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Justin Black
Mountain climber
Bishop, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 4, 2007 - 02:20am PT
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Mike Strassman was found dead in his trailer in Lone Pine a couple of days ago. The cause of death is unknown or hasn't been released at this point. I heard that his dog was found dead with him, which suggests something like carbon monoxide poisoning, but who knows. May he rest in peace.
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nita
climber
chico ca
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Bad news....Sad news..
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Loomis
climber
Blava nie, ty kokot!
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Shít! :-(
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
don't u worry 'bout a thang, baby
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oh my god. i feel terrible. we had talked on the phone a few times.
he told me i was "wise beyond my years".
i was going to climb with him but i felt uncomfortable going all the way to bishop to climb with an older single man by myself; he was having lots of troubles. i never did go climb w/him. i could have just been a friend. i feel awful.
mike, i'm sorry. i hope you feel better now.
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climbrunride
Trad climber
Durango, CO
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That sucks! May he RIP.
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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So sorry to hear this;.I met Mike in Zion years ago, and I have done many of his routes on the East side.....Rest in peace, Mike.
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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Oh No. This totally sucks. He was well loved by many.
I got to know him 20 years ago when he filmed my then 4 yr. old son for "Moving Over Stone" one of the first ever climbing videos. Often saw him on the East Side, working on his numerous new routes in the Owens Gorge, or at his Range of Light studio in Crowley. Just last month he gave us some of his original music for our student "Life or Meth" film project. It is going to be sad and poignant to be touring schools with this film next semester and hearing his voice singing the song "sorry ass tweaker" a kind of dirge/rap dark and humorous and very effective with the scary message of the film.
I cannot remember a time I encountered him when he was not high energy, driven, with a big smile and contagious humor.
RIP my friend, may your spirit soar up those new routes you were always seeking.
Peter
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Peter, you never answered my email asking about Mike last month. I used 3 photos of him in the short show I gave at climbfest.
Since getting the news about Greg Smith 22 months ago life has been virtually little more than a series of disasterous reports about partners from back in the day. Its enough to make one dread to pick up the mail or read the taco.
Mike still had family as I recall. So sad for them.
I'll see if I can manage to post a photo.
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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I'm with you Ron. I found this forum a year ago when Jeff Schoen left us. Amongst some good humor and connectedness, over this past thirteen months ST has all too often served as the instant hotline for desseminating and engaging an overabundance of sad news about old friends.
Hey everyone, check your knot, use good gear, and keep your mind and heart aimed toward the light.
Peter
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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I didn't know him (I may have met him years ago), but RIP.
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Mike Strassman's Sister
climber
Massachusetts
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Hi all,
I am Mike's sister, Debra Cowan. Thanks to Blinny for alerting me to the forum.
Thank you all for your wonderful, kind words about my brother. He was an amazing man and also one of the most creative and talented I have ever known. It's a huge comfort to us that he was so well-regarded by the climbing community. I will miss him terribly.
We don't know the details about Mike's death, but Drake, his dog is alive and will be living in Crowley Lake with Mike's ex-wife, Jackie. My brothers and I will probably be coming to Lone Pine in August to go through Mike's possessions.
We have not made any plans as of yet, but if we decide to set up a memorial fund or anything like that we'll let you know. If anyone wants to get in touch with the Strassman family, you can go to my website at www.DebraCowan.com and contact me through that.
Thanks to you all that knew Mike and for being his brothers and sisters up on the rocks. He certainly was happiest when he was hanging on by the ropes, fingers and toes.
Debra Cowan
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klinefelter
Boulder climber
Bishop, CA
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Oh Man. WTF?
I hadn't seen Mike for years till last week. He gave me a big hug, told me he had moved to Rovana and was working at the local cable company. Said he was putting together a new editing bay, and seemed in pretty good spirits.
I worked with Mike off and on for years as an editor for his production company. Mike was one-of-a-kind. He was extremely creative and intelligent, and more motivated than anyone I know when it came to putting up routes. I'm sure he's pioneered thousands of lines in the Owens and the Sierra alone, not to mention loads of stuff in Arizona. Mike was passionate about climbing and adventures.
He was also a legendary entertainer. A Strassman party was not something to miss. Anyone who's attended one of these events will know what I mean.
RIP
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nita
climber
chico ca
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Deb, Are you the Debra Cowan, that used to live in Chico?
Either way, I'm so sorry to here about your brother dying. ;-(
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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My deepest condolences to the family and friends - I wish I could offer more then just words. This is very sad.
Tom
"Hey everyone, check your knot, use good gear, and keep your mind and heart aimed toward the light."
Yes indeed. Many Thanks, and You Too.
