Dick Culbert has passed away

Search
Go

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List
This thread has been locked
Messages 1 - 18 of total 18 in this topic
Tricouni

Mountain climber
Vancouver
Topic Author's Original Post - May 23, 2017 - 08:37pm PT
Legendary Coast mountains climber and explorer Dick Culbert died this morning at his home. I don't have the heart right now to write much, but here is a link to the blurb for a talk that I gave on our behalf last February. I also don't know how many people here on ST will have known of him, but they should.

Winter ascent of Waddington, 1st ascent of complete east ridge of Devil's Thumb, 1st ascent of Cat's Ears Spires, 1st ascent of Serra V, and much more. He was one of the very first people to have climbed at Squamish. His guide to the Coast Mountains is famous and has been called "the finest achievement ever in guidebook writing".

https://vimff.org/guest-speakers/glenn-woodsworth-dick-culbert/

I'll post a few photos and more soon. If anybody wants more information, please email me tricouni at telus dot net. ST messages don't get through to me.


Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
May 23, 2017 - 08:40pm PT
Sorry to hear this Glenn.

May those who loved him find peace.
norm larson

climber
wilson, wyoming
May 24, 2017 - 05:44am PT
Never met him, but obviously heard of him. A legend. Condolences to friends and family. Peace.
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
May 24, 2017 - 06:06am PT
Here's to a life well lived, Colbert accomplished much both in the mountains and pursing his professional interests. My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Dick Culbert.
Tricouni

Mountain climber
Vancouver
Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2017 - 04:24pm PT
Jim, and Tami, and others, thanks for your comments and care. It's not just his climbing record and guides: he was kind, gentle and approachable, low key and always humble. No egomaniac here!

Here's a photo of him in 1969, taken by Barry Hagen on the winter ascent of Waddington.
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
May 24, 2017 - 07:01pm PT
RIP...

SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
May 24, 2017 - 07:31pm PT

We've lost another good one.
Rest in peace, Dick.
Condolences to his family and friends.
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
May 24, 2017 - 09:11pm PT
hey there say, Tricouni, and tami, and all...

thank you kindly for sharing about your dear friend...

i do not know much about any of you folks, or so many other wonderful
climbers and all they have contributed to the rich history,
of climbing... the only way, that folks like me, learn, is
when you share about these folks-- their love and exploits...

thank you for letting us learn, and
for sharing your love, of these dear friends, that pass on...

my condolences to you, his other loved ones, and family,
at this sad time of his passing, as folks go on, without him, here...


god bless...
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
May 24, 2017 - 10:08pm PT
Dick, or Richard Revis Culbert as he was named, was one of a kind. Soundly rooted in the exploratory beginnings of mountaineering in B.C., yet going on to make major technical climbs. One of the outstanding climbers of the 1960s and early 1970s of North America, even if from a modest tradition. Canadians, eh? Mountain explorer, climber, geologist, traveler, natural historian, writer, poet... But modest withal, and a friend, and inspiration to many. Those of us who began climbing in B.C. in the 1970s reverenced him, but he was always approachable and friendly.

There is a nice mini-biography of Dick in Phil Dowling's "The Mountaineers: Famous Climbers in Canada". Although Dick might have denied the 'famous' bit.

Dick was born in 1940 in Winnipeg. His father, a navigator in the RCAF, was shot down in 1943. Dick's mother moved with him to West Vancouver soon after, where he grew up. (Some remember her, in the house on Haywood Avenue. Raising Dick as a single mother must have taken some doing.) Once he found the mountains, he didn't look back.

A photo of Dick (R) and his great friend Tricouni (Glenn), at Dick's house in Gibson's in 2013.
hamie

Social climber
Thekoots
May 25, 2017 - 12:08am PT
A person of many varied interests and talents.
Adios Dick.

donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
May 25, 2017 - 05:58am PT
I never met him but I have always been impressed by his climbing record. It appears that he was also a wonderful human being.....RIP.
Oplopanax

Mountain climber
The Deep Woods
May 26, 2017 - 11:45am PT
Tricouni

Mountain climber
Vancouver
Topic Author's Reply - May 26, 2017 - 03:34pm PT
Thanks to all who have commented on this. I will be passing this thread on to his family.

And two videos of Dick,
His last rock climb (Skywalker at Squamish) [youtube=https://vimeo.com/27064156]

and a short one done in 2006 or so. [youtube=https://vimeo.com/185563329]
Mighty Hiker

climber
Outside the Asylum
Jun 1, 2017 - 09:14pm PT
An obituary for Dick, in the local paper: http://www.thelocalweekly.ca/coast-trail-builder-dick-culbert-remembered/

http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1838629/Dick-Richard-Culbert-project
Thetis

climber
Jun 1, 2017 - 11:38pm PT
Dick taught me to belay at a BCMC weekend in cheakamus. He was indeed a kind and gentle person. I remember him fondly from those early Squamish days and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.
Gunkie

Trad climber
Valles Marineris
Jun 2, 2017 - 12:27pm PT
That 'Skywalker' video is great and provides some good insights.
Jstod

Trad climber
North Vancouver
Jun 2, 2017 - 02:01pm PT
I never met Dick, but his writing and the stories of his climbs have always epitomized pure mountain adventure for me. He also seemed to approach the mountains with a sort of simple humility that for me is somehow rooted in the Coastal Ranges that he clearly loved.

Rest in Peace.
Fossil climber

Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
Jun 2, 2017 - 04:14pm PT
I never met Culbert but knew his reputation. It's a terribly sad that such a legend and - very importantly - a fine human being has left us. Thanks for the notice, Glenn.
Messages 1 - 18 of total 18 in this topic
Return to Forum List
 
Our Guidebooks
spacerCheck 'em out!
SuperTopo Guidebooks

guidebook icon
Try a free sample topo!

 
SuperTopo on the Web

Recent Route Beta