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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 8, 2015 - 03:58pm PT
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I saw a news alert that Doug Tompkins died in a kayaking accident in Patagonia.
Has this been confirmed? Very sad if accurate.
Susan
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Damn, that's terrible.
Sea or whitewater paddling?
He sure left behind a legacy in Patagonia, or so it appeared in 180* South.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Wow. RIP and condolences to family and friends.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Angela and I are in Houston waiting for a flight to Santiago. It seems he died of hypothermia on Lago General Carrera where our house is We will be there in a couple of days. The conservation world just lost a towering figure.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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It appears it was neither sea nor whitewater. They were on the north shore of Lago General Carrera probably near the narrows when sudden winds came up and swamped them. I have seen huge waves in that area....the wind funnels betwen mountains on a few miles apart and can be ferocious.
Chris and Doug have been building a new national park just south of the lake. It will be a 1,000 sq. mile park named Patagonia National Park.
Lago General Carrera is in both Chile and Argentina and at 714 square miles is the second largest lake in South America. It is nearly 100 miles long and 2,000 ft. deep. The western end, where we are, is unusually sheltered from the wind by Patagonia standards. The further east you go the windier it gets.
As you can see the western end of the lake can often be a millpond, but in Patagonia the wind, known there as the "broom of god," is a constant threat.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Tragic. He was an inspirational environmentalist.
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Chris Jones
Social climber
Glen Ellen, CA
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It is hard to imagine that Doug Tompkins is gone. He was such a vital presence. His contributions to environmental causes, land purchases for national parks in Chile and Argentina, and advocacy for wild places is matched by few, if any, alive today.
Here is the Doug I well remember on the summit of Fitz Roy in 1968.
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mikeyschaefer
climber
Sport-o-land
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This is just awful news. really sad to hear this. We definitely lost of very important person in the world of conservation.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Think of it Mikey...Doug is wholly responsible for Pumallin, 1,184 square miles of pristine wilderness now forever protected, and he and Kris have been instrumental in the creation of Patagonia National Park which is extraordinary in terms of wildlife variety.
And that's just Chile, he was also a monumental figure in preserving unique places in Argentina
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Terrible news.
Condolences to all who knew him.
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kief
Trad climber
east side
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Damn it. Such a towering elder of the tribe and such a loss. My heart goes out to Kris.
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steve s
Trad climber
eldo
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Very sorry to hear this. He was a great inspiration to a lot of us. RIP Doug
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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A life well lived.
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Very sorry to see this. Yes, a true loss to all.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Completely gutted. I knew Doug from 1964. Perhaps the worst loss we as climbers and outdoors people have experienced in a long long time. Excruciating.
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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Goddamnit! This is terrible news......I am so sad! Never knew him personally, but respected him so much. Have shown 180 degrees South to my students for many years now. God, I'm so sorry...........my heart goes out to his wife, his family. Really sorry.
Pam
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Sad news indeed. Doug & Kris have done so much in Chile & Argentina to save wonderful places, that otherwise would be lost to the public of all countries, for our future enjoyment. Condolences to his wonderful wife Kris, & family & friends.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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I'd hazard a guess that Doug Tompkins has preserved more wild land than any other private individual in world history. The man had passion and vision, he knew what he wanted, and he knew how to make things happen. Huge loss. Condolences to Kris and his children.
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