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Anastasia
Trad climber
California
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Jul 18, 2007 - 07:45pm PT
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Dear Marci and Nikki,
I will never forget how you and Michael helped me through the trade show accident that changed my life. Michael was one of the first people I called knowing that if anyone could help the situation, he could. God, I never expected to be in this place where I need to reach out back to you.
I had the pleasure to know through Michael that you two are the most wonderful and inspirational women on this planet. He lived and breathed through you.
I believe this continues in an alternate existence where Michael is doing his own version of maximizing the experience.
I am sure you will continue to celebrate his life with every step you take until you meet again. As for myself, I will never stop being affected by his existence as my friend and mentor. I believe that I live a little brighter and a little larger for it.
Anastasia Frangos
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Jul 18, 2007 - 08:06pm PT
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Rubi -- those are some outstanding shots. Amazing, really.
Ed
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nynz
climber
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Jul 18, 2007 - 10:08pm PT
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rubi,
thanks for sharing those
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Fluoride
Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
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Jul 18, 2007 - 11:47pm PT
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Rubi thanks for sharing those pictures. They really captured all that was Michael. Michael spoke of you Outlaws in his Climbing magazine blog.
Patrick, thanks for posting the article on his Irish memorial. It sounds like the perfect way to honor such a great soul, and the people of his ancestral homeland doing it in such a traditional way.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Jul 18, 2007 - 11:49pm PT
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Words escape me.
What an incredible human being. I wish peace and comfort for his family and friends.
So sad. He accomplished so much.
Glenn
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Jul 18, 2007 - 11:53pm PT
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Rubi, those are so special. I wish I had some photos of Michael like that.
Mal
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Fixdpin
Trad climber
Porterville,CA
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Jul 19, 2007 - 12:20am PT
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If Michael is gone it will be a huge loss! He is a wonderful guy, totally great heart and mind, and one of the most passionate people I have ever had the pleasure to talk to. What a bummer!
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immanti
climber
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Jul 19, 2007 - 12:31am PT
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It’s hard to write this, since I still cling to the hope that he’ll show up sometime soon, with an incredible tale of how he was picked up by a Russian submarine, rescued by a whale or something. People saw Elvis after he died, yet some don’t believe it to this day. Maybe we should expect future reports of some unknown, naked climber seen soloing somewhere in Patagonia. For now I’ll say I feel lucky to have known you, worked and played with you for a while and, until we meet again, I’ll raise a pint for you and try to play, work, love and live just a little harder. Thank you Michael.
Dario
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Grant Horner
Trad climber
Castaic, CA
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Jul 19, 2007 - 01:22am PT
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I was at La Casitas restaurant in Idyllwild last Saturday night with Bob Yoho & Chris Gonzales -- we were at Tahquitz all day training for a NIAD run this Friday -- and Bob and Janey Passiniri came in and sat with us. Janey, who is very close to the family, sat next to me and a few minutes later got a phone call from Mike's wife, who was flying to Ireland. At that point all they knew was that a wave came in, pulled him out, and he had not been seen since. I sail in the ocean quite a bit in Southern California, and I can tell you it does not take long to become very weak in the open sea if you end up in the wet -- even in our mild climate. Very sad...
I met Mike one time in the main gully at the Needles -- he was soloing of course -- and I found him to be very friendly and down to earth...
--gh
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 19, 2007 - 02:02am PT
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Thanks to everyone for the poignant and evocative posts and photos.
Anders
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jhog
climber
south lake tahoe
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Jul 19, 2007 - 03:25am PT
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According to a local news report he didn't fall into the ocean, he was standing at the base of a climb when he was struck by a rogue wave and washed out to sea. Have a good next life brother.
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-
Boulder climber
Ireland
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Jul 19, 2007 - 07:09am PT
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I have added a few photos of Michael climbing in Bullock Harbour, Dublin to http://www.theshortspan.com
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Charles Perry
Big Wall climber
Fort Collins CO
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Jul 19, 2007 - 09:53am PT
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Over thirty years of climbing I have never heard of a climber who drowned climbing. It truely is a sad day.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jul 19, 2007 - 09:55am PT
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Hey David, I've bouldered at Bullock, not a lot there but fun nevertheless.
Do you use the wall at Westwood (Clontarf or Sandymount)?
I missed that Reardon presentation but I know several guys who went and said it was entertaining.
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-
Boulder climber
Ireland
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Jul 19, 2007 - 10:35am PT
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Patrick I like Bullock, it has atmosphere. Have been exploring more there especially looking at stuff above the water. I sometimes climb in UCD in the winter.
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Jul 19, 2007 - 01:30pm PT
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I too keep holding out hope. I mean, how long was Jonah in the belly of that whale? Perhaps my denial helps cope with the bitter irony of his having been slapped by the sea, after everything else.
Sending peace to Michael's family and loved ones (and all those who loved him back).
Bill
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Jul 19, 2007 - 01:36pm PT
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It's hard to write this or anything these days. I've been hoping the whole time he would show up somewhere crazy with some amazing story - he still might do so. His spirit is so big it can never die anyway - he'll be with us forever, even after we are all gone.
Marci and Nikki, my thoughts and spirit are with you and always will be. Michael has touched and gifted you and all of us in ways we are yet to understand. Peace be with you.
Michael, I know you can hear us - keep keepin' like you always have brother....we miss you much and thanks for the lessons you gave us all. See you at the next crags...
Much love to all, John
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dll
climber
Oak Park, Ca.
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Jul 19, 2007 - 02:44pm PT
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Thanks John for putting things in perspective.
You're so right, Michael was such a vibrant life force that he will never be long away.
The memory of some fade with time... but Michael ensured that that would never be the case with him. He was always be larger than life, and in the sharing of memories.. the retelling of stories... and the inevitable laughter that follows, he will continue to expand in our hearts and minds as time passes.
To Rubi, and anyone else out there with personal photos of Mike that Marci may not have, it would be a wonderful gesture to see that she has these pieces of him to add to her memories as well. Whether it be in digital format, or a photo, or even a scrapbook with your thoughts and memories, please see that she gets a copy of any meaningful Michael moments that she and Nikki may not have been a part of.
It was a "good" time at Boulderdash last night... brutal, but beautiful. Thanks to all who attended and shared.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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Jul 19, 2007 - 02:56pm PT
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i think it would be better if we did a separate memorial thread or else edited the content of this one as most of us, and especially the family, probably won't want to have to go through those initial pages where we were just learning about the events. lots of nice words in this thread that the mods could relocate later. this has been a bad week for me-- i can't imagine what it's like for the family and i wish them the best.
last time i saw michael he found out we would be in europe at the same time that he was overseas and he tried to talk me into meeting up in ireland for sea-cliff climbing. we tried to talk him into the dolomites instead.
tx to rubi for the pix.
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