Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
RP3
Big Wall climber
Twain Harte
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 22, 2014 - 10:06am PT
|
Bill Putnam, my uncle, passed away the other evening. I believe many of you on supertopo may have known him. He was a prominent member of the AAC for over 50 years and did a gazillion first ascents, dominantly in the Selkirks but also throughout many other ranges in the western hemisphere. We love him and he will be missed.
|
|
grey thunder
Trad climber
Hanover, NH
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 10:27am PT
|
Roger,
Many people will miss him. He was a doer and contributor in many positive ways. Writing guides, helping as a volunteer working with UIAA, The AAC, AMC and others over his life time. I'm one that will miss him in so many ways.
Peace be with the family and with Bill.
Bruce Franks
|
|
this just in
climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 11:01am PT
|
RP3, sorry to hear about your family's loss. Great picture and cool to have a strong climbing history in your family.
Regards,
Justin
|
|
Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 11:10am PT
|
Roger- I am very sorry for your loss and my sincerest condolences to your family. Bill was a truly great man and an accomplished climber admired by many including me.
I had been following this situation through Jim McCarthy and George Bain.
I had hoped to interview him this year but fell short on timing. I did have the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago at the Seattle AAC meeting where I accepted the Brower Award on behalf of Tom Frost.
I am glad that you are able to look after Bill's legacy as a climber yourself as that isn't always the case.
|
|
jstan
climber
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 11:21am PT
|
Often I hear people being told their mold was broken before they were made. I got to see your work at Facelift. I have concluded Bill's mold has not been broken.
|
|
steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 11:51am PT
|
Had the opportunity to meet him at an AAC event a few years back.
He was a gracious and very nice person and lived a life fuller than most.
My condolences to his family and loved ones.
|
|
Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 11:59am PT
|
Sorry for your loss Roger.
I just saw an announcement on the AAC feed on FB and immediately thought about your name not knowing if there was a relation.
Best to you,
M
|
|
donnski
Mountain climber
Nanoose Bay, BC
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 01:26pm PT
|
Sorry to read the news, from what I know of him, he was a good man. I have stayed at Battle Abbey too, and skied those same slopes
|
|
wheatBeer
Social climber
TheBronx
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 01:45pm PT
|
I meet Bill a few times over the last 20 years.
His support of the AAC and the mountaineering is unmatched.
His climbing library is only matched by the AAC.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 01:50pm PT
|
hey there say, RP3... oh my... very sad to hear this, for you and your family and loved ones, ...
we lost my father, last year, during a hard time, and just went family was going to come home for the holiday...
prayers and wishes of strength for you and your family and loved ones, at this hard time...
god bless to you... thank you for sharing, for the folks that knew him...
and for folks like, to learn about hm...
|
|
hobo_dan
Social climber
Minnesota
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 02:53pm PT
|
I always liked the story about how he tried registering his dog Pinkham into the AAC
|
|
steveA
Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 06:14pm PT
|
Back in 1975, I was a college student during the day, and working an 8 hour shift at night at GE, as a machinist. The plant had a one week shutdown, in July, and I wanted to go join John Bouchard, in Chamonix, to climb the Walker Spur. John was over in Chamonix, on an international climbers exchange.
I really needed 2 weeks, and the management at GE refused to give me the extra week. Someone suggested I call Bill Putnam, who owned a TV station in Springfield. Bill told me that he would give GE some bad press, or something to that effect, if they didn't give me the extra week. In short order, I got the extra week, to the surprise of my night shift boss, and I did get up the Walker Spur.
Just last year, at an AAC dinner, I thanked Bill for that favor.
|
|
Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 07:25pm PT
|
what a wonderful life, nearly spanning the entire history of climbing in the US...
from AAJ 1970 p139
Mount Washington, Pinnacle Gully. On February 1, 1970 a most beautiful winter day, I was privileged to partake of what most
climbers, thirty years ago, would have declared impossible, and what even today is improbable. Jim McCarthy, with myself as
second, and in the reassuring company of Rob Wallace, led the entire Pinnacle Gully without cutting a single step. The climb
was well secured with ice screws and various pitons; but the application of new techniques and equipment, plus a favorable
build-up of ice was all that was necessary. The elapsed time was appropriately reduced as well, and we were back at the car
at Pinkham Notch well before sundown.
William Lowell Putnam
|
|
Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 07:48pm PT
|
I still have a letter from Bill Putnam thanking me for submitting my new route on Idaho's Elephant's Perch to the AAJ, back in 1977, & asking for more details.
Sorry I never had the pleasure of meeting or climbing with a great man.
Condolences to family & friends.
|
|
gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 08:32pm PT
|
I'm sure you made your uncle proud, Roger.
|
|
TomCochrane
Trad climber
Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 09:12pm PT
|
i spent a week or so camped next to him in the Bugaboos in the early '60s in non-stop pouring rainstorms...our main daily activities were brewing tea and using our ice axes to dig trenches around our tents directing water flow away from soggy sleeping bags...eventually the clouds parted and we got in some climbing...
|
|
mtnyoung
Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2014 - 09:32pm PT
|
Sorry he's gone Roger, but not sorry for the things he did and the way he lived his life. Wow.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!