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Mimi
climber
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:02pm PT
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Damn, what a huge bummer. Events like these are always so sad and thought provoking.
Condolences to his family and close friends.
The few times I met Todd, he was always smiling, upbeat and totally psyched about his current project or previous adventure. He will be missed by so many climbers and non-climbers alike for his joyful spirit and positive energy.
Rest in peace Todd. Hope to see you at the next rodeo.
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Kimbo
Boulder climber
seattle
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:08pm PT
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Thanks Skinner for living your life passionately, committedly; thanks for going for it and going for it and going for it.
You have obviously been an inspiration to many, and I think for this we'll all feel grateful.
Thank you, and blessings to you and all.
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Melissa
Gym climber
berkeley, ca
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:14pm PT
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Before I read the magazines and became aware of the legions of big name climbers that could be idolized or ridiculed, I only had a couple of How-To manuals and a gorgeous coffee table book on Todd and Paul Piana's big wall exploits. Before I decided it wasn't cool to have heros and before I was told that declaring Todd Skinner as one in Yosemite was not exactly in vogue, he was undeniably the second person that I came to regard as a climbing superstar (the first being Lynn Hill who I learned about in John Long's how-to).
He was the first "famous" climber that I ever met, and the best way that I can describe the experience is to say that when we parted ways, he left me feeling good about who I was and happy to have met him.
September 2001
As we pass the Dihedral Wall on the way in, the party on it a couple of pitches up asks us if we mind hunting around for the Aliens that they dropped. Wanting the good karma, we happily oblige...
On the way out we see that the party that had dropped the Aliens is just coming off as well. We stop to chat, telling them they owed us a beer per Alien and walk out with them. Nice guys from Wyoming. After talking to them for a while, the name on their haulbag jumps out at me: “Skinner” and my little pea-brain realizes that these guys are working on freeing this awesome line next to the one that we are hoping to jug, stick-clip, and aid up every last inch. I keep my cool and avoid telling them that I got a book detailing their free wall ascents for my birthday last month and have been reading about their exploits almost every night while getting psyched for my wall. I tell them that if all goes well Lurking Fear will be my first, and they genuinely act as though my plans are just as cool as theirs are. I wish them the best.
I'm so sad to hear that he is gone. :-(
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:24pm PT
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This is a very sad day for those of us who knew Todd and those of us who didn't. It's hard to lose a friend and also hard to lose a personal hero and someone you look up to. Todd's energy was insane and insanely good. This has been quite a sobering year for all of us.
Condolences to Amy, Jake, Hannah and Sarah and all of Todd's many friends.
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elemental
Gym climber
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:28pm PT
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Hello Everyone,
Things are surreal in Lander today. We have planned a memorial gathering for Todd on Saturday, the 28th of October. The time is 3pm or thereabouts, potluck, etc. It will be held at the Sinks Canyon Center outside of Lander. email me at sbechtel@wyoming.com or give a call at 307-349-1246 if you need any info.
Thanks so much. Amy wants to make sure it's known that all climbers are welcome...just as it always was.
Keep the messages coming...every one of them is helping his family.
Steve Bechtel
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elemental
Gym climber
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:37pm PT
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One more thing...
For those of you who are interested a memorial has been established for Amy, Hannah, Jake and Sarah.
Skinner Memorial Fund
Atlantic City Federal Credit Union
704 West Main Street
Lander, WY 82520
Thanks,
Steve Bechtel
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ehorst
Trad climber
Lancaster, PA
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:39pm PT
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This news just blows me away. Todd was a true one-of-a-kind, and a huge inspiration to me. I've never met a more positive, passionate, and genuinely kind person. In a sport filled with spray, Todd never had anything bad to say--it just wouldn't be productive. Todd was a true "possibility thinker"...and a peak performer as an athlete, speaker, and no doubt as a husband and father.
I have fond memories of first meeting Todd at Smith Rock in Fall of 1990 (I believe)...and I was fortunate to spend an evening chewing the fat with Todd and Wolfgang Gullich (not that either had any bodyfat!). Sadly both are gone...but their spirit lives on in me and certainly all others who knew them. Todd was a truly great spirit. RIP my friend.
As a father of two young sons I can't even imagine the impact on Amy and the kids. Our prayers go out to them. Thanks to Steve for posting the info on the Memorial Fund for the kids and family. I know many of us want to contribute and provide whatever support is possible.
Deepest sympathy to Amy, the kids, and all Todd's family and friends.
Eric & Lisa Horst
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KenD
Trad climber
Palo Alto, CA
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:45pm PT
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Terrible news. I never met Todd, but it is obvious that he was a special person.
"A struggle on the cliff face
Tiny figures viewed far below
When you have not yet been up there
Many a regret
But once there and homeward bound
How commonplace it all looks
Cliff face gleams in the moonlight
Mountains are once more mountains"
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Shawnotron
Boulder climber
Manchester, NH
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:50pm PT
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Who is John Galt?
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FinnMaCoul
Trad climber
Green Mountains, Vermont
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Oct 24, 2006 - 02:57pm PT
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I can't even begin to conceive of the loss that his wife, his father and his children will feel in Todd's absence. My deepest condolences to all who knew Todd personally.
I can vividly recall the excitement and wanderlust the accounts of Todd's adventures inspired in me as a young climber. I can say unequivocably that, while I never knew him or crossed paths with him in the physical world, his passion for adventure had a tremendous influence on my life as it did for so many in our discipline.
