Discussion Topic |
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haishan
Trad climber
CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jun 28, 2016 - 03:44pm PT
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Unbearable tragedy. Chris was a great guy, good family man, super modest yet extremely confident and capable. I worked with Chris several years ago and was fortunate to share a rope with him a few times. Will miss you, buddy.
Supertopo knows him as Jiggler. He's been pushing the envelope of wingsuit BASE for a while.
Here are the only details I know:
http://www.samessenger.com/christopher-john-labounty/
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:19pm PT
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So sad, Chris, sorry, I never got to meet you...
My sincere condolences to his Family and Friends.
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snakefoot
climber
Nor Cal
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:24pm PT
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i wanted to die yesterday after hearing this, broke my heart. wishing only the best for his family and friends in this horrendous time.
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The Alpine
climber
The Sea
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:30pm PT
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Man this sucks. When is BASE too much?
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:38pm PT
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Very sad
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Heisenberg
Trad climber
RV, middle of Nowehere
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:51pm PT
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When is climbing too much? Kinda tired of the comments regarding some of the BASE incidents posted here to a group who is very limited in the larger scope of what some pilots do. There are maybe 3 jumpers here who post that know the more intricate sh#t that happens. Trust me .... I'm not one of those 3. Snake is. And two others who which I'm drawing a blank.
I don't even jump
The most sincere condolences to his friends and family.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:56pm PT
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My condolences.
Let's keep the BASE discussion to other threads please.
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Levy
Big Wall climber
So Cal
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:57pm PT
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Oh no!
I hate hearing about wingsuit/ BASE accidents. I have known way too many wonderful people who have perished from a mishap pursuing this highly risky activity.
My thoughts go to his family and friends.
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dikhed
climber
State of fugue and disbelief
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Jun 28, 2016 - 04:57pm PT
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The most sincere condolences to his friends and family.
Both of you could have just stopped right here
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Jun 28, 2016 - 05:08pm PT
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Only minimal details on the accident so far:
Date: June 23, 2016
Nationality: American
Object Type: Earth
Location: Torri del Vajolet-Dollomites
COD: Terrain flying/Emergency Pull
Clothes / Suit: Wingsuit/
Experience: Highly Experienced
http://www.blincmagazine.com/forum/wiki/bfl-286
Obviously devastating for his young family, with 8 and 10 year old daughters.
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Jun 28, 2016 - 05:13pm PT
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The cheerleaders rush in to hide their shame. Shame. On. You. Shame.
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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Jun 28, 2016 - 05:19pm PT
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So sorry for his family. My heart goes out to them, and his friends. Nothing else to say.
Pam Roberts
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Jun 28, 2016 - 05:21pm PT
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Sad news. Condolences to family and friends.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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Jun 28, 2016 - 05:26pm PT
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Very sad. I was blown away by his flight off The Needles. Nothing short of an amazing feat.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jun 28, 2016 - 08:41pm PT
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hey there say, ... oh my, my condolences to his family and loved ones...
prayers for them, as they move forward without their beloved father... :(
and husband...
:(
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville & Yucca brevifolia
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Jun 28, 2016 - 09:43pm PT
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Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
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Jun 29, 2016 - 12:41am PT
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I'm very sad to hear this.
I was very impressed with his wingsuit flying in the Eastern Sierras near Mt. Morrison. I've watched that YouTube video many times. Just very incredible and very brave to pioneer that unique wingsuit BASE jump.
Prayers and Shalom to his family and friends and all who knew Chris. RIP Chris.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Jun 29, 2016 - 07:35am PT
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Man did he have some skills! Condolences for those left behind but we should celebrate and remember his life.
Although I'm sure devastated by the loss it's not as if Chris was living some secret life. His family and friends knew the risks and apparently accepted Chris as he was.
So no haters.....
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
PUAKO, BIG ISLAND Kohala Coast
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Jun 29, 2016 - 09:58am PT
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Awesome videos and pilot
It appears his mom passed the week before, tragic losses for the family.
Aloha
Rg
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msiddens
Trad climber
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Jun 29, 2016 - 10:06am PT
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So sad- when will the death count be enough. The Morrrison vid was so cool and I've looked up there and pondered it before....
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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Jun 29, 2016 - 12:24pm PT
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He has another impressive flight on vimeo down to Boulder Creek.
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haishan
Trad climber
CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 29, 2016 - 12:52pm PT
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I thought it might be nice to share some memories of Chris. We weren't super close, but I was fortunate to spend some time with him out on the rock and chatting about life and adventure over the course of a couple years where our lives crossed paths.
