Joe Puryear killed in Tibet

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Messages 41 - 60 of total 94 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
graniteclimber

Trad climber
The Illuminati
Oct 27, 2010 - 07:11pm PT
http://vimeo.com/joepuryear
Hoots

climber
Toyota Tacoma
Oct 27, 2010 - 07:30pm PT
This is horrible news. I hope his family can find peace, and that his partner can return safely and begin putting it all back together. He was one of the Tribe, for sure.
Dolomite

climber
Anchorage
Oct 27, 2010 - 07:36pm PT
So saddened to hear this. We met Joe in the Bugaboos in '03, a great spirit. All best wishes to his loved ones.
MH2

climber
Oct 27, 2010 - 07:54pm PT
Sad(news), great(list of climbs), hilarious(thanks, ryanb).

Thank you, SuperTopians.
11worth

Trad climber
Leavenworth & Greenwater WA
Oct 27, 2010 - 08:16pm PT
RIP Joe
Patrick Sawyer

climber
Originally California now Ireland
Oct 27, 2010 - 08:39pm PT
My condolences to family and friends.

Patrick
GDavis

Social climber
SOL CAL
Oct 27, 2010 - 08:40pm PT
What a terrible thing to come home and read.



"It’s snowing. All the climbers are huddling in the lodge or lingering as long as possible in the cafeteria over cups of coffee and tea. It is all so familiar to me. I’ve done so much spacing out in the past years at different places in the world, different mountain ranges waiting for the weather to clear, to go back up, to get out of the tent and start to climb. Or putting idle time in some café in Europe or somewhere else along the way. Waiting for the weather to break in the far north, to be flown into some vast glacier range. There have been so many times like this, my mind wandering, to past experiences in my life, to friends long since seen, to future climbs. My imagination is a gift for my life. The climbs to do are creations to understand, not to be surprised. Experience has been my teacher as I have studied the mountains intensely… I am so lucky to have such a life – to have such freedom - not the social and political but the freedom that is my spirit. I don’t know where it comes from - the life has been from you - but what is the spirit? There are many climbers as I look around this room – all different – some restless, some new at the “hang” in life. The drives are as different as the people. I am lucky to be able to sit in this room, in the fields, on the glaciers, on the wall. It’s empty and yet I’m full."


from this wonderful thread celebrating Mugs Stump http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=440954&tn=0&mr=0
TYeary

Social climber
State of decay
Oct 27, 2010 - 09:06pm PT
Dam, if I don't feel like a fighter on the ropes, covering my head, wondering where the next blow will come.
Very sad news indeed. Sounds like a simple misstep on the ridge line.
Joe's Alaska Guide bought a thousand tickets north and will continue to guide adventure there for years to come. Small consolation.
My condolences to family and friends.
I know alpinism is inherently dangerous, but I am really tired of losing brothers in arms. Enough for this year. Please. be careful out there folks.
Tony
MisterE

Social climber
Bouncy Tiggerville
Oct 27, 2010 - 10:24pm PT
Damn. This is really bad news, Joe was a super solid dude with a great heart and spirit.

Really bummed about this news.

Erik
TrevorD

Gym climber
Victor ID
Oct 27, 2010 - 10:25pm PT
Damn, Joe we will miss you. It had been a while my friend but I will never forget your easy and quick smile. It says a lot about Joe that as a veteran climber he was always willing to take time to mentor or give a helpful word of advice to those with less knowledge like myself. Damn dude you were always so fast climbing. It seems unbelievable that gravity ever caught you. I learned a ton about speed and efficiency and fun climbing with you in Zion and Red Rocks. I feel fortunate that I got to do some route with you but mostly, I learned as you smoked us doing walls in a day - you solo. Laura and I would meet you back in camp, tired and you were relaxed and energetic - waiting with dinner started or an open beer. Fun, Energy, Mischief. I will go out and buy some tomato stakes (wands) tomorrow to craft a bow. It is a fond memory of mine returning to Denali base camp and shooting this massive creation that you had constructed. Michelle, I am so sorry for your loss. We met only once and briefly at that but know this: When Joe was away from you he spoke of you often and with admiration that was inspiring. Rest easy my friend. T
BMcC

Trad climber
Livermore
Oct 27, 2010 - 10:43pm PT
Whoa. So very sad.