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funkness
climber
Ca.
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Wow, what a bummer, he was a way cool dude. A climber to the core, at home in the Sierra.
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Mike Strassman's Sister
climber
Massachusetts
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Hi Nita,
Thanks for your kind words. Yes, I am the Debra Cowan that used to live in Chico.
Debra
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10b4me
Trad climber
Hell A
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My condolences to Debra, and Mike's other relatives, and friends.
sorry to hear this.
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yo
climber
The Eye of the Snail
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Equinox?
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JMC
climber
Tucson
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Truly terrible news. My sympathy goes out to his family and friends. I never met him in person, but had some brief email rallies with him regarding climbing in the Alabama Hills and Whitney Portal; he was friendly, and generous with route info. I wish I had met him.
-John
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Few people know that of the two hundred or so routes in Snow Canyon only two were put up by Mike, but those two are the biggest.
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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It would be great if someone could post Mikes' FA list, the man pioneered new rock all over AZ, east side cali, and who knows where else. Chossman was more of a joke name, he found the good lines on a lot of quality stone out there.
Peter
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nita
climber
chico ca
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Off the couch, This is about Mike...
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Maysho
climber
Truckee, CA
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lighten up OTC, I bet most of us close to him over the years smiled at SS's account of his attempts to lure her to his haunts!
Peter
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Watusi
Social climber
Joshua Tree, CA
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I got to know Mike pretty well and he will be sorely missed!!
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Brutus of Wyde
climber
Old Climbers' Home, Oakland CA
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So sorry to hear this.
Met Mike a few times, when we were working on parallel routes in the high backcountry.
My condolences to all his family and friends. He will be sorely missed.
See ya on the other side, Mike!
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Capt.
climber
some eastside hovel
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Man.....
Bammys and Portal routes will never be the same.Thanks Mike
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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I had heard some rumors a couple days ago but didn't want to believe them...
Very sad. Hope you're in a better place Mike....rest in peace, we'll all miss you.
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Crimpergirl
Social climber
St. Looney
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Very sorry to hear this news. RIP
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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I feel very sad. This isn't how life should be.
I didn't personally know Mike, never talked him, but I have and do enjoy his famous videos and later purchased his guide to The Alabama Hills.
I know on ST I "whined" about how some bolts were placed in the Alabama Hills, and we might not have seen eye to eye on that never ending issue, but I'm sure if we met we would have talked it out. I wish we would have met.
Climbing is very important in all of our lives, but it isn't the end all. There are more important things like family, and friends, and just living a wonderful and adventurous life. Climbing sure adds to it, that we can all agree. Like I said, I wish Mike and I would had met. I'm sure we would have gotten along very well. We certainly love the same places on Earth.
I wish Mike Peace, and I wish all his friends and family peace.
This is all just very sad.
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pn
Trad climber
Portland, OR
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Can't believe it,
A mutal friend of ours (Mike and I) mentioned in a letter that he was concerned about Mike and asked me to see what was up. This was about two months ago. I called, emailed and recently was looking for other friends in the Mammoth area to find out more about him.
I and so many others will miss him. He was a good climbing partner for over twenty five years. It wasen't a regular thing but when we got together either in Tucson or the Sierra, we always climbed something new.
When off the rock we laughed alot and I'm sure that is what I will miss most- his friendship.
I'll try and post my most recent photo of Mike climbing a new route on the south side of Baboquavari peak in southern Arizona.
On that trip he was traveling w/ Rawly,(SP?) who I'm sure many of you also know.
All my best to family and friends.
Peter Noebels
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Mike Strassman's Sister
climber
Massachusetts
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What a great story, Kath!!
The rest of us had Chicken pox, Michael got measles! :-)
Deb
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Bodega, CA
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What a bummer. So sad to hear of this. Peace be with him, and his friends/family.
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More Air
Big Wall climber
S.L.C.
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Very very sad news...he's way too young. My thoughts go out to his loved ones.
Mike climbed a lot in the early days in Zion, he also wrote about his time there. I loved his writing style...fortunately, he left some accounts of his adventures in Zion. Here's a quote from Mike while they (he and Piton Ron) were working on Equinox, from rockclimbing.com
"Well here it is. Ron and I started up a first ascent in the Temple of Sinawava, down stream from Monkey finger. It's May, and it's hot. We get a late start so we are in the shade. We hit this beautiful ledge filled with ferns and mosses, a veritable garden where you might expect the wee people to dance in the moonlight. It's perfect. Don't even need an ensolite pad. What does Ron do? He starts hacking away at the vegitation (probably had been growing there for hundreds of years) to get to the sand underneath. Well, not exactly environmentally sound, but I figured he's the Zion Master, this must be standard practice -just like those crazy drilled angles.