I worked with Chris from 2009-11 at a small SoCal hardware tech company with a factory in Chengdu. When I first met him I only knew him as the guy down the hall who survived the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. He was a very understated guy, never went out of his way to spray about his many accomplishments. He had the heart and spirit of a true adventurer, as his few writings attest to. Here is his firsthand account from the mountains near the epicenter of the 2008 quake:
http://www.summitpost.org/escape-from-sichuan/513536
Even after the quake we both made frequent trips to the Chengdu office and so had opportunities for solo forays out into the vast mountains of Sichuan, but our schedules never seemed to line up. He made a reconnaissance of the amazing SE ridge of Pomiu (Celestial Peak, across the valley from Siguniang), soloing a good portion of the technical climbing and backing off when the difficulties exceeded his risk tolerance. Armed with his beta I went in some time later to make my own recon and we hashed rough plans to climb it together, but alas, I left the company and moved on before we could make it happen.
Some more of his mountain accomplishments, just the few that he bothered to make public:
http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Matthes-Crest-Actually-I-prefer-Saber-Ridge/t11205n.html
http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12201109300/Tamarack-Lake-area-New-Routes
https://vimeo.com/143966785
http://www.supertopo.com/tr/The-Witch-and-the-Warlock-A-Needles-Climb-to-Fly-Adventure/t12978n.html
Farewell, Chris.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Jul 28, 2016 - 02:56pm PT
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Updated description of the accident:
At 3pm on June 23rd, 2016, Chris jumped solo from Torri del Vajolet, attempting a wingsuit flyby of the restaurant/rifugio, Rifugio Preuss Hütte. Chris had free-solo climbed several hundred feet to the exit point, no other jumpers were present that day and this was his first jump from this exit point. His original flight plan was a more direct path towards the rifugio and to remain visible to the ground crew during the entire flight and deployment. Outside video shows him flying initially towards the east, then turning south, towards the rifugio where he disappears from view of the camera. Other witnesses saw him flying down a gulley, east of the rifugio, then lost sight of him. When he did not land at the primary LZ, ground crew hiked downhill from the rifugio looking for him. Italian Alpine Rescue found his body via helicopter approximately 2 hours later, at the bottom of the gulley, southeast of the rifugio. He struck a tree approximately 60ft uphill, at a 45-degree angle, from where his body was found.
Gear inspection shows the canopy sustained damage from the tree, but the slider was still at the top of the lines, suggesting a low/emergency deployment. The closing loops were intact, evidence the PC had opened the container, not the impact. Injuries sustained and equipment damage suggest a high speed impact. His GoPro was recovered, shattered, without the SD card. Hours were spent searching the impact area on June 25th, but no SD Card was found. The weather conditions were described as light winds from the south, no clouds. The altitude difference between the rifugio (his planned flyby location) and his primary LZ was approximately 300ft. The location where his body was found was at a similar altitude to the Primary LZ.
Chris had jumped that morning, from a different exit point and performed a flyby of a cross next to the rifugio. He landed south(downhill) of the rifugio, on a trail. The planned flight for the second jump was a more direct path to the Primary LZ. http://www.blincmagazine.com/forum/wiki/Christopher_Labounty
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Jul 28, 2016 - 03:10pm PT
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Sad news have not seen Chris for a while. Had all the Stoney Point traverses wired.
RIP brother see you on other side.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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Jul 28, 2016 - 11:08pm PT
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He struck a tree ...
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thebravecowboy
climber
The Good Places
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Jul 28, 2016 - 11:58pm PT
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super respect
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Jul 29, 2016 - 12:19am PT
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condolences to Chris's family.
modern hero in my book. pushin evolutions standardization of mans body.
Cheers to the spirit named Chris
Keep flying higher, buddy!
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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Jul 29, 2016 - 06:55am PT
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Chris sounds like an all around accomplished and good guy. My sincere condolences to his friends and family.
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wbw
Trad climber
'cross the great divide
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Jul 29, 2016 - 08:52am PT
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Wow, that write-up on the earthquake in China is gripping. Chris was clearly a skilled and articulate writer. His near-success in climbing a 6000 m peak in running shoes suggests his skill and comfort level in the mountains, as well as the magnitude of the goals he set for himself. Big respect and sadness over his passing.
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Larry Nelson
Social climber
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Jul 29, 2016 - 11:29am PT
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Damn pity for the world to lose such an accomplished and decent man.
Condolences to the family and friends.
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| Messages 1 - 34 of total 34 in this topic |
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