RIP Fred Beckey

New York Times article

Fred Beckey, widely hailed as North America's most prolific climber and mountaineer, died Monday in the Seattle home of his friend and partner, Megan Bond. He was 94.

"Our deep friendship spanned six countries, ten western states, hundreds of bivouacs, and travel over many tens of thousands of shared vertical feet and lateral miles. We spent over a decade together climbing, exploring mountains, wilderness terrains, remote regions, and engaged in shared intellectual and literary pursuits.", Megan Bond


"He had a passion for seeking the unknown that is probably unparalleled," said past president of the American Alpine Club, Jim McCarthy.

www.outsideonline.com/2256561/climbing-legend-fred-beckey-dies

Def an original. He makes up a chunk of my bookshelf. I just caught up on the obits published but my favorite so far was the r&i piece about him napping while his partners climbed early winters and in the comments some lady tried to wake him to see if he was ok. RIP. An inspiration and a reason to get some perspective when I complain about aches and pains at my age.

I'm looking forward to getting a chance to see the Dirtbag movie. A legendary character who will be missed

Remembering Fred Beckey:
www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/nov/12/sp...s-perspective-on-cl/
Yvon Chouinard evidently supported him financially.

https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F37727941%2F38578985670%2F1%2Foriginal.jpg?w=800&rect=0%2C80%2C654%2C327&s=9234b6eb69078be2e5b47845951e455c

A public celebration of the life of Fred Beckey is scheduled for Sunday, December 3, 2017 at The Mountaineers in Seattle. Doors open at 1pm. Admission is free, but space may be limited. For tickets, visit this site:

www.eventbrite.com/e/remembering-fred-be...-tickets-39879444492

I've only been climbing for 56 years, ever since I was a freshman in college. First semester, rock climbing student; second semester, rock climbing instructor. My next climbing day, this Wednesday, will my 104th so far this year. I remember once when Fred visited the Redmond Vertical World, a great surprise for some of us--but most people in the gym had never heard of him. My photos of Fred (plus a photo from someone else):

www.flickr.com/photos/nordique/sets/72157628804816359/

One of my photos of Fred at Vertical World in Seattle, cropped, was used in the Wikipedia entry for Fred.

Next round of tour dates for Dirtbag the Movie.  Seattle dates:  Mar. 8 - Vertical World.  Apr. 6-12 - SIFF Film Center.  May 14 - WAC.  Tomorrow in Tacoma at UPS.

Early 2018 Dirtbag tour dates