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apogee
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 12, 2009 - 07:26pm PT
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Jim Fairchild, a Riverside native and mountaineer who helped found the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit in 1961, died Sunday morning at his home in Riverside, his wife said. He was 82.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/riverside/20090208-1727-rs-fairchild-obit.html
Well-known in the mountain community of Idyllwild, Jim was involved with hundreds of search and rescue operations in the San Jacinto mountains, and on Tahquitz & Suicide Rocks. His knowledge of the local mountains and lore was encyclopedic- he had something on the order of 130+ ascents of San Jacinto Peak to his name, the last being just a couple of years ago.
An important piece of Southern California mountain history has been lost, but will not be forgotten.
Edit: A much better link to information about Jim:
http://rmru.org/missions/2009/jim-fairchild.html
(Thanks, HighGravity)
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Thorgon
Big Wall climber
Sedro Woolley, WA
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Feb 12, 2009 - 08:16pm PT
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Wow- thanks for the post, that is unfortunate news!
Sounds like he left a legacy,
Thor
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Tan Slacks
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Feb 12, 2009 - 08:40pm PT
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I am so sorry to hear this. I knew Jim very well during the 70s and 80s while living in Idyllwild. He was a wonderful man to go on walks and hikes with. Full of knowledge and even more full of kindness.
From Cindy and I, we send our prayers to his family and friends.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Feb 12, 2009 - 08:59pm PT
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I knew Jim a bit when I lived there.
Sorry to hear the news--
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Feb 12, 2009 - 09:03pm PT
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Sorry to hear we've lost a great one.
My condolences to his family.
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DonC
climber
CA
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Feb 12, 2009 - 10:09pm PT
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I knew Jim and went on many rescues with him in the mid-70's to early 80's during my short time on RMRU. He was an amazing guy with a wealth of practical outdoor knowledge. I learned a lot from him, he was a great guy...
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HighGravity
Trad climber
Southern California
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Feb 12, 2009 - 11:22pm PT
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Oh, man this is a blow to RMRU and the local outdoor community. Jim had more knowledge of the areas around Idyllwild, then anyone I know. His stories of how rescues used to be done were wonderful.
http://rmru.org/missions/2009/jim-fairchild.html
RIP
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Fogarty
Trad climber
So Cal
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Feb 13, 2009 - 01:40am PT
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I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fairchild in the winter of 1982, I was working at the Palm Spring Nordic ski center atop The Tram most people who worked there where climbers, my good friend John Wallace and I were given status as State park aids and I was a EMT they welcomed our response on rescues, we were always the first on location, I was introduced to Jim on the way down the tram in the earl morning after my first BODY recovery, he thanked me and John for our efforts and personally thanked us on our climbing ability, descending over 1500 feet of 40 to 80 ice and snow, at midnight you at RMRU may remember this was the recovery that Bernie I think his name MR. HOT SHOT raped of a wall in the dark and stabbed his partner in the leg with his ice axe... We found the body on our way out in the morning, this was my only experience with him but I had the pleasure of working on at The ski center for four more winters I was able to assist on some rescues with RMRU and the park service it was great experience that I later moved to Yosemite and Mr. Dill was cool to meet me and liked that I was an EMT I helped on some rescues and then just stuck to the rocks. I live in the Palm Spring area still and RMRU for so Cal is top notch program thanks to guys like Jim, RIP.
Mike Fogarty
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