We are baked out of our sleeping bags by the sun and are overjoyed to see a chimney a couple of pitches up - The Herbert Hoover Chimney. It got its name for the "hoovering" we were doing in there while waiting out the sun. Ron produced a small bindle of cocaine. He claimed he got it from the pop star Robbie Dupree, who had a minor hit at the time. Well, we used a sawed off knife blade to put out some lines (and he didn't even charge me for it!) and start hoovering the stuff up our noses. And then we waited. And waited. And nothing happened. Not even a tingle.
It was so hot we were baking inside that chimney. Must have been at least a hundred. Well, we're sweaty and bored and suddenly Ron perks up.
"Watch this."
He grabs a basketball sized boulder and climbs out to the end of the chimney. Then I see it. One of those open air 'green dragon' tours. You know, with the tour guide sitting backwards talking into a microphone. I can here his oration
"And in recent years, climbers have taken to these cliffs, soimetimes spending the nights in hammocks, lashed to the side of the rock..."
"Goddamn Tourists." Ron mumbles and heaves the boulder out towards the road. I thought that he was going to just scare them, but I'll be damned if that tour and that boulder are heading for sudden impact, just about at the location of where the tour guide sits.
"Someone's gonna get killed" I say and then yell. ' ROCK!"
All heads on the tour turn upwards as the bomb speeds towards it mark. The driver slams on the brakes and the rock explodes in an orange starburst on the road a few feet from the front of the vehicle.
We duck back in the chimney. "You could have killed them, Ron"
Ron shrugs his shoulders, "What's one less tour guide?"
Well, we've had enough. I'm hot, wondering about his judgement, we're sweaty, dirty, unmotivated and got bunk cocaine. We rappel down and I hit the ground first. Mark Pey is there to meet us. Ron raps down just as Dennis Knuckles, the climbing ranger, steps out of the bushes.
"I figured it was you Ron" says the ranger.
"Well, you saw my truck. Who else would it be?"
"We heard that a rock came off this climb and almost hit a tour. Some people said it looked as if it had been thrown."
Ron started pulling the rappels. "Well, you climb here. You know the rock is loose."
"uh-huh'
"Of Sh--, " Ron says, "The rope is stuck." He looks at me. "Well, Mumbles?" (He used to call me "Mumbles the Guzzler because he claimed I didn't speak clearly enough and drank all the water.)
"Alright, I'll go."
Ron achors one end and I start jugging the rope. "Try and keep your movements to a minimum, Mike" Mark cautions, "You don't know what it is stuck on."
"it's fine."says Ron confidently. "I built the anchor.'
And that was correct. I rapped off the anchor we built to lower the haul bag and he was going to pull the pieces and wrap a sling around a tree. When I arrived at the anchor, there was no sling. He had used old 11mm nylon rope. And everyone knows that you never put nylon against nylon. It had burned 3/4's of the way through from my jugging. A few minutes more and I would have been dead.
And that's how Ron almost killed a bus load of tourists and me in the same day"
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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You're a real class guy Brian Smoot. Seize upon a poor climber's death to lay out a BS story/ quote in order to flame me because I wouldn't DARE call a guy who just died a liar.
Class guy!
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atchafalaya
climber
California
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Wow, this is bad news. I first met Mike in the early 90's while living in mammoth, (lived with the Lindell's in Old Mammoth). Always positive and amped on what was going on. Condolences to friends and family.
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tmc
Trad climber
slc, ut
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Wow. Sad news indeed.
I heard about this yesterday-on the 4th of July. I lived in Mammoth in the summers of '96 and '97 and got to know Mike through our buddy Mark McNally, who is also gone due to a f*#king skateboarding accident of all things. Anyway-he was living at the house in Crowley and those two summers I went to his 4th of July Parties- where he set up this cool mountain bike obstacle course/competition in his yard. Somehow I ended up as the winner of these both summers- although there wasn't much competition, or they were drunk. I hadn't seen Mike since maybe '99 when he stayed at my place in SLC during O.R.
My condolences to his family and friends.
TC
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Fluoride
Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
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Very sad news indeed. I remember when I first got into climbing in the Portal area and the A-Hills, I'd e-mail him and he'd always be happy to share any beta or route info I needed. He added so much to the Sierra and anyone who climbs there will appreciate his legacy.
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TYeary
Mountain climber
Calif.
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Sad news indeed.
I ran into Mike many times on the East Side. Very cool guy , always willing to share info with me. Sad, sad sad.
My thoughts go out to all who will miss him and to all whose life's he touched.
