| Messages 1 - 15 of total 15 in this topic |
Bovine
Social climber
flatlands
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 27, 2006 - 09:40am PT
|
Any information out there on a climbing related death at the Potrero on the 24th. I have only heard second hand information and am worried about a friend who is down there climbing. Thanks in advance.
|
|
WBraun
climber
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2006 - 10:23am PT
|
"I found some info on ST, here is a link."
That is RC com and not ST.
Plus your link needs a login. I have none at this place nor do I want one. What happened?
|
|
Bovine
Social climber
flatlands
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Nov 27, 2006 - 11:07am PT
|
Sorry about the typo Werner!
Long time Texas climber Jimmy Ray...RIP
Here is a little info from the site you all love to hate, RC.com
"Local newspaper reports the death of a person in potrero, apparently a climber from Dallas.
Sorry I could not post the link, it is suscription based, so instead the translation from Google:
Monterrey, Mexico (26 November 2006). - A American mountain climber died after falling of approximately 100 meters of height of mountains of Small Potrero, in Hidalgo, Nuevo Leo'n. Gerald Lazcano Cave, director of Police and Transit of that municipality, informed that the foreigner was identified like James Ray Forrester, of 40 years, that were original of Forth Worth, Texas. The identity of the victim was revealed by a friend, who along with arrived he at the Put Hotel, where they provided with accomodations in Small Potrero. In agreement with the investigations, the American that it was killed, left single to 5:00 hours Friday with the objective to scale some wall; nevertheless, it did not take the equipment adapted, already according to its friend only it used a snap harness. Lazcano Cave said that it was possible to be established that the night of Friday Forrester did not return, reason why his companion was alarmed and given warning to the recepcionista, that warned the Police, that it discarded to initiate the search due to the dark. The morning of yesterday students, police elements and of Civil defense left to look for the American. The rescatistas were divided in groups to rake in different zones; nevertheless, after 8 hours body was found by a called small dog “Isaiah”, who began to bark when he smelled the body of Forrester, informed Ramiro Lopez Nájera, element of Civil defense of the State. Once they located the corpse, the rescatistas used cords and a stretcher in which they surrounded to lower it it of between stones of the hill. The authorities suppose that the foreigner passed away in the course of Friday, apparently by the fractures was caused after the fall. The body was transferred to the entrance of the Recreational Center Small Potrero, where they gave warning to the delegate of Public ministry of Escobedo, Eugene G. Loyal González, gave faith of the decease and requested that they took the body to the University Hospital"
and this...
"we were down in EPC when everyone was notified that he was found.
He was soloing "the scariest ride in the park"
which is a very dangerous 40+ pitch ridge climb. It was speculated that he had a heavy pack on and fell from one of the very beginning pitches of the climb.
I am very sorry for your loss, this news affected us all :( "
Very Sad Day her in the midwest/south. Seems like the good ones go ealry.
|
|
dmitry
Trad climber
Chita, Russia
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2006 - 02:10pm PT
|
Jimmy Forester was a friend of mine.
A wonderful guy.
This last weekend has been horrendous for everyone who knew him.
I hope that Jimmy's friends will contribute stories about him.
I will too when I find myself being able to reminisce instead of just being endlessly unhappy about what happened.
d
|
|
Mimi
climber
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2006 - 02:18pm PT
|
Very sad news. Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
|
|
crankenstein
Trad climber
Louisville, CO
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2006 - 05:57pm PT
|
I am saddened by this though I never met him. I had spoken to him and emailed him regarding historical notes about Texas climbing. He seemed like he was really into climbing history and loved the sport. His list of ascents is very impressive. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
|
|
radical
Trad climber
Estoy en Potrero guey
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2006 - 07:01pm PT
|
Soloing "Scariest Ride" is something I am sure all of us have thought about when looking at that line.
To bad about the accident
my condolences
Riley
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Nov 27, 2006 - 08:32pm PT
|
My sincerest condolences to everyone close to Jimmy Ray. I only had a chance to interact with him on this Forum and am very sad to hear about his misfortune.
I hope that time and more details can shed light on the situation so that we all can learn something. Limestone and sandstone can be scary rock to solo on because of holds, big and small, breaking off unexpectedly.
Needless to say, this cowboy died with his boots on and we will all miss his straight shootin' style in these parts.
|
|
Rockdude
Trad climber
Texas
|
|
|
Nov 28, 2006 - 08:05am PT
|
Those who know Jimmy will miss him.
Jimmy lived and breathed climbing, not for personal recognition or glory, but for promotion of Climbing in itself. He was a true Bold Hardman who left an impression on all who knew him, novice or seasoned veteran. Below is a good article from Rock & Ice on him. May God bless his soul and family..
