Rest in Peace BBG

[Jschramm87]

RIP
Beautiful tribute and a tragic loss.
Thanks for sharing what he was like.

[stuartcohen8]

I had the pleasure of Bret's company on a handful of adventures while he lived in Denver. Not many people would say yes to bushwhacking through willows and moose droppings to tag a bunch of unnamed 12ers in Lost Creek Wilderness. Like others note, he had a way of drawing out conversation that could include debate but remain accepting. Intellectually and physically, he was just an impressive human.

[jscully205]

Thank you for posting this tribute thread, Kim. I was deeply saddened to hear of Bret's passing. Though the time I knew him was through you and relatively brief, he was absolutely a guy to remember. He embodied everything a mountain athlete is: talented, strong, humble, and more importantly, he was genuinely a good person. I admired his patience and equanimity. He had a way of making everyone around him feel good just by being present.

A man taken from us far too soon. I never imagined I'd read about him in the news for anything other than setting an FKT somewhere. I'm glad he found his place in Montrose and got to live the life he wanted - and that you two were able to share that connection there.

I'll treasure the experiences we shared - the Ridgeway backcountry skiing and ice climbing trip, that hut trip with the brutally cold night before, and the buddy heater catching on fire in the back of the truck where you two were sleeping, (it also means a lot to know that the photo I took of him on that hut trip became his Facebook profile picture), and the Moab weekend where we pulled off the rare trifecta of biking, climbing, and skiing all in one go. Those are memories I'll always hold onto.

Deb and I send our deepest condolences. We know his loss has hit you especially hard, and we're thinking of you.

[goingup]

Thank you for posting this tribute thread, Kim. I was deeply saddened to hear of Bret's passing. Though the time I knew him was through you and relatively brief, he was absolutely a guy to remember. He embodied everything a mountain athlete is: talented, strong, humble, and more importantly, he was genuinely a good person. I admired his patience and equanimity. He had a way of making everyone around him feel good just by being present.

A man taken from us far too soon. I never imagined I'd read about him in the news for anything other than setting an FKT somewhere. I'm glad he found his place in Montrose and got to live the life he wanted - and that you two were able to share that connection there.

I'll treasure the experiences we shared - the Ridgeway backcountry skiing and ice climbing trip, that hut trip with the brutally cold night before, and the buddy heater catching on fire in the back of the truck where you two were sleeping, (it also means a lot to know that the photo I took of him on that hut trip became his Facebook profile picture), and the Moab weekend where we pulled off the rare trifecta of biking, climbing, and skiing all in one go. Those are memories I'll always hold onto.

Deb and I send our deepest condolences. We know his loss has hit you especially hard, and we're thinking of you.

Thank you so much for sharing these memories, they were great ones and he definitely loved spending time with you! The buddy heater catching on fire in the back of the truck hahahahaha, how could I forget that one? I have never dived into a -2 degree bank of snow so quickly.

[blazintoes]

Kay,

I didn’t know Bret, he sounds like one of those rare people who genuinely loved the mountains, adventure, and the people around him. I admired your quip about bushwhacking together. There is something about suffering through the same ridiculous terrain, weather, setbacks, and uncertainty that creates bonds unlike anything else. Friends who suffer together in the mountains are bonded for life.

I’ve been joking for a while that my personal motto is “Life, Liberty, Bushwhacking and Chossaneering for All,” but there is some truth in it. The best mountain partnerships are built in those messy, unglamorous moments when you’re pushing through the willows, post holing through snow (or people)
and sharing those experiences together.

From your words he sounds like the kind of person who understood that. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. Thinking of you.

Amy

[globreal]

goingup,
Thanks for your tribute.
Losing a friend is hard. Losing a mountaineering friend seems even harder.
May God carry you and keep you during this season of grief and loss.
So sorry for your loss.