Very sad news. Thoughts for his family and friends during this difficult time.

Oh shit. I'm sorry. My condolences go out to family and friends, (and his partner, if he had one) as well.

GO

It was believed that he was with a partner.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081009/NEWS/810090335

Wow, that sucks. My condolences to his family and friends.

It is indeed very very sad. I just can't stop thinking about his family. I lost my father when he was at about that age (cancer) - it is never ever easy to lose a loved one, even more so when suddenly and tragically.

I opened this thread dreading the customary psychobable of the why and how and what ifs - I was relieved to see that this thread did not go in that direction at all.

However, it is a sombre reminder that climbing is dangerous, period, no matter what, and that we just can't pretend it isn't.

I just talked to my husband, who was hanging out tonight with a relative of the person who belayed the victim. The leader put in a piece 10 feet up, and then, because it was easy ground, continued 20 feet up beyond it. He was a very experienced climber who probably didn't think he needed to put in lots of gear on easy ground, and because he was out of sight, his partner doesn't know why he fell. But because of the run-out, it was groundfall. Turns out I am an acquaintance of the belayer, so I'll be giving him my condolences, I hear it was his best friend who died. Heartbreaking. I just can't imagine how traumatic it must be to witness your best friend dying like that. It's just heartbreaking.

Jannette

Very tragic and very sad.

There was a partner. Here the story from his hometown paper.

Rest in peace.

That's friggin sucks, feel bad for the family and friends for our brother climber we lost. Rest In Peace.

May he rest in peace and his family find comfort.