Peace, Tony
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Jigs
Trad climber
Dolores,Co
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Oh hell...I was emailing Mike over the winter...This is so sad. We spent innumerable days together...he shot video at our wedding in 1987,...then all the climbs...parties...music....we miss him..
Chris Lindell
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Therese Hankel
Social climber
Mammoth Lakes
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Hi Deb--I'm so sorry to learn of your loss. I was a friend of your brother's. We used to go climbing together years ago. I lived next to his studio...He was a very talented guy, with all that brings. I had not seen him for a long time. Do you know when services are in the Eastern Sierra? I imagaine that East Siders will at least have an Irish Wake for Mike. Thanks for any info you can provide. Therese
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greggyb
Trad climber
CA
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Tried to post a reply days ago.... Couldn't log in from the boonies here in Norway. I am here with Project Bandaloop and all of us who knew Mike are very sad and miss him greatly. Especially Heather Baer and Steve Schnieder who have also posted on Deb's blog: http://www.debracowan.com/mike/?p=4
I met Mikey in the 90's and worked with him at Range of Light for a couple of years. Of the group that worked together then, Randall Grandstaff and Mark McNally have both pierced the veil. I guess only Tommy Klienfelter is still around.
Deb and Family,
I am sorry for your loss.
Too many funny Mikey stories to tell.Like how he’d walk up to a perfectly good crack and climb the choss pile next to it. Or flying on tickets in Casa diablo and jump out of the van at 30 MPH like a skydiver…. Fighting windmills till the end.
“Fearless”
by Pink Floyd
You say the hill’s too steep to climb,
Climb it!
You say you’d like to see me try,
Climb it!
You pick the place and I’ll choose the time
And I’ll climb
The hill in my own way
just wait a while, for the right day
And as I rise above the treeline and the clouds
I look down hear the sound of the things you said today
Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling
Merciless, the magistrate turns ’round, frowning
and who’s the fool who wears the crown
Go down in your own way
And everyday is the right day
And as you rise above the fearlines in the frown
You look down
Hear the sound of the faces in the crowd
That is about as Mikey as it gets.
Mikey mike is on a flight
in his Range of Light
Forever.
Love You Brotha!
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Biggar
Boulder climber
Alameda, CA
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Well, I suppose it's suiting that I follow Greg in my reply. I, too, worked with Mike at Range of Light around the same time and have many fond memories. It seems like such a short interaction in the span of our lives, yet the rest of my life would seem boring without the stories I gained from our time together.
I lost touch with Mike about 5 years ago but always felt curious to know what he was up to. Don't know if this has any spiritual significance, but I felt compelled to look him up a few days ago. I discovered a profile page he created 3 weeks ago on this web site: http://mtnfilmaker.imeem.com/ Just as I was sending him a message, I saw a comment made about his passing on one of his songs. Terrible timing on my part...
I hope to make it back to the place I still consider "home" for his wake. Rest in Peace, Good Buddy.
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Doug Robinson
Trad climber
Santa Cruz
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Greetings to my community. This bad news about Mike has finally brought me out from the shadows. I've been happy to lurk here -- as you seem to call it -- at random times over the years. I've enjoyed some of the spray and been surprisingly often moved by straight-up truth and inspired words.
I'm saddened by the news of Mike. But also not too surprised. He had been a Meth head for years. Not sure how much, but at times it seemed plenty. He talked openly and frankly about it the last time I saw him, quite by chance on the streets of Lone Pine. Must have been two years ago now. We talked for at least an hour and I left with a good warm feeling for my old friend.
Mike had always been incredibly positive, strong helpful person. Also straight shooter. call you right out on your stuff. And a bit on the edge underneath. Even frank about that though, with his demons and their dark roots.
His climbing record on the Eastside was amazing. And probably beyond. I too would like to see a FA list.
We worked intensely together for a year making the video Moving Over Stone. We could never have come out with it without each other's help, guidance, support. As we edited offline I lived most of the time for months with him in his creaky, prefab log cabin in Mammoth. It was hard but mostly incredibly positive. We helped each other, called out the other one's bad moves, backtracked, moved on. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Working shoulder to shoulder in a back room with rickety second-hand video decks. Mike was the operator, I didn't have a clue how to electronically make it happen. But I'll tell you, even on his first video he was a master. He pulled mirtacles out of laughable old Beta deck. That was the analog video standard of the day, but what we could afford would barely function. If you're editing to music, ya gotta come down on the beat. But the deck was mechanically half a second off. Mike would count frames, move it half a second, start it up, make the cut, check the sound, and have to start it over. Just to fail to get one cut to land on the beat of the music, the good sounds the great world-beat band Special Fun gave us for free. He sat there patiently making that hapen for hours, then finally we would run out of the house raving for pizza and beer. Come back and do it all over again deep into the night. That's the kind of devotion Mike Strassman poured into the making of the first-ever rock video to hit the streets. (Well, second-ever, actually. John Long beat us to the punch by a few weeks.)
