Friends (Loss of friends)

[globreal]

I have been reading THE LEDGE, a book about Jim Davidson and Mike Price's climb and tragedy on Mount Rainier. The two fell into a deep crevasse and Mike passed away in the 80 foot fall. Jim recounts the story and loss of his close friend in this book.

It's been an emotional read for me, bringing up when I lost a close friend on a climb. In fact, it's caused me to reflect back on the loss of four climbing friends.

Being involved with this climbing community has allowed me to make some incredible friendships. Many wonderful memories have been etched into my mind both on and off the mountain. Reading THE LEDGE has brought back many of those memories, as well as making me painfully aware that life is short and friends are priceless.

For some reason I was drawn to read this today:
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance.
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I even re-read those verses applying them to times in the mountains…whoa…that was some introspection there!
Anyway, I think that reading between the lines, I can find something like this:
a time for friendships to be established, a time for friendships to be remembered.

Often, we don't realize the friendships we have until they are gone. Can anyone relate to this?


I was bless to be allowed to make these videos for my various climbing friends. I thought I would post them here as there are always new people coming to this site. Let them be a reminder to us all, that life is short, we could be only one step away from a fatal fall, and that friends are priceless.

Steve Gladbach
[youtubevideo]watch?v=FcTXy9_2pSk&list=UUDbSAf-OLV8W7VsiJK2syLg[/youtubevideo]
Terry Mathews
[youtubevideo]watch?v=fk1lGUmrPvs[/youtubevideo]
Jim DiNapoli
[youtubevideo]watch?v=U3R5ksNfMfU[/youtubevideo]
Kevin Hayne
[youtubevideo]watch?v=GakwnJiO1zA[/youtubevideo]
(Ironicially, Kevin passed passed away on Little Bear the summer following his making of this video.)

ONWARDS!
Britt

[Kiefer]

This is a WELL-TIMED post Britt. The way this season has started, I think a good dose of nostalgia for fallen friends and consequences will benefit all of us.
They were all my friends and like random memories, their faces come rushing by at strange times that seem to have no correlation.
One of my strongest memories is taking Kevin winter camping for his first time to Holy Cross. I still remember, quite vividly, talking about mountains, camping techniques and God's place in our lives. We never made the summit but had a good, bonding trip.

Thanks for posting these videos. They make me introspective & pensive but for the right reasons.

[goingup]

This is beautiful Brit.

[SikYou]

Awesome. Thank you!

[MountainHiker]

Thank you for posting this Britt.

Tossing a Colorado rock into the ocean for Mike Cormier, near Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Lost last year on Challenger.

[mtgirl]

Beautiful tribute, Britt. Incredible lives gone, but never, ever forgotten. We've lost some truly special friends from this community.

[dillonsarnelli]

very nice, Britt.

[bunny256]

These are lovely, Britt. Sadly I never got to meet any of these guys but their legacy lives on through their invaluable contributions to the site and from these beautiful tribute videos. Thank you

[TaylorHolt]

Very well-said Britt. While the pain of losing friends in the mountains (and off the mountains) is difficult to overcome, it's important to remember that a shared love for the mountains and for adventure is what brings us together in the first place. Without these magical places, many of us would have never met and never shared the amazing experiences that we have together. These experiences and relationships enrich our lives more than we can quantify. It's important to remember the good times and know that those we have lost in this community have lived very rich lives.

[MatB]

Thanks Britt, your compassion and kindness is a constant in this community.

[kushrocks]

Beautiful Britt.

In memory of Rob Jansen lost to us August 25th 2012. The first photo is one I took of Rob, with Jeff, James, and Greg. I remember him telling me how much he liked the photo which still remains his Facebook profile background photo to this day.

The second one is my favorite photo with Rob Jansen (far left) as he liteally dragged us up Humbolt after climbing the Needle earlier in the day. He was all smiles while I had to force mine.


Rest in peace my friend.

[BenfromtheEast]

And this is the video Kushrocks made for Rob. Thank you, Britt, for all your efforts.

Here's to friendships remembered: