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Lynn Iler
climber
Providence, RI
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:23pm PT
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Dear Molly,
Margaret Creel just called me to tell me about Pete's death. I am overwhlemed with sadness. I am also flooded with warm memories of our fun times together in Berkeley. I just assumed that we would all meet up again in the next few years and I would see you and Pete and get to finally meet Avery. I wanted our families to meet when my kids were old enough to travel well. You were one of my first friends who was married and you were such a great example of how much fun being a couple could be. I loved being around both of you and watching you interact. Always positive, fun, funny... I have enjoyed your Holiday letters each year and watching your family blossom. This just seems so wrong. I am happy that you have the NOLS community and your friends close to you to help you through this. I am thinking of and sending my love to you and Avery and the Absolon and Armbrecht families. The world is better for Pete having been here. I wish you strength and peace. Love, Lynn
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Liz Tuohy
Trad climber
Lander, WY
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:28pm PT
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To submit photos for memorial service slide show/memory room:
I've just been told that downloading photos to this site can be time consuming. If you'd prefer, you can email photos to petepic@gmail.com.
Thanks.
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RBK
climber
Boise, ID
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:38pm PT
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Molly and Avery,
I am so sorry to hear this news. It makes me so sad. Pete has been my role model as a parent ever since Avery was born and I was working with him at the RMB. At the time I could not see or imagine the kind of love he demonstrated for his family. It was not until Arya was born did I really understand. I have been watching and learning from his devotion the last 5 years. My heart aches for you.
Ron Barnes-Kelley
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Wyomike
climber
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:40pm PT
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Molly,
When I came to Lander in 1989, Pete was the first NOLS instructor I went climbing with in Sinks for an afternoon. Ben Hammond had introduced us a few days earlier. Like everyone who met Pete, I immediately trusted him as climbing partner and came to care deeply for him as a friend. I have not met a more solid, dependable and positive person than Pete. Whether he was in the field with students or taking on a new leadership role at NOLS, I always knew things would be better with his firm but gentle hand at the helm. I will always remember Pete hanging on his new route cleaning and drilling on the "Wilds Wall" and I was 100 feet away working on my new route. Pete was so excited for his new route but so encouraging and excited about mine as well, always supportive and interested in others!
Pete stopped by my office in January and that was the last time I saw him. When I heard the tragic news, I thought about that day and pictured the perpetual smile, the kind eyes and warmth he always exuded.
Molly, I will see you this weekend and give you a hug, I know Laura and Hannah will keep coming over to visit Avery and being there for you and her.
Warmest regards and love,
Michael
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RichardA
climber
Arlington VA
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:46pm PT
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I went to college in Washington with Pete and we’d run in the mornings with Pete’s old roommate, Ken. We were up pretty early for college kids; down to the Lincoln Memorial, up the stairs and around the back where the great views of the Potomac are. You can’t run there anymore. Then all along the mall to the Capitol, and back to GW, all before most folks were out of bed. We ran 3 or 4 days a week for a while.
Then there were days when Pete wouldn’t join us. He had other plans. I saw him leaving the dorm with a weird pair of shoes in his hands and asked where he was going. Pete had found a wall, just a few blocks from our dorm; a 20-foot high stone wall that supports the E street underpass from 20th street to 23rd street. Made of large stone and mortar construction, it was perfectly vertical and Pete was climbing it, with cars going by 6 feet behind him. He did this a few times a week for a while. I tried it once and couldn’t go anywhere, but he was building strength and working on technique. If you tried climbing that wall now in the middle of DC you’d cause quite a stir.
Pete took me out to Carderock one weekend, sometime after that. He set up the ropes and had me climb up 6 feet or so from the base, then he told me to let go. He inspired such confidence. That’s the first time I really noticed his gift to teach. I made it to the top, thanks to his patience and encouragement.
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RichardA
climber
Arlington VA
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:50pm PT
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Molly,
My heart goes out to you and to Avery.