Gotta cut this off and make breakfast for my kids, but I'll be back. Like I started out here, I'm thrilled and honored to join my community. About time, though it sucks that it took Mike checking out to jar me off the sidelines.
Peace to you, Mike.
Doug
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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ever since I saw this below route name, I wondered where the name came from... sorry the knowledge had to come at this price.
"Mumbles the Guzzler" 10c* (r)
FA Mike Strassman, Scott Ayers (ground up)
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b.p.
climber
bishop
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I cannot admit to any history,
any affiliation, any origin.
All history is another history
even my own history.
There are so many missing threads
in every web, in every weave
that they make an all together different fabric
in another space.
The same for all things.
Any which one can be replaced by another:
a flower by a hammer,
a day by a night,
one love for another love.
And all of men's actions
are like empty birds
who can at any moment
fill themselves with images
and fly off in whatever direction.
"Eleventh Vertical Poem"
Roberto Juarroz
(translated from Spanish)
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sister mercy
Trad climber
Eastside
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Thanks, Doug, for the honest and moving words on Mike Strassman. Though I didn't know him personally, I've climbed many of his excellent routes in his honor. There are always a little run out, almost like, as you put it, his life.
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Mike Strassman's Sister
climber
Massachusetts
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Wow! It's been really great to read all these comments. We have a blog at http://www.debracowan.com/mike/ where folks can also post memories and comments. We will also post on this blog our plans for a Mike Memorial when they are finalised and any other news that would be of public interest.
Someone earlier asked about a list of Mike's First Ascents. I would love to have that information as well.
Doug R: glad to see you (read you?) again after some 20 years or so and thanks for the tribute to Mike. I recall meeting you on a trip to Mammoth back in the 80's. We went bouldering with you and Mike (and your son?) and my ex-husband and I played traditional South American folk music while you guys climbed :-)
Again, if anyone wants to contact me directly you can do so through my website at http://www.debracowan.com/contact.html
Again, thanks to all for your love and support in an extremely difficult time.
In peace and love,
Debra Cowan
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Mike's other sister
climber
Sandpoint, Idaho
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This is Judy York, Mike's other sister. Mike and I are barely two years apart and spent most of our childhood as playmates. We were very close. We even lived together in Tucson during college for a time. Then we both left around 1983, me to Idaho and he to UCLA first, then to the Eastern Sierra. There was a time when Mike was torn between living in Arizona and the Sierra, but ultimately, the Sierra was the place he loved best (you can thank our Dad for instigating that with childhood trips into the area).
Yes, Mike had some troubled times in the last few years, and our family struggled with how best to help him. How ironic that he should leave us just as he was seeing better times. My last conversation with him was a good one, and I felt as though I was connecting with Mike like I hadn't in a while. Thank you everyone for remembering the best in Mike, as well as all the kind words and funny stories. We hope to have an announcement about where and when a memorial will be held--current thoughts are early August, somewhere over there near Mammoth or Lone Pine. Please stay tuned.
And here's another Pink Floyd tune with significance in our family..."How I wish, how I wish you were here..."
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Mike Strassman's Sister
climber
Massachusetts
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Jul 11, 2007 - 09:41pm PT
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We have posted an obituary written by my brother Neil Strassman.
It can be observed on the blog at http://www.debracowan.com/mike/
We will let folks know the date and location of the Memorial for Mike.
Thanks again for all of your wonderful thoughts and memories.
Debra Cowan
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Gunkie
climber
East Coast US
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Jul 11, 2007 - 10:32pm PT
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Very, very sorry to hear this news. Mike's book about how to climb big walls in the early 90's got us up the Nose. I loved his interjected stories of losing a contact [lens] and using frozen water bottles to keep the beer cold. We carried a roasted chicken in a foil wrap up to Heart Ledges while on the Salathe because of Mike's stories.
BTW, his partner 'Sprague' on the Nose [in the big walls book]... was that a 'pen name' derived from 'Sprague Road' that is seen on the way to the valley on RT120 or is that a real name? I always wondered.
I wish that I had met him.
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mary colombo
Social climber
san francisco, california
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Jul 22, 2007 - 03:05pm PT
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Mike was a strong spirit, and his spirit lives on in the BIG WALLS he loved................peace,love & light--mary
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