I've really enjoyed poring over his SuperTopo creation Alaska Climbing, studying the pictures and topos, and dreaming about future climbing trips to Alaska -- and will be thinking of him every time I ponder another climb there.

My sincere condolences to his family, climbing partners, and other friends.
The Lisa

Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
Oct 27, 2010 - 11:01pm PT
So sad to read this. My condolences to his family and friends and everyone whose lives he touched.
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
Oct 27, 2010 - 11:11pm PT
Very sad-what an incredible climber.RIP
shipoopoi

Big Wall climber
oakland
Oct 28, 2010 - 02:17am PT
bummer, that is quite a resume. so sorry for friends and family, he surely did live life in a large way. steve schneider
MisterE

Social climber
Bouncy Tiggerville
Oct 28, 2010 - 11:13am PT
From CascadeClimbers.com:

I received one of those dreaded phone calls early this morning with the news that my good friend Joe Puryear died while ascending Labuche Kang (7,367 meters, 24,170 feet) in a remote region of Tibet.
Joe was a former climbing ranger on Mount Rainier and one of America’s elite alpinists. He joined the staff at Camp Schurman in 1996 with Mark Westman and Lara Bitenieks. They represented a new cadre of skilled climbers who together helped changed the way our climbing rangers did business and served the public for the National Park Service. For two years, Joe led the climbing rangers on the east side of Mount Rainier and participated in many difficult rescues. He was greatly respected for his climbing skills and ability manage complex situations both on the mountain and in the front country. Joe’s talents led him to pursue a career in alpinism and along the way he authored books on climbing in the Alaska Range and in the desert SW of America. Most recently, he and David Gottlieb received prestigious climbing grants (Mugs Stump, Gore, and Lyman Spitzer) in order to ascend unclimbed peaks and frozen waterfalls in Nepal and Tibet.
I don’t have a lot of information at this time, but the word is that Joe fell through a cornice. He was with David at the time, but David did not witness the event. He ascended the top the ridgeline after putting on his crampons only to find Joe's tracks leading to a broken ledge. Fearing the worst, he descended 1,500 feet to find Joe, who did not survive the fall, and shortly there after retrieved the sat phone enabling him to make a call to the US. David was alone at the time, but does have the help of one Sherpa at base camp. They are in a very remote region without rescue services and it’s unclear what his next steps will be. For now, I am thinking about David as he descends the mountain back to base camp.
Once again, the Mount Rainier climbing community has been rocked with the lose of a wonderful friend and person. Joe was good friend with Lara, who died while climbing on Mount Wake in 2007 in the Alaska Range, and also with Charlie Borgh, who was swept to his death in an avalanche on Mount Delta Form in Alberta, Canada 2008.
I’ll send out more information about the accident, David’s descent, and a memorial when possible. I have attached a picture of Joe as I remember him best, in the mountains and on top of his game.
Information about the expedition can be found at: http://climbtibet.blogspot.com/
bergbryce

Mountain climber
Oakland
Oct 28, 2010 - 11:22am PT
My thoughts are with you Ralph, his friends and loved ones.
Rest in peace, Joe.
-Bryce
survival

Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
Oct 28, 2010 - 11:34am PT
That is an incredible video that CMac posted up!

Perfect soundtrack for this sad time also. Emotional, without being "too" much of anything.
What a great spirit.
Thanks Chris.
Crodog

Social climber
Oct 28, 2010 - 12:54pm PT

emac

climber
New Hampshire
Oct 28, 2010 - 01:19pm PT
So sad to hear this.

COT

climber
Door Number 3
Oct 28, 2010 - 01:22pm PT
While I never met Joe in person, we emailed and talked on the phone when he was working on the Alaska guide. From those brief communications it was easy to "see" what a great person he was. He had the climbing energy of 12 year old gym grommet, the mountain experience and knowledge beyond his years and humility we all strive to achieve.
Messages 41 - 60 of total 94 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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