Love always,
Richard and Sherri
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lucy
climber
clarkesville, georgia
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:50pm PT
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i am a friend of the armbrecht family and my heart is with them and pete's family, and the communities that were fortunate to know him. all my thoughts, lucy m. venable
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brian b
climber
Sarotoga Ca
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Aug 15, 2007 - 04:55pm PT
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It’s been great to read the stories about Pete, and to learn about the man (great dad, husband, and leader at NOLS, outdoorsman, and great guy) he had become – they have somehow made this tragic loss just a little easier. A bunch of us who grew up with Pete have been talking and emailing over the past few days (look for post from his Rockville friends too) and recounting stories of how we met Pete, things we did together and the things we remember most about him.
Here is a bit about Pete’s life growing up. He came to Rockville -I guess this is a good place for a rock climber to be from ;) the summer after 6th grade. I knew him from the neighborhood, from school and through scouts. As a student, Pete was way ahead of the rest of us –very consistent with the many stories about his adult life; he was always patent and willing to help the rest of us when we got behind. The only major issue of friction Pete had with the rest of us (and we never got him to come around) was his love for the Dallas Cowboys and absolute dis respect for the Washington Redskins. His love for the outdoors, I think, started with scouting. The best story I can remember from this time is a 3 day trip Pete and I took for our Wilderness Survival merit badge (at that time he was not a NOLS expert mind you – he was a 13 year old kid) and the two of us spent a day and a half running after rabbits, imaging how good they would taste for dinner. We never caught them, and ended up eating crayfish and wild carrots and dirking creek water for the duration. Some time later – Pete and I took an introduction class on climbing at Carderock and you could see from that point on that he was hooked. After that class, Pete took almost everyone he knew climbing – and it sounds like this went on for the rest of his life. At some point, we out grew scouts and if anything his love for the outdoors just increased. I was talking with Pete’s great friend, Mark Brosnan yesterday – and we just could not even figure out how many times the we had gone camping over the years – I don’t know if it was every weekend from 9th grade on – but it was pretty close. The Appalachian Train, Shendoha & Old Rag, Harpers Ferry, Coctican Mountains, etc were some of our favorite spots. One memorable trip – (I hope that neither Avery nor my kids follow this example) we told our folks that we were going camping for a three day weekend. That weekend, Pete and I hitchhiked to visit his brother Fritz in Marietta OH (pretty big trip for 16 year olds) On that trip, I can remember being on the side of a road in West Virginia and not seeing a car pass us for more than 3 hours – when we finally caught a ride it was in the back of a truck hauling livestock – you will be happy to know that Pete had a great sense of humor even in that situation. During high school I can remember the Absolon house, and especially the kitchen table, and pool table in their basement as centers of our social life. When Pete went to college at George Washington, we stayed in touch. Pete’s climbing ability has far surpassed the rest of us, so our contact had more to do with catching up over a beer and talking about the future than on climbing. We all marveled at the trips he took – Joshua tree in Calf, Gunk’s in New York and of course, Seneca Rocks.
After college, I rented a room at the Absolon house (Pete was living at Seneca then) and stayed in touch with his doings via his brother John and Mom. A few years later – my then girlfriend (now wife) Lois, was renting a room at the Absolon house – and we would often see Pete when he would return home & catch up with us over a beer or two.
Over the years, we had kind of lost track – Christmas cards and an email here and there – and that makes me sad. Pete was one of those guys that you could see after a long absence – even years – and feel like you just picked up and never missed a beat. In reading the many stories people have posted – he grew up to be a great guy, and I really wish I had done a better job staying in touch. Years ago my dad told me that at the end – you will be able to count you number of true – life long friends on one hand – I’ve just lost one. I will see you in Lander this weekend.
Brian Brouillette
Saratoga, Ca
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Tim Fisher
climber
Maine
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Aug 15, 2007 - 05:11pm PT
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I'm glad to help Ted post this photo of Pete taken during one of their adventures together.
From Teton Pass:
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NOLS Public Policy Manager II
Social climber
Bridgton, Maine
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Aug 15, 2007 - 05:26pm PT
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Pete, you are a beautiful soul.
