-of-the-way gesture to show a friend you care. Now I’m sad to say I never met any of these men and I’m not going to pretend that I can at all relate to the effect that their passing has on the people that were close to them. However, as I eek (very slowly) towards what resembles maturity, I appreciate a bit more the fragility of life and the importance to live life as well as you can. It seems these men were shining examples of these words.
Normally I can’t seem to get too sorrowful about famous climbers passing on. When Todd Skinner died rappelling in the Valley last year, I felt sad for his family and knew it was a huge loss for the climbing community, but it was much not more than that…knowing. For some reason though, this tragedy has seemed to hit a little closer to home. Perhaps it’s because I know some of the people who are so affected by it. Perhaps it is because, as I said before, I’m growing to appreciate and respect life a little more in my old age. Either way, I wanted to at least take the chance to call attention to their lives in my own way.
With that, I want to extend my sincere condolences to those who are suffering from the loss of these men. You can read more about them and letters/articles from their friends and family at the following links.
http://www.americanalpineclub.org/news/climbersmournaschinaavalanchetakesheavytoll
http://pimpinandcrimpin.com/
http://climbing.about.com/b/2009/06/08/letter-to-climber-jonny-copp-killed-in-chinese-avalanche.htm
http://www.jercollins.com/uncategorized/jonny-copp
They are having a Silent Auction at The Spot on Tuesday to benefit the search fund.
ReplyDeletehttp://thespotgym.com/adventurefilm.html
On Friday, Tommy Caldwell is hosting a benefit in Estes Park.
http://climbinglife.com/latest-news/latest-news/tommy-caldwell-show-in-estes-to-support-search-in-china.html
Johnny Copp and Micah Dash were Boulderites who loved to push the limits. Those guys lived ten lives worth of experiences in half a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI met Johnny several times and Micah once or twice. Johnny was nice enough given his sponsorships etc. to give one of my friends a brand new rope he didn't need.
We're reminded that in big wall adventures, extreme mountaineering, or even a night climbing at the gym, we're all involved in a sport where one mistake or one unlucky event can be very serious.
I think that this video does a nice job of communicating the personalities and lifestyles of these guys...
ReplyDeletehttp://vimeo.com/5065740?pg=embed&sec