While losing such a bright star as Todd Skinner leaves a vacuum in the climbing world, I can only imagine the loss for those who knew Todd and loved him well. As inspirational as he was as a climber, I can only guess what he was as a son, husband, father and friend. Know that we grieve with you.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Oct 24, 2006 - 03:00pm PT
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I have to say it is rare that climbing takes one of its own. And when it does for a moment we feel more alone and weaker than ever. There is true horror in this too and we briefly fear for each other, those of us who are left, as if we were all kept in a stock pen by a mythic monster that randomly devours one of us daily.
There is nothing elegant in this for those of us who survive. In a climber’s death is also contained our own possible death, sometime later, when? What we do have remaining is Todd’s legacy, his family, his friends, his detractors, the rock he touched all over the world. All that which we had a week ago, you know, when he was still at it. He has given us this and he becomes truly one of heros.
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crankenstein
Trad climber
Louisville, CO
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Oct 24, 2006 - 03:01pm PT
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So very sad to read this. I remember Todd's contagious enthusiasm from Hueco Tanks back in the 80's. He truly was an exceptionally motivated and energetic person. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. Having kids the same age as his, I can only hope that they grow up to realize how much positive energy their father gave to the world.
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NeverSurfaced
Trad climber
Someplace F*#ked!
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Oct 24, 2006 - 03:07pm PT
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Thanks for posting the info Steve.
Todd’s family can be proud of the positive impact he had on people’s lives, many of whom never even had a chance to meet him!
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Muir Woods National Monument, Mill Valley, Ca
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Oct 24, 2006 - 03:22pm PT
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Here's the Climbing link (mentions Werner's post and links to ST):
http://www.climbing.com/news/hotflashes/toddskinner/
While I only met Todd once, it happened to be the night that he was bouldering at
the tiny gym (Class 5) in Marin. I thought he was a cool guy from the videos, but he
was even cooler in person. He was really psyched for everyone doing their problems,
and was anxious to spot and encourage. What a cool and humble dude.
Jim Hewett had been obsessively talking about freeing big walls for months, so
he wasted no time connecting with Todd, and soon after they started working
on freeing Wet Denim Daydream. Jim Hewett is easily the most positive and psyched
person I have ever climbed with, and he told me how Todd was way more motivating
and psyched to climb than him! I hadn't seen Jim in several months, and ran into him
at the recent Dosage screening in Berkeley. He was really psyched to get on the wall with Todd.
I can't imagine what Jim is going through, since he was there when it happened.
My heart goes out to Todd's family, and everyone who has been lucky enough to
meet him - and have Todd's incredible drive and positive attitude rub off on them.
RIP.
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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Oct 24, 2006 - 03:32pm PT
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I remember meeting and climbing with Todd in the early 90s when he and I were invited to speak at the Mountain Summit being held at Sundance here in Utah. It was an amazing collection of climbers in attendance. Todd asked me if I wanted to go climbing during one of the breaks - I was in awe as I could barely climb the grades he liked to warm up on. So off we went to American Fork where sure enough he ran up a warm up climb that I barely made my way up but he gave me all kinds of encouragement as I climbed. Then it was off to Hell Cave where Todd wanted to try one of the new test pieces and had me belay. A crowd gathered cause I do not think the line had done been yet. I was nervous as hell cause Todd was giving me tips on how to belay him so that the rope did not interfer with his climbing. I was really afraid that my belaying was going to cause him to fall. Todd did fall but not because of my belaying. Instead of driving back to Salt Lake that night Todd let me crash in the room he had at Sundance, we chatted into the evening with him sharing his training techniques and talking about climbing and what it meant.
Todd had a great smile and was always friendly whenever I would run into him in the ensuing years.
My thoughts to Todd's family and many friends.
Allen
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Shylo
climber
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Oct 24, 2006 - 03:43pm PT
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Todd Skinner. Arguably, no one defines American Climbing Hero more than this man. Unlike most of us he lived "the dream" and took the game to a level that left us all in shock at the stubborness and persistence of this man. Todd had the amazing grace of hanging on and fighting to achieve whatever he had in his mind.
I never met him. However, it was a picture of him on a limestone first ascent in Wyoming that got me started climbing. I will never forget that moment, reading the mag, and saying to myself "This looks amazing, I going to try this". I have been climbing for 13 years. May we all fight as hard as Todd did for what we believe we can do.
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burp
Trad climber
Salt Lake City
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Oct 24, 2006 - 04:24pm PT
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My heartfelt condolences to Todd's family.
Mike
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Oct 24, 2006 - 05:17pm PT
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Todd Skinner on The Gunfighter, Hueco Tanks, cover of Climbing #92
Todd was truly ahead of his time. He climbed 5.13 when people thought 5.12 was the limit, and his motivation and abilities made it possible to realize the dream of free climbing El Cap, years after explorations by Hudon, Jones and Jardine (and years before others could understand it).
Very sad for Amy and the kids, his father, and Jim as well. I hope in time the sadness will fade, even though it's grim right now. He still had so many good years to live - it's not right to go early like that. So be careful out there and stay alert when the ground is far below.
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Oct 24, 2006 - 05:35pm PT
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Isn't the 28th Todd's birthday?
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SuperTopo on the Web
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Let us know!