There was an interesting story in the Denver Post today about climber David Worthington who died Monday after falling on Humbolt Peak, a 14er in the Colorado Sangres. The story is a reminder of the possible dangers we can face while climbing in the winter/early spring, but it is also an example of how friends in the online community can come together. The contributors of 14ers.com, a forum I know a lot of us here also visit, have been praying for him over the past couple weeks.
I did not know David personally, but I extend my condolences to his family and friends as well as to our brothers and sisters over at 14ers.com.
I had spoken to David quite a bit over the past year about ultralight gear, hikes, etc. He was an enthusiastic individual and always lived life to the fullest. He was always willing to give detailed advice and encourage his fellow climbers. May 7 was a day I will not soon forget. I also lost a friend in a hunting accident and three generations of my family (myself included) almost went down in a plane off the coast of Santa Barbara. Now I have to take a step back from life and revamp my priorities. I'm not sure that I'll ever see life quite the same.
wow. I've read so many of his trip reports on 14ers.com, and remember looking forward to his summiting all of the 14ers.
Any death on a mountain is tragic, especially since most victims are out seeking recreation. It goes to show you how fragile we all are, and how poor decisions can be fatal.
I know that on my ascent of the loft route on Longs (during my tour de longs last Aug), I made some pretty unsafe decisions while getting off-route near the palisades, traversing some sketchy rock w/o ropes. These pitches are class 4.
Obviously I made it out ok, but thinking back I still get the chills about how dumb that was. I had been married 3 months, and shutter to think of the mess one bad handhold would have left behind for my wife and family.
Thanks for the link, Josh. What a heart-wrenching story. I'm always affected whenever a fellow climber dies, I was particularly interested in this story since I provided some forecast support to the rescue. It sometimes seems the more experienced you are the easier it is to make costly mistakes. It gives you the confidence to push your safety limits. I've seen this happen so many times over the past few years that I'm probably over-cautious now, it's beginning to rob me of the joy I used to find in taking those chances. LIke everything else in life, you have to find the right balance.
I have been a mostly a lurker on 14ers.com for the past couple years, and I followed all the activity about David's story from start to finish last week. It was quite an emotional roller coaster for sure, first realizing it was someone everyone on the forum knew well, to thinking he was down and all was fine, to finally finding out he had died. I never met him personally, but felt I knew him through his many great posts. He will be missed!
Scott, sorry for your loss also, and hope you and your family are all OK!!!!
Discussion
5 repliesI did not know David personally, but I extend my condolences to his family and friends as well as to our brothers and sisters over at 14ers.com.
Denver Post Story: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5883240
14ers.com http://www.14ers.com
Any death on a mountain is tragic, especially since most victims are out seeking recreation. It goes to show you how fragile we all are, and how poor decisions can be fatal.
I know that on my ascent of the loft route on Longs (during my tour de longs last Aug), I made some pretty unsafe decisions while getting off-route near the palisades, traversing some sketchy rock w/o ropes. These pitches are class 4.
Obviously I made it out ok, but thinking back I still get the chills about how dumb that was. I had been married 3 months, and shutter to think of the mess one bad handhold would have left behind for my wife and family.
Be safe, be smart.
Absolutely INCREDIBLE photos of the rescue effort posted here:
http://www.hikingintherockies.com/TM/talusmonkey.htm
I have been a mostly a lurker on 14ers.com for the past couple years, and I followed all the activity about David's story from start to finish last week. It was quite an emotional roller coaster for sure, first realizing it was someone everyone on the forum knew well, to thinking he was down and all was fine, to finally finding out he had died. I never met him personally, but felt I knew him through his many great posts. He will be missed!
Scott, sorry for your loss also, and hope you and your family are all OK!!!!