Dear Friend of RD:

As you may be aware, our friend Raymond David "RD" Caughron died on April 26, 2002 in his attempt to climb Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world. A memorial for RD was held on June 15 in Kensington, CA.

Remembering RD

• A poem for RD by Gerry Dienel
• Echo of a Friend, a poem by Tom Higgins
• A compilation of replies to the memorial email from friends
• Obituary from San Francisco Chronicle, May 8, 2002

Makalu 2002

• RD's Makalu Expedition Report, April 7, 2002 -- RD's trip report after climbing Island Peak
• RD's Makalu Expedition Report, April 17, 2002 -- RD's report after arrival at base camp
• Report of RD's death, April 30, 2002
• Report from Goncalo Velez, RD's climbing partner on Makalu
• Pictures of memorial site Makalu base camp

Stories and Chronologies of Adventures with RD

• A few memories about RD, by Steve Roper
• Good Bye RD, stories of adventures by Scott Edmondson
• Knocking about the mountains with RD, Chris Jones
• Ascent of Mt Alberta, RD and Gerry
• Chronology of adventures with RD, by Gene & Betsy White
• Some significant trips with RD, by Gerry Dienel
• Chronology of ski trips and climbing adventures with RD, by Gus Benner
• Memories of RD from long-time friend from Germany, Robert Klampfer (460kb PDF)

Photo Gallery

• Photo of RD and his daughter Heather, Oct 1988, Yosemite Valley (El Capitan in background)
• A photo of RD and pioneering woman climber Marjory Farquhar, by Peter Farquhar
• A photo of RD, Allen Steck, and Conrad Anker, by Linda McMillan
• A selection of photos of RD and friends
• A collection of RD's photos from his Kanjchanjunga Expedition in 2001
• Spoof cover of National Geographic, used as RD's Christmas card in 1997
  

A loose knit commitee of RD's friends volunteered to help put together the memorial event and this website including RD's brother Sam Caughron, Susan Henke, Jerry Bock, Gus Benner, Gene and Betsy White, Paul Romero, Dick Duane, Chris Jones, Randy Spurrier, Rick Millican, Steve Roper, Allen Steck, Jane Koski, and others.