Jimmy Ray Forester Killed in El Potrero Chico
Monday 27th November, 2006
Posted By: Admin
The Texas and Oklahoma activist Jimmy Ray Forester died on November 24 when he fell while free soloing in El Potrero Chico, Mexico. Forester, of Dallas, Texas, was attempting The Scariest Ride in the Park, a 40-pitch 5.9 ridge route, but failed to return to camp that evening. He was found the next day at the base of the wall, apparently having fallen from one of the route's initial, loose pitches. Although El Potrero is known worldwide for its quality, bolted limestone sport routes, at least five climbers have perished there in less than a decade, including the brilliant all-arounder Jose Luis Pereyra, who was struck by rockfall in 2003.
Forester, a strong, talented and seasoned climber with 17 years experience under his belt was an iconic figure throughout Oklahoma and Texas, where he repeated the classic runout trad routes and establishing a slew of his own in characteristically ground-up, onsight style, which he loved. Endued with a deep sense of climbing history, Forester sought to preserve the traditional ways, believing that the ethic was the bedrock of climbing and that without it the sport was nothing more than base exercise. Forester, however, was not a crusty had-been. He excelled in all disciplines, from bouldering to aid climbing, and strove to win allies through education rather than browbeating: When he wasn't climbing he was busy compiling hundreds of pages of route and historical data for a series of guide/history books that he had hoped to someday publish as a free resource for all climbers. His friends, of whom there were legions, will recall that his anecdotal tales, attention to detail and stickler for the facts made him one of climbing�s most astute, if unsung, chroniclers.
Although Forester cut his teeth on the rugged granite outcrops of the Wichita and Quartz mountains in southwestern Oklahoma, and road tripped often, racking up nine ascents of El Cap, he recently homed in on the granite domes of Enchanted Rock in central Texas. There, he cranked some 80 routes this past season, including repeats of virtually every runout trad line. Of note, he repeated Real Gravy, an old-school 5.11c with just three bolts and such serious ground-fall potential that locals had in recent years retroed-in three more bolts. On his ascent, Forester made a point of not clipping the added bolts, which he felt disrespected the first ascent and reduced the climb to a gym route. To help preserve E-Rock's traditional ethic, Forester ran for and received a seat on that area's bolting committee.
Recently, in July, he and another homeboy, Marcus Garcia, climbed five routes in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in three days then drove to the Fisher Towers and ticked off the Titan and Echo Tower. When contacted by this magazine for details about his climbs to include in the news section, the reticent Forester replied, "Naw� you guys can find better news than us."
A memorial service for Forester will be held at Exposure Indoor Climbing Gym, near Dallas, on December 3. Proceeds will benefit his daughter, Riley, age 4.
Duane Raleigh
|
|
karlv
Sport climber
Austin, TX
|
|
|
Nov 28, 2006 - 12:05pm PT
|
I had only seen Jimmy twice - once when he led The Granite Gripper competition last month and the night before he died while many of us were eating turkey dinner at Homero's in El Potrero Chico. He seemed like a great guy and he had a great reputation as a climber.
Friday while at the top of Will the Wolf Survive my climbing partner and I saw a gathering of locals down below and heard the sirens of the police when Jimmy's body was found. We knew that the arrival of the police couldn't be a good sign. When we descended and hiked back to the road we found out that Jimmy had died not too far into the Scarest Ride in the Park. Tami (from the coffee shop there) later mentioned that that section of the Ride is known to be the ugliest section in the whole climb. I recall that Thursday and Friday had numerous rock falls throughout the park. I can imagine that either a rock hit him or he pulled one out onto himself.
It was a sobering moment when we all learned about Jimmy's death and a sober evening as we reflected on it. As sad as his death is and that he left a young daughter behind, it is comforting to some degree knowing that he died doing exactly what he loved to do, climbing.
I would be comforted to learn more about Jimmy beyond my hearing him talk at the Gripper and seeing him at Homero's.
In rememberance,
Karl
Austin, TX
|
|
Tahoe climber
climber
Texas to Tahoe
|
|
|
Nov 30, 2006 - 05:00pm PT
|
My condolences to his family and friends.
Real Gravy, the slab on ER that Duane R mentioned, is not a trivial climb - particularly when skipping the retro'd bolts.
I respect him greatly - he'll be missed in the climbing community, for sure.
-Aaron
|
|
Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Louis
|
|
|
Nov 30, 2006 - 05:22pm PT
|
Very sad news. My thoughts go out to all his friends and family...
|
|
| Messages 1 - 15 of total 15 in this topic |
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!