Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 1, 2011 - 07:43am PT
|
Sometimes there just aren't the right words available to convey how much you are missed, Pete.
You are still loved....I hope those words are enough.
 Missing photo ID#215635 |
|
Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
|
|
I think of Petey often. Had some fun times climbing and kayaking with him. Pete was the most gifted skier/climber I have ever known.
I hope Cindy and the kids are doing well.
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
Sorry to hear that your friend is gone, can you give a small bio of his life for those of us who never knew him.
|
|
Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2011 - 05:42pm PT
|
Thanks Jim, I'd be honored to do that.
Pete was one of those guys that everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, liked. Not only liked, but wanted to be like.
Pete was a paramedic here in Mono County, and also a long-time ski patrolman and SAR member. He was also a highly skilled stone mason.
Pete was a guy that would go at the drop of a hat, for whatever reason, to help someone. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.
Out in the wild, Pete was a man of extreme talents. He was the first patrolman on Mammoth/June ski areas to patrol while on Telemark gear, and did the first descent of MANY lines here on the east side that are REALLY sick....and he did those on teles as well.
He was a superior kayaker and ice climber, and climbed really well on rock too.
Pete was an amazing husband and father of 3 great kids, daughters Laurel and Poplar, and son Torrey.
Pete's dedication to excellence in every aspect of his life never wavered. His smile was as endearing as they come, with a bit of mischief always present.
Pete died when he took a 120 foot fall while climbing a new ice line here in June Lake, on January 29, 1996. It was a horrific thing to witness, and something I suspect I will never get over.
The way he lived his life, remains a benchmark in my life...something I simply aspire to.
I miss my friend...
Missing photo ID#215684
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
He sounds like he was an exceptional person, I feel for your loss and commend you for keeping the flame burning.
|
|
eKat
Trad climber
BITD3
|
|
Crag, I will say, that photo fully captures Pete's essence. He was, and still is, deeply loved by many! Your devotion to his spirit sets mine on wing!
oxoxo
|
|
Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2011 - 07:04pm PT
|
Another Pete story....
We had a SAR Op....a missing couple in the Convict Canyon area.
We secured an air resource to search....a fixed wing CAP ship out of Bishop. A spotter was requested to go with the pilot....someone small.
Pete and another SAR member, Rick Mosher, both wanted that seat, REAL BAD! They flipped a coin, and Rick won the ride.
While searching, the plane clipped a wing on the canyon wall, killing both on board.
Rick was buried in the Mono Lake Cemetary, and Pete built a fitting Memorial on Rick's grave.
Pete kept that gravesite tended for the rest of his life. Now a small handful of us do the job for him.
|
|
Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
|
|
Dean,
That last story of Pete really hits home with me. Several years ago Los Angeles City Fire lost three firemen and a patient in a helicopter crash in Griffith Park while transporting a critical patient to Childrens Hospital from the scene of a traffic accident. I was just getting off work and driving home from the fire station, my dad who also works for the LAFD worked on the Helitac crew and was going on shift as I was going off. My dad was supposed to be on the chopper that went down but as the call came in for two ships to respond the captain asked my dad to swap spots and fly on the second ship. Both flew to the incident and picked up their patients, one flew to UCLA and the othr to Childrens Hospital. I got home and turned on the TV to relax after being up all night at a fire, I turned on the news and saw a chopper crashed at Griffith Park. It hit me like a ton of bricks when I realised it was a LAFD chopper and I knew my dad was working. As I saw them starting to pull bodies from the wreckage my heart sank. I called the air ops. station and asked who it was and was simply told it wasnt my dad. I was relieved but saddened because I knew I would know those who were killed.
If that captain hadnt swapped my dad at the last minute my kids would not have a grandfather to play with. That was a hard month, that same month another fireman died in a fire in South Central. Being a fireman is a great job but sometimes it just plan old sucks. Pete was a great fireman and paramedic, he saw and was exposed to alot of tragedy in his life but he seemed to handle it with grace.
|
|
Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
|
|
Cragman,
I think you posted how much he admired Western Juniper's, so here's to your buddy Pete! May you think of his beautiful life whenever you see one of these magnificent tree's in the range, knowing your friendship made his shortened time here the better:
|
|
Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Sep 2, 2011 - 06:00am PT
|
Thanks Kevin and Charlie....life is so precious...and at times so fleeting.
Thoughts of Pete bring a wide array of emotion for me. It seems that whether I am remembering that horrible day, or all the living years and great times, both bring tears down my face.
Pete's memory makes me strive to be a better person.....and helps me realize...I have such a long way to go.
He was simply the best of us.
|
|
jogill
climber
Colorado
|
|
A beautiful memorial thread. Thank you for posting it.
|
|
franky
Trad climber
Ford Pickup Truck, North America
|
|
Would have liked to have met him, sounds like a great person.
|
|
Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 29, 2012 - 05:32am PT
|
Thinking of Pete today....and missing his presence....
|
|
SCseagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2012 - 09:57am PT
|
Thank you Crag for showing what friendship and never forgetting is all about.
I rarely agree with your politics...but your embrace and caring for others really shows how shallow politics really is when stacked up against real life.
Hugs for your loss,
Susan
|
|
bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2012 - 10:11am PT
|
Pete sounds like quality people. Sorry he's no longer around, Dean. Good on ya for the tribute to him.
Rest in peace, Pete!
|
|
Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 29, 2012 - 06:52pm PT
|
Thanks Susan....the horror of watching Pete die is only overshadowed by the memories of him, living life to the limit. Pete was the real deal, in every way.
Oh, and FWIW, I hate politics. I DO like pushing buttons though. :)
And of course, I LOVE my country!
Best to you and Legger.....
Thanks Bluey. As I said, Pete was the best of us...
Cheers,
DR
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Jan 30, 2012 - 12:18am PT
|
hey there say, cragman....
once again (as i saw the facebook one) thank you kindly for sharing
of pete... i am one of those that never would know of him, if you did not...
sad things that break the heart, :(
however, by even sharing these stories, we've learned of others that had
miracle saves, and of those that died instead, on duty... both situations
are emotionaly draining and beyond our understanding...
pete had lived through a 'save' and it continued to touch his heart, by what you posted of him caring for the grave...
passing love for others, onward, in whatever ways we can, through what we live through, see, and learn, is the best honor we can give to any
that have passed on...
once again, thanks for sharing this life of a good friend...
|
|
Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
|
|
|
Jan 30, 2012 - 08:18am PT
|
BUMP for Petey!!
|
|
Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 29, 2013 - 08:33am PT
|
Remembering our dear friend Pete Schoerner today, on this the 17th anniversary of his death.
Pete was the best of us.....
....we will remember....
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!