Rest in Peace BBG

[goingup]

I feel compelled to put a memorial up on the dot com because Bret volunteered at several CFI trail building days and was a part of this community. Some of you may know him and have spent time with him. 32 year old Bret Brachman Goldstein of Montrose, Colorado was the man who tragically passed away on Mount Sneffels on Wednesday evening. Here is a link to what I am sure is the first of many articles that will be published.
https://www.ouraynews.com/2026/06/15/mo ... -fatality/

This is not what I want him to be remembered by.

I met Bret in 2021 at the Golden Mountain Runners run club. We quickly became friends and started climbing every morning before work at Earth Treks. Our friendship bloomed and we ran together, skied together and most importantly bush wacked together. Bret said yes to any stupid idea I had and always showed up ready to drive the nastiest roads and wack through the densest veg to get up some 12er no one cares about with me. We would talk about everything and anything and I always left our days together feeling full. If you know me, you know I am a total recluse and don't say that about just anyone. Most people drain me. But Bret had a way. While many people will remember Bret as a climber, skier, runner, mountain biker, trail volunteer, or friend, what I will remember most is the way he moved through the world. Bret lived completely free. He embraced adventure, sought out wild places, and built a life around experiences rather than possessions. He was never chasing recognition—he simply loved being outside and sharing those experiences with others. Bret was one of the kindest people I have ever known. He had a calm, steady presence that made people feel at ease. He was quick to laugh, easy to talk to, and genuinely interested in the people around him. He had a way of making strangers feel like friends and friends feel like family. He was also incredibly generous. Bret was the type of person who would give the shirt off his back to someone who needed it without thinking twice. He showed up when people needed help, offered encouragement when it was needed most, and gave far more of himself than he ever asked for in return.

In February of 2022 Bret, myself and a group of front rangers took a vacation and snagged an air bnb in Ridgway. We ice climbed and back country skied for a week. By the end of it, I had decided it was time to finally leave the front range. The San Juans was where I wanted to be sooner rather than later. Two months after, I bought my first home in Montrose. Bret moved me. Towed a U-Haul for the first time in his life. He helped me change every lock and door hinge in my new house. He went thrifting with me and used his Tundra to drag furniture into my new house. He spent weeks with me exploring the Black Canyon backyard, the weird crags around Montrose County, helped me navigate the insane process of getting certified at the Montrose Rec Center climbing wall-inside joke of ours and of course running up and down Mount Sneffels. We both joked the only reason we moved to Montrose was so we could do the SW ridge whenever we wanted. Bret moved to Montrose two months later and bought a house just down the road. We climbed Sneffels together three more times. I want everyone to know that Mount Sneffels was Bret's favorite place in the entire world. He passed on his favorite mountain in his favorite place. He has probably scampered up and down that damn mountain upwards of 20+ times.

The mountains and trails were a huge part of his life, but they never defined him. What defined Bret was his character—his kindness, humility, compassion, and sense of adventure. He left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
I know many in the 14ers community crossed paths with Bret over the years, whether on a trail, a summit, a volunteer project, a happy hour, or somewhere in between. His absence will be deeply felt.
Thank you, Bret, for the memories, the laughter, the kindness, and the reminder to live fully and generously. You will be missed more than words can express.

Do not stand by my grave, and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep—
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand by my grave, and cry—
I am not there. I did not die

That is where I will always find you Bret, in the wind, on the diamond glinted snow, in the rain, in the stars....

[DeTour]

Beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing it.

[Woodie Hopper]

Thank you for posting your tribute. I'm very sorry you lost a friend and I think we all lost a kindred spirit.

[climbingcue]

Sorry for your loss, thank you for sharing all the beautiful and amazing things about Bret. I am sorry I never had the opportunity to meet him.

[Ed_Groves]

Thank you for the warm commemoration of Bret's life and what he meant to you. My deepest condolences to the OP, Bret's family, and his friends.

[mschmalz]

I am so sorry to hear this news. When you lose a friend this way, it will stay with you forever. Please feel free to reach out if you need anything.

[Jorts]

I’m sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a great person and adventure partner.

[desertdog]

Lovely words! Sorry for your loss! Richard

[Dobsons]

So sorry that you lost a great friend

[dillonsarnelli]

Thanks for posting this K. I met Bret back in 17. We did Griz coulior together. He was quite possibly one of the fastest humans I’ve ever met. I did my best to keep up, but it wasn’t until the summit and the romp down that I got a chance to talk and get to know him. I remember that day well. Great day in the hills. Great person for sure. In the years since, he sure did live his life in the SJ’s to the fullest. I always thought it was cool that the 2 of you became friends in the years that followed. RIP Bret

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[goingup]

Thanks for posting this K. I met Bret back in 17. We did Griz coulior together. He was quite possibly one of the fastest humans I’ve ever met. I did my best to keep up, but it wasn’t until the summit and the romp down that I got a chance to talk and get to know him. I remember that day well. Great day in the hills. Great person for sure. In the years since, he sure did live his life in the SJ’s to the fullest. I always thought it was cool that the 2 of you became friends in the years that followed. RIP Bret

Thank you so much for sharing this memory Dillon. Really appreciate it. And yes, he was the fastest human known to man. That was Bret.

[Boggy B]

Thanks for posting this memorial. He sounds like a great friend. Sorry for your loss!