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murcy
climber
sanfrancisco
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:00pm PT
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Peace to family, friends, and partners.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:07pm PT
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My heart goes out to Jim as well.
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go-B
climber
In God We Trust
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:17pm PT
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A sad loss!
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Panacea82
Trad climber
Yosemite, CA
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:17pm PT
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I am completely at a loss for words right now. I got to meet Chris last year during her time that she bummed with me and my friends in employee housing. She was an inspiration to many of us "wanna be" big wall climbers, a very kind person, always upbeat. Even though my time with her was short she touched my life and many others.
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Daphne
Trad climber
Mill Valley, CA
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:18pm PT
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So very sad to hear this.
Condolences and prayers to her family and friends.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:26pm PT
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I didn't get to meet Chris, at least I don't remember as it would have been some fleeting "hello" at a parking pullout while they were waiting for friends to show up for their Stanford group outings in the Valley. Of course it seems like there is no rush to meet someone as young and alive with the joy of being in the Valley, and extracting that energy produced by being in the landscape, by feeling the gravity that defines the vertical wilderness, a wilderness that Chris knew so well. The meeting of such a person takes on an inevitability.
We all know where we are, when we're adventuring in that wilderness, and we all know the stakes, the risks we undertake that define the uncertain ending of our adventure. We, also expect that we'll end those adventures having succeeded, to get back to the car, to share that beer with our friends and swap stories of the day's activities. But we know that sometimes those uncertainties determine the outcome, that some small, seemingly inconsequential characteristic of our surroundings can lead to a tragic outcome.
And tragic it is when one of ours does not return from a day's adventure. Their time has ended as ours go on, and we are left wondering how this all could have been different. We'll analyze and speculate and educate, and hope to learn from what ever it is that transformed the simple act of traversing off a climb, an act we've all done countless times, into that fatal end.
It probably won't stop us from going out and having the same adventures, we sometimes get spooked with the memory of the fallen, as we tread the same routes, the same grounds and wonder how it could have happened.
And it is an unconsolable time for the family and friends. My deep sympathy goes out to you. As I get older I understand my father's unhappiness with my continued climbing activities, "why put yourself in that position, why take that risk?" and while I understand the question I still don't have an answer, nor do I think I ever will. I know I will continue climbing as long as I can as it seems to be a way I define myself, so much a part of me that the risk seems worth taking.
And while there is no doubt that life is an adventure, the end of our lives is certain. Still, for one so young, for all of the young, one wishes that they had more time to be with us, to adventure with us, and time to be wise when we need that wisdom.
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Kalimon
Trad climber
Ridgway, CO
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:27pm PT
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Very sad and tragic news . . . climbing is a dangerous pursuit with extreme consequences both positive and potentially negative. Gravity defines the rules and is the master. Be careful out there!
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:29pm PT
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hey there say, dear elcap-pics..... oh my.... my heart feels so broken... as you said, it is hard to believe.... i had sent my family happy birthday wishes and NOW i see that someone else's family, a family, here has had a tragedy and awful news...
i am so very very sorry to hear this...
please, dear family, i dont know any of you, but i send my deep
condolences... so very sad to hear this...
after her hard work, and a happy climb, and no hugs to take home to her family.... :(
may the good lord be your "stay and anchor" as you get through this very very hard, sad time...
i never knew chris... i am thankful to now the bits that other share here...
i will be praying for you all...
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JOEY.F
Social climber
sebastopol
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:36pm PT
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So sad. Condolences to her family and friends.
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mooser
Trad climber
seattle
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:39pm PT
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I don't know if Chris' family reads this forum, but if you do...my very deepest condolences to you for what must certainly be a very devastating loss.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:42pm PT
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Very sad, very tragic. There has been far too much of this in the past year.
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10b4me
Boulder climber
The End Is Near Retirement Home
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Jul 11, 2010 - 07:49pm PT
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even though I didn't know her, I am very sorry to hear of this.
my best wishes to her friends and family.
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hollyclimber
Big Wall climber
Yosemite, CA
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Jul 11, 2010 - 08:13pm PT
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She was an amazing person - strong and determined. I was looking forward to roping up with her this week.
Its a very sad week in Yosemite.
HB
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Dirka
Trad climber
SF
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Jul 11, 2010 - 08:46pm PT
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Blessings to her and her family.
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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Jul 11, 2010 - 09:04pm PT
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I've been thinking of Chris all afternoon while I've been out. I never met Chris but have felt the same sense of loss as when any climber fails to return.
rgold: thanks for posting her website. What a dynamic and accomplished young woman!
My deepest condolences to Chris' family and friends, and to the climbers here who had the great fortune to rope up with her.
It's so easy to let our guard down when we think the climbing's over. We've had the thrill of the climb, the euphoria of the summit. Our minds are now wrapped in tiredness of body, thoughts of beer or dinner or loved ones at home. Even then one overlooked detail in the anchor, a careless move or loose boulder can end it.
Fred Glover
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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Jul 11, 2010 - 09:22pm PT
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I am so very upset about this. I can hardly believe it. She was such a smart, sweet person... so young, so much potential in her academic path, so full of such a fierce desire to climb. Oh Chris.
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Jobee
Social climber
El Portal Ca.
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Jul 11, 2010 - 09:30pm PT
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My sincere condolences to Chris's family, friends, and to the climbing community.
My heart goes out to you.
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Jul 11, 2010 - 09:34pm PT
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"the light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long - and you have burned so very, very brightly..."
with great sadness and sincere condolences
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Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Transporter Room 2
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Jul 11, 2010 - 09:44pm PT
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The Tribe is surely lessened by such a loss.
Alas.
We'll miss you, Chris. Truly a magic gal.
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