Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Mighty Hiker
climber
Outside the Asylum
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 15, 2016 - 09:45pm PT
|
More sad news. Nick Clinch, a Californian who led the US expeditions that were first to climb Gasherbrum I (1958) and then Masherbrum (1960), has died. He was 85. He also led the expedition to Vinson Massif in 1966. An honourary member of The Alpine Club, and honorary member of The American Alpine Club. And by all accounts a delightful fellow, and true gentleman.
Alison Osius' obituary in Rock & Ice is well worth a read: http://www.rockandice.com/climbing-news/nick-clinch-85-led-only-american-first-ascent-of-an-8000er
Here he is at the Facelift in 2006. (Ken Yager photo.)
|
|
Studly
Trad climber
WA
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2016 - 09:56pm PT
|
A man ahead of his time.
|
|
Dennis Hennek
climber
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2016 - 10:07pm PT
|
One of the best people i've ever known, condolences to Betsy and the family
|
|
BruceHildenbrand
Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2016 - 10:20pm PT
|
Gasherbrum I is the only one of the fourteen 8000-meter peaks whose first ascent was accomplished by an American team. RIP Nick!
|
|
johntp
Trad climber
socal
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2016 - 10:51pm PT
|
Cheers to Nick. Condolences to family and friends. Was just reading about him in Roper's "Camp 4".
|
|
Tricouni
Mountain climber
Vancouver
|
|
|
Jun 15, 2016 - 11:39pm PT
|
I only met him a couple of times. He seemed a very gentle, kind person. Condolences to family.
|
|
Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 06:33am PT
|
What a great American. Rest in peace, Mr. Clinch.
BAd
|
|
Alois
Trad climber
Idyllwild, California
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 09:12am PT
|
Penelope and I are so sorry to hear this.
Yet another giant of American climbing scene is now gone.
Nick took me up on my first ever climb in the US in 1976, The Machete Ridge in the Pinnacles. Over the years, he always had time to say HI at various RCS and AAC events.
Wonderful, friendly, capable man. Remember running into him and his wife at Whitney Cafe in Lone Pine couple years back, where they were celebrating the anniversary of the astronomical observatory on top of Whitney, which Betsy's father had a major role in. I will never forget Nick.
Our deep condolences to the family.
|
|
Ted Vaill
Trad climber
Malibu, California
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 09:36am PT
|
Nick has been a close friend since the 1960s. All the great ones are moving on (or up)!
Ted Vaill
|
|
DrDeeg
Mountain climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 09:54am PT
|
He was always a friend and mentor to younger climbers, especially when we were planning expeditions. Dennis Hennek and I visited him when he lived in Pasadena and we were thinking of both the Afghanistan and Pakistan sides of the Hindu Kush. He had a spectacular library.
|
|
Climberdude
Trad climber
Clovis, CA
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 10:19am PT
|
RIP, Nick. Thank you for having the vision to create the AAC Teton Climber's Ranch and the AAC Library, both of which I have used and enjoy.
|
|
arunmahajan
Mountain climber
Palo Alto, Ca
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 10:23am PT
|
Saddened to hear today of the passing of Nick Clinch, a very accomplished mountaineer and also a great person to talk with and hear stories from. In 2005, when I was the chair of the Peak Climbing Section of the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club, , I was passed on his email address and I found out that he lived in my home town of Palo Alto, so I had invited him to come to our meeting and give us a slide show and I was bowled over when he agreed to it. I scrounged the web for a copy of his book on his Hidden Peak expedition and found a used copy and he graciously signed it and it is a prized possession now. I had even re-arranged my trip to Tibet so that I could be there in person to see his slide show as we were having a hard time scheduling. I had made a small collection from the members and had presented him with a gift card to REI as a token of thanks. He accepted it graciously but then sent me a private note that he took no money for slide shows and returned to me the amount that the gift card was for. How gentlemanly of him. He presented a show of his climb to Masherbrum (first ascent). The show had incredible photos and it was great to see all these masters of their craft in their element in the glory days of exploratory mountaineering. RIP.
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 10:27am PT
|
Rest in peace, after a life well-lived, sir.
John
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 10:39am PT
|
True class, in all aspects of life. Ms Osius' obit was a pleasure to read.
|
|
Don Lauria
Trad climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 10:57am PT
|
To say that Nick was an efficient leader was an understatement.
It was 1970-something. I was in a car with Yvon Chouinard and Tom Frost – don’t remember who was driving. Wasn’t me ‘cause I didn’t know where Clinch lived then. We were headed for Pasadena and Nick Clinch’s home. Yvon and Tom had talked me into going to an American Alpine Club section meeting.
It was a set-up. Five minutes into the meeting, Nick announced that it was time to elect the new section chairman. With no hesitation, Frost arose, “I nominate Don Lauria”. Chouinard followed immediately, “I second that motion”. Clinch finished with, “Mr. Lauria you have just been elected chairman of the Southern California Section of the American Alpine Club, congratulations, meeting adjourned, refreshments anyone?”. But I …. oh well, party on! Be at peace, Nickolas.
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 11:00am PT
|
This is very unwelcome news and my condolences to Betsy and Nick's family and community. Nick Clinch was a consummate gentleman and a climber's climber who never lost his passion for this grand endeavor that shapes lives and rewards dedication. I have had the pleasure of spending a bit of time in Nick's company in private and at NACHA events and have nothing but love and respect for him and the way that he has chosen to live his life.
His impact on the world of climbers is far reaching and an inspiration to anyone that cares to serve country and community as he chose to do.
We are all in his debt and I hope that he understood the depth of our appreciation and mutual respect which I like to think always kept him in the mix.
Bravo Maestro Clinch!
|
|
guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 11:06am PT
|
Giant of a man. Fun adventures at the Clinch in-house library with Boo and such a gracious host and gentle man.
|
|
life is a bivouac
Trad climber
Bishop
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2016 - 11:21am PT
|
I'm shocked and very saddened by this news... I met, we met, Nick in the early '60's, as very young climbers. Ken Boche, Dennis Hennek and I were invited by Mr. Clinch to various Sierra Club and AAC presentations by the likes of L. Terray and G. Rebuffat and others. These presentations blew our minds as we were but "up starts" at tiny Stoney Point and never thought of shaking the hands of such nobility in the climbing world. Nick always reinforced our desires for climbing and certainly put in good words for us as our horizons expanded... He was an early friend, one who guided us out of the San Fernando Valley towards dreams we had not yet imagined. His chuckle and hearty laugh are sorely missed.
My deepest condolences to his friends and family, Russ McLean
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!