One of the best I ever encountered in my six year dance with the NOLS Tent Group -- a community of great souls. You can give a "Nah, really?!" with such a straight face that I still don't know if you believed or really cared about some of the tangential whoo-ha you allowed me to spin, dropping by the RMB on a Lander afternoon. You, Willy C., Gary C., and yours truly, jawing about permit violations and inane rules near the map room. But you are a good listener. And weather its B.S. or the real deal how can you give the SAME LOOK when weaving a tale? Is that uber subtle mischievous twinkle a clue? Or how about the over-the-top double-take-styled zowie look? Is that a clue? I don't know. You are smart and a delight to share time with. I will forever smile thinking about you and watching you climb once or twice. And how you make Molly glow, that golden soul mate glow. Thank you for sharing such gifts. Also, thank you and Molly for sharing your kitchen and fridge, utensils and salt, so I could whip up a batch of margaritas and dress up silly at Halloween.
Again, peace hombre, and my love to you and yours,
Stefan J. Jackson (with Laura, Stefanie, and Jacqueline Ordway)
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Aug 15, 2007 - 05:33pm PT
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Maggie sent me the link to this photo, which I thought I would post. You guys can post photos in this forum by finding a photo of Pete on line somewhere, and then right clicking on it to get its properties. You copy and paste the URL into the post here, and then you put these tags on front and back, just don't leave the space between the g and the ] like I did here to show you: [img ]http://www.photo.jpg[/img ]
I only met Pete a few times back in the day at Seneca Rocks, but he was a very inspirational guy. I thought he looked like the quintessential "hardman", and I can distinctly remember to this day the look on his face, and the body position he affected, as he described to me in great detail how he attempted to climb Spock's Brain - one of those sandbag desperate Seneca 5.10's that today's plastic warrior can barely imagine let alone climb. He didn't make it that day, but you knew he'd be back soon. Pete was busy everywhere at Seneca, yet he was always available and approachable when I asked him for route recommendations and beta.
It's wonderful to see the great outpouring of love for Pete. He was obviously a very remarkable man, and you are blessed to have had him as a friend.
Man, Pete looks the same in this photo as he did twenty years ago!
Yours,
"Pass the Pitons" Pete
[oh yeah, I never climbed Spock's Brain]
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Drew Leemon
Mountain climber
Lander, Wyoming
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Aug 15, 2007 - 05:56pm PT
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Molly and Avery,
Hardly a moment has gone by since I learned of Pete’s passing on Sunday morning that he and you and Avery haven’t been in my thoughts. Reading all these kind words from your friends and family begins to sadden me further, but then slowly sadness fades away and inspiration takes over. It’s easy to get inspired because Pete was such a great guy.
While I never had the opportunity to climb with Pete or work a course with him we did share some mountain bike rides (remember riding Wolf Trail almost twenty years ago?) and some time on skis. Pete and I skied together at a wellness day at White Pine not too long ago and while everyone else was hucking off jumps Pete and I skied the trees eeking more and more turns as the trees got closer and closer together and we crashed through the branches. (What else can you do at White Pine to make it interesting eh?) Pete’s athleticism was awesome and seeing you and him skate skiing at Beaver Creek and tag teaming with Avery was great because you were living life to the fullest and as a family. You guys have always been so open friendly and welcoming and our community is so much better because of it.
Pete was awesome to have as a coworker here at the office. I so highly respected him because of his abilities and expertise, but mostly just because of the way he was. He was easy to be with, quick to laugh and joke and his ability to make connections with people was one of his greatest attributes. We’re all better for having known and loved Pete and when Daryl wrote about getting one of Pete’s trademark “hey buddy” greetings I swear I could hear Pete’s voice loud and clear along with the little chuckle that went with his greeting.
I can look out my office window and see the Leg Lake Cirque, which became a special place for me after Erin and I hiked to it last year. While it is now the scene of a great tragedy it also serves as a monument to all that was great about Pete and represents his incredible zest for life, his love for you, Avery and all his friends and family, his love of adventure and wildness, and the towering impact he had on everyone he met.
With all our love,
Drew, Lori, Erin, Kyle and Reid.
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barbaloot
Social climber
bozeman, mt
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Aug 15, 2007 - 06:28pm PT
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Dear Molly and Avery --
News of Pete's death has reached me visiting my dad. Words are hard to come by to express the sadness I feel or to offer what I most want to give you -- some small measure of comfort. I am thinking of you a lot. And thinking of an old photo I have of Pete, Gary Wilmot and John Kempf dressed in skirts, showing some sexy, if a bit hairy, leg on that briefing day long ago when you, Missy and I were leading the sister course (literally) to their mtneering course. I will try to find it for you. I hope to see you Sunday. I am sending you both lots of love and big hugs. Pete is already hugely missed.
All my love -
Barb Cestero
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Coopersdad
Social climber
Wilmington, NC
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Aug 15, 2007 - 06:32pm PT
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Molly, Ted, Christina & Avery,
I just ran into Renee (Christina's friend, my wuz-wif) on the way home and she told me about Pete. I only spent a few short hours with you and Pete at Teddy & Christina's wedding and truly enjoyed meeting you both. My heart breaks for you and even though you may not remember me I just want you to know that I'm thinking about you.
Greg U.
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shannon Westerman
climber
NY, NY
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Aug 15, 2007 - 06:41pm PT
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Molly - I wish I was there to give you a huge hug... I'm thankful you and Avery are surrounded by love - please know you're in my every thought and prayer ---- Shannon Westerman, New York CIty
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leslie valentine
climber
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Aug 15, 2007 - 06:45pm PT
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Dear Molly and all Absolon family friends,
My heart goes out to you all. I remember with love the wonderfull wedding of Peter and Molly on that windswept hillside in West Virginia. Pete's life force can never be extinguished. He will always be climbing...
With love,
Leslie
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rosswehner
Mountain climber
Denver
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Aug 15, 2007 - 07:30pm PT
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I remember a 1999 instructor mountaineering seminar that Pete and Molly led in the winds. We were slammed by a brutal storm on a snow field up around Indian Pass. That evening, as the storm gathered force and our anxiety accumulated with the ice, I saw Pete outside our tent. There he was, hatless and with an impossibly soaked jacket, in a downpour of rain and ice. He was skiing down the snow field in his hiking boots and taking laps to do it over and over again. No one could believe this behavior -- we were trying to survive, after all! But a few of us rallied and went skiing with him. Soon we we felt joyful and at home in the wild world. Pete was an extraordinary and soft-spoken leader who always found a way to make those around him happy.
Later on that same trip, I and another instructor did an ice climb on Dinwoody Peak with Pete. Pete was leading vertical ice on the first bergschrung when the tip of his ice pick snapped. He hung there, on one tool, and examined the broken pick for a long, clinical moment. “Bummer,” he said. Then he flashed that smile and moved upwards without hesitation. I could not believe it. When we had climbed too far to descend, we were hit by a storm that dropped two feet of snow in just a few hours. We all became very cold. Pete became super focused. He took extra time to build and test the anchors, which at the time I found frustrating. Let’s just go! But he slowed down and kept things safe. At the top the wind was howling so much that we could not speak. We struggled to find a way off the mountain. But we made it to the pass again and descended down snow-covered boulders. We punched through the cloud line around 11 p.m. and saw the lights of Pinedale before us and also the headlamps of some in our group coming to find us. We met Molly first and it was clear that she had been worried as she hugged Pete. But there was no anger. I understood then that their marriage involved extraordinary levels of freedom, trust and growth.
My wife and I will be in Lander this weekend with our two small children. I want my wife to understand why I feel the way I do about Pete Absolon, and I want someday for my children to understand that as well. Molly and Avery, Pete will live on forever because he is in that class of extraordinary souls who inspire people to do difficult and wonderful things.
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Dorsey
climber
East Lansing, MI
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Aug 15, 2007 - 08:02pm PT
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Molly -
I'll bet I am not the only one transfixed by this forum. The airwaves and e-waves and phone-waves are buzzing from coast to coast and then some. Clearly Pete's life has powered and inspired so many; maybe it's a bit of