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jonnyrig
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 31, 2015 - 08:36am PT
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From mountainproject:
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/guide-dies/110014412
Ice climbing guide dies in fall
From Silverton Standard, the place where you can write!
Posted on January 30 2015, 11:32pm by Mark Esper in Local News category
A 50-year-old ice climber from Ouray died Friday in an ice climbing accident near Eureka.
Mark Miller fell to his death while guiding clients on an ascent of Gulley One, according to San Juan County Sheriff Bruce Conrad.
Miller was a well known ice climber and guide and “was a well-known fixture of the climbing and rescue community in the region,” Conrad said.
Conrad said the sheriff’s office got the call at about 6 p.m.
“It took a while for the climbers to get out,” Conrad said. “They had their own issues.”
Miller was a guide for San Juan Mountain Guides. Conrad said that Miller “lived for these mountains and loved to teach."
Conrad said that Miller’s clients described a failure in an ice bulge, and that Mark was climbing off-rope at the time.
Conrad said Miller fell “four pitches” with each pitch probably 70 meters of rope.
San Juan County Search & Rescue team members were dispatched to retrieve Miller from the remote location.
Condolensces to friends and family.
Not Mark Miller from around here, is it?
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jonnyrig
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 31, 2015 - 08:51am PT
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I knew another Mark Miller way back when I was a teenager. He was a councelor at Camp Unalayee up in the trinity alps, so I always pause when I see the name. Anyway, hope it's not him in either case, and still feel for family and friends in this regardless.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Jan 31, 2015 - 08:52am PT
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Trying to address this is so hard.
The odds keep building up
So sad that the years of good Ja
are wiped away in an instant.
my deepest sympathy and hart felt hope for peace to all that are touched by this sorrow.
But for the Grace of God & good luck go I . . . many of us .
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Jan 31, 2015 - 09:10am PT
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My condolences to Mark Miller's family and his community.
feralfae
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10b4me
climber
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Jan 31, 2015 - 09:19am PT
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Condolences to his family, and friends.
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Andy de klerk
Mountain climber
South Africa
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Jan 31, 2015 - 09:41am PT
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I'll miss you Mark.
From Scotland in 1986 until now and all the places in between.
Go well friend
Andy
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Jan 31, 2015 - 09:53am PT
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Condolences to family and friends.
After doing some searching on Google, I found this mention of Mark Miller being the man who set the finals route at the 2007 Ouray Ice festival. From this and the other sources in this thread, he was obviously a very good climber and was well-respected.
http://www.alpinist.com/doc/ALP18/newswire-2007-ouray-ice-festival-results
Sixteen finalists returned on Saturday to battle with a heinous mixed route that dwarfed the qualifier.
Hundreds of spectators watched the final route test superstars on more than 100 feet of climbing. The first half of the route—vertical and overhanging ice—gave no issue to the competitors, who made WI5+ look like a jaunt. A secondary belay above the ice section introduced the business: an overhanging, left leaning, blocky rock arete that transitioned into the "diving board," an overhanging plywood panel sparsely equipped with climbing holds.
Ultimately, the diving board engaged only half the finalists; many were shut down by long moves through the sustained rock section before they could even reach it. Those who did persevere were humbled by the diving board's slopey and textureless features. Only one competitor, Ukraine's Evgeny Kryvosheytsev, puzzled it out.
His ascent, and the resulting applause, proved that Mark Miller's route had been set perfectly, allowing only the finest competitor access to the top.
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cybele
Trad climber
Psych hospital by day
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Jan 31, 2015 - 12:44pm PT
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I am so saddened. Mark had a fair amount of influence on me and my climbing given the short time I lived in my beloved Ouray. His climbing ability and his commitment to SAR were an inspiration. He was there once at the top of a climb to scold me when I made a poor judgment climbing, taking a foolish risk beyond my ability level that affected others negatively, including him. He taught me some needed humility that day, and he would have saved my ass too, had I wanted/needed, yet he respected my decision to keep pushing on with my dumb choice. I saw during my time in Ouray what an integral member of the community he is. For these reasons I will never forget him. I am so deeply sorry for his family and the entire community must be utterly reeling. My heart goes out.
Mark was an incredibly expert climber, very good technically, of course. In the spirit of the SAR work he performed, and with respect, I offer the following thought: I hope his untimely death will serve and maybe even save others in that it be a reminder for those who take their climbing prowess as a given surety guarding against disaster on terrain well within skill level. I am NOT saying he did, and I do not want to be misunderstood on this point. I just mean, may this terrible thing be a humbling reminder for those climbers who need it to be.
I have really no adequate words, so I'll stop.
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Decko
Trad climber
Colorado
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If you knew Mark you knew of his incredible talents as a climber and guide as well as a person.
I never knew him to say a negative word about anyone.....
Seeing him around the ice park with his cowboy hat and tights on always made me fell like well things are how they should be Mark is still here.
So very sorry to Collette for her loss.....
A beautiful light of a person just went out way too early......
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Trad climber
Will know soon
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So incredibly sorry. Heart goes out to the loved ones, family, friends and the community. Every person we lose makes a huge difference in our lives. It opens up a gap that won't be filled. Thoughts and prayers for comfort and peace. L.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, all... another hard sadness to face,for a family...
:(
my condolences to the family of and loved ones and buddies of
mark miller, ...
my prayers for you, at the sad loss, and for strength to you,
as you must move on, without him...
thank you, to his friends, for teaching us, about him and his
skills, and the 'ice' world, that he loved, and how folks loved him...
:(
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