Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
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Jan 31, 2013 - 10:42am PT
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My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of this amazing patriot.
Soar on, Luc....
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The Warbler
climber
the edge of America
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Jan 31, 2013 - 11:23am PT
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That's a sad tale.
Condolences to his family and friends, especially his child and widow.
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labrat
Trad climber
Nevada City, CA
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Jan 31, 2013 - 11:35am PT
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:-( Sad news. RIP
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Michelle
Social climber
Toshi's Station, picking up power converters.
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Jan 31, 2013 - 11:39am PT
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I've been in semi shock since this went down and I immediately thought of you Brad. Big loss for Twain Harte and the world. My thoughts are with his family and the many people I know at home struggling with this loss.
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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Jan 31, 2013 - 12:18pm PT
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After Luc and I had been climbing together for a while he told me he wanted to do some longer routes in the High Sierra. We did a few such routes before he left for the Air Force Academy and one during a summer when he was home.
He was an incredibly strong climber and in good cardio/hiking shape too.
Our first longer climb was The Nevabe Ridge on Mount Morgan North. This route is only class three, but it's a long, long ridge with a lot of elevation gain.
We started fairly early, each carrying our own day packs. I'm strong, and by that point I'd done well over one hundred High Sierra routes. I hiked steeply uphill toward the actual ridge. Luc meanwhile hiked a little ahead. He was very strong, and 20 years younger than me.
As we sometimes did, the two of us exchanged some well meaning banter during the day. For the first hour or so Luc stayed ahead of me. He'd periodically stop to shout back: "are you OK old man?" And, "are you going to make it ?" I assured Luc that I'd make the summit, but that I'd do so at my own pace.
After the first hour of hiking Luc slowed noticeably. I kept up my normal, "all day" pace. Soon I was waiting for him. I didn't say anything, I just waited. After a few hours he was really lagging; this was his first time ever at these altitudes, and he lacked experience and obviously hadn't paced himself.
Finally, when the summit was in sight, I told Luc that I was going to continue at my pace and that I'd wait for him there. I went ahead, and when I arrived, I ate lunch. It was 15 minutes before Luc arrived.
He was amazed at the views; this was really his first time in the high mountains. I said nothing more about having to wait for him. Obviously, he'd stopped with the "old man" comments long before. We descended to the car by mid-afternoon.
Point made.
A year later we did the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak. We roped up for some of this, but did most of it without gear. Even after we untied, we stayed fairly close to each other for the majority of the climb. It was obvious that Luc was pacing himself, now smarter and more experienced up high.
However, as Lone Pine's summit came into view, Luc quietly picked up his pace (on class two terrain by now). Did I mention how strong he was? He gradually pulled ahead of me toward the summit. He then waited for me there for 15 minutes. After I arrived he never said a word about his wait.
Counter-point made.
We spent the rest of that Lone Pine trip cragging on the east side.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Jan 31, 2013 - 12:25pm PT
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Military aviation is very dangerous even peacetime.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.
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Jan 31, 2013 - 12:28pm PT
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rest well Luc
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notburcheyLOL
Boulder climber
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Jan 31, 2013 - 12:55pm PT
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http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/31/world/europe/italy-missing-jet/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
It's nice that they chose a picture of him on a climb for this story.
It's amazing how you can never meet a person, but reading personal stories and learning of their loss can really get at you. I'm sure there are several reasons for this.
Rips the heart to think about a guy like this passing and leaving behind a wife and little girl that will never know her dad. So sad.
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Cragman
Trad climber
June Lake, California....via the Damascus Road
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Jan 31, 2013 - 04:37pm PT
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Bump for THE most significant thread on the site right now....
Rest in peace, Luc.....
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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Jan 31, 2013 - 07:06pm PT
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I spent most of my adult life working to make sure that these kids came home on their own two feet, so events like this break my heart. My deepest condolences to all of you, family and friends, that knew Luc.
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 31, 2013 - 07:26pm PT
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I'm so sorry.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Jan 31, 2013 - 07:30pm PT
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What a tragic loss.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Pollock Pines, California
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a sad situation.
i extend my respect to him
and my sympathies to
those whom are struggling thru
this.
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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I'm so sorry, Brad. Best wishes to you and your families.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Our first longer climb was The Nevabe Ridge
great first long day for a fit n00b
sounds like a great time. nice memories
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mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
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The Air Force has announced that Luc is being promoted - posthumously - from captain to major.
I still remember the weeks after he finished flight school almost ten years ago. Like any new military pilot Luc had hoped for an assignment to fly fighters. Instead he was asked to stay behind and become an instructor at the flight school itself. Although he understood what an extreme compliment this was - a judgment even that he had the maturity, expertise and people skills to immediately become a teacher - he was still a little disappointed.
He eventually got his assignment to fighters.
When he did his tour in Afghanistan he placed an American flag in his cockpit during one mission. He gave me that flag together with a certificate that it had flown a combat mission with him in his F-16. The flag hangs on my wall.
I always joked with Luc about him giving me a ride in a two-seat trainer/fighter. His standard response was that he was "still trying" to set such a flight up.
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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mtnyoung - so very sorry for your loss & condolences to Luc's family.
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Ron Anderson
Trad climber
Soon to be Nipple suckling Liberal
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So excellent for the USAF to give him that promotion. He has left a large Legacy though, in the form of those he trained and flew with, and in the service to our country as well as his little one. Then there are those he traveled the mountains with,, A life WELL LIVED although tragically short.
21 guns for the SALUTE....
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coz
Gym climber
Belmont
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So, sorry to the friends and family of Luc...
He seems like a great young man, who gave his life for the greater good.
He is a bigger hero to me, than any top climber.
SC.
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notburcheyLOL
Boulder climber
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Spoke with my Dad (AF) last night about this poor Gent and his family. My Dad had lots of questions, was curious about his rank (he guessed Major).
I'm curious as to what the AF does for a fallen soldier's family in a case like this? I'm assuming the retirement benefits he's accumulated would go to the family later. Do they help in any other way financially?
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