R.I.P. Herb Conn of Needles and Jewel Cave fame

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rgold

Trad climber

Poughkeepsie, NY

Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 3, 2012 - 01:49pm PT

From the Rapid City Journal:

CUSTER - Herbert William Conn, 91, died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012.

Survivors include his wife, Jan Conn, Custer.

McColley's Chapels of the Hills in Custer is in charge of arrangements.

At his request, there will be no services.

An online guestbook is available at http://www.mccolleyschapels.com.


	Credit: http://wendellmaedeantravelblog.blogspot.com/

Jeremy

Social climber

Albuquerque, NM

Feb 3, 2012 - 01:50pm PT

WOW...RIP.

Dapper Dan

Trad climber

Menlo Park

Feb 3, 2012 - 01:51pm PT

Rest in Peace to Herb , from what I have read of him , he had a long and enviable life , and a loving wife ... what more can you ask for .

rgold

Trad climber

Poughkeepsie, NY

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 3, 2012 - 02:05pm PT

An article on Needles climbing in the June 1953 Appalachia by Herb Conn is at http://www.mountainproject.com/v/106410513

An account of the Conn Diagonal on the Outer Outlet in Climbing Magazine http://www.climbing.com/exclusive/classicclimbs/classic253/

Herb Conn's book, The Jewel Cave Adventure, on his and Jan's exploration and mapping of 50 miles of Jewel cave, http://www.amazon.com/Jewel-Cave-Adventure-Discovery-Dakota/dp/0939748010

Article on the Conns in South Dakota World magazine: http://southdakotamagazine.com/explorers-of-an-unseen-world

Herb and Jan inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, September 10, 2011 http://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/article_2bf0f572-db36-11e0-ad07-001cc4c03286.html

The Adventure Climbs of Herb and Jan Conn, Lindsay Stephens http://www.chesslerbooks.com/item/7447-south-dakota-needles-classic-climbs-the-adventure-climbs-of-herb-and-jan-conn-stephens-2008.asp Documents 240 of the Conn's climbs in the Needles.

A note from Herb about climbing at Seneca Rocks and Carderock http://www.senecarocksmuseum.org/wp-content/plugins/page-flip-image-gallery/popup.php?book_id=15

Jan Conn's account of the First Manless Ascent of Devil's Tower. http://climbing.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=climbing&cdn=sports&tm=28&f=11&su=p284.13.342.ip_p504.6.342.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.nps.gov/deto/historyculture/womenclimb.htm

Hollis Marriot's memorial blog post about fern-hunting adventures with the Conn's http://plantsandrocks.blogspot.com/2012/02/plants-rocks-ferns-and-granite-and.html

A Rock and Ice news item (self-referential---it mentions this thread...) http://rockandice.com/news/1795-herb-conn-death-of-a-brave-one

A memorial tribute from Daryl Stisser of the Sylan Rocks Climbing School and Guide Service is at http://sylvanrocks.com/_blog/SR_Climbing_School_Blog/post/Herb_Conn_dies_at_91/

scuffy b

climber

heading slowly NNW

Feb 3, 2012 - 02:06pm PT

Impacted a number of generations of climbers. RIP.

TrundleBum

Trad climber

Las Vegas

Feb 3, 2012 - 02:09pm PT

R.I.P

A legend passes :(

Piton Ron

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Feb 3, 2012 - 02:11pm PT

Always wanted to talk to him about Zion in the '30s.

RIP

Condolences to Jan and any family.

klk

Trad climber

cali

Feb 3, 2012 - 02:12pm PT

such a remarkable couple.

thanks for letting us know, i hadnt heard the news.

rgold

Trad climber

Poughkeepsie, NY

Topic Author's Reply - Feb 3, 2012 - 02:55pm PT

Herb on Mt. Rushmore


	Herb patching up Mt. Rushmore Credit: southdakotamagazine.com

Herb and Jan in 2004


	Herb and Jan Credit: ohb.hubpages.com

Herb and Jan in 2008


	Herb and Jan in 2008 Credit: Climbing Magazine

Herb and Jan in 1959


	Credit: forums.caves.org

Harnesses---pshaw! Jan showing the younger generation how things were done BITD


	Jan tying in with Goldline and a bowlne Credit: Living...MaeDean's Style

looking sketchy there...

Social climber

Latitute 33

Feb 3, 2012 - 02:59pm PT

The Conns were real pioneers in climbing and caving, truly legendary. Sorry to learn of his passing.


	Herb and Jan Conn's Classic Needles guide. Credit: looking sketchy there...

The classic Conn guide to the Needles -- on the left.

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:04pm PT

Aw, rest in Peace Herb! thanks for all of it, you had an enviable run!

Melissa

Gym climber

berkeley, ca

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:12pm PT

With much respect.

His deeds are immortal.

Larry

Trad climber

Bisbee

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:21pm PT

A real pioneer. Thanks, Herb.

Ezra Ellis

Trad climber

WA, & NC & Idaho

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:41pm PT

RIP, A true legend.

A life well lived!!!

Here is to 100,000 summits on the other side!!!!

Joe

Social climber

Santa Cruz

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:48pm PT

left his mark and will be remembered in part through so many classic routes...

steelmnkey

climber

Vision man...ya gotta have vision...

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:53pm PT

RIP Herb. A life well lived! We would all be happy to have done so well.

stich

Trad climber

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:54pm PT

A little known tidbit of climbing trivia is that Herb and Jan did a ton of first ascents down in Big Bend National Park. These routes were on volcanic rock with very little if any good crack systems. They were extremely bold climbs in many cases.

Such a great loss.

Piton Ron

Big Wall climber

Toquerville, Utah

Feb 3, 2012 - 03:56pm PT

Wasn't being a climbing bum THEIR invention?

Steve Grossman

Trad climber

Seattle, WA

Feb 3, 2012 - 04:23pm PT

Very sorry to hear about this.

Condolences to Jan and his friends and family.

Herb and Jan Conn are original school.

A thread about their crafty leather work...

http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1243312&msg=1371988#msg1371988