Re: Tribute to Steve Gladbach
Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:42 am
I only met Steve in person once. Two friends and I started hiking up Crestone Peak and about a mile into the hike a group caught up to us. Steve was leading a few people up Crestone Peak. I don't remember who they were but it reinforces what Steve was willing to do for others.
For one friend with me this was a very emotional day because her boyfriend lost his life on the traverse a few years prior. She hadn't been back to the Crestones since it happened and came with me because it was one of my last few 14ers and she was ready to go back. It turns out that Steve had been involved in the SAR mission in some fashion (I can't remember the details) and knew what had happened. They shared a conversation about it as we hiked and I think it helped her to process her emotions. As we hiked past the area where they found him it got very real for her and I think having Steve there was a comforting presence. We eventually got ahead of them and summitted before his group did but chatted with them on the way down.
When I finally climbed Thunder myself it was hard not to think about Steve that whole day. I didn't know him well except his online presence but it still felt very real being on that mountain after his accident. He was an incredible influence on many people on this site including me.
For one friend with me this was a very emotional day because her boyfriend lost his life on the traverse a few years prior. She hadn't been back to the Crestones since it happened and came with me because it was one of my last few 14ers and she was ready to go back. It turns out that Steve had been involved in the SAR mission in some fashion (I can't remember the details) and knew what had happened. They shared a conversation about it as we hiked and I think it helped her to process her emotions. As we hiked past the area where they found him it got very real for her and I think having Steve there was a comforting presence. We eventually got ahead of them and summitted before his group did but chatted with them on the way down.
When I finally climbed Thunder myself it was hard not to think about Steve that whole day. I didn't know him well except his online presence but it still felt very real being on that mountain after his accident. He was an incredible influence on many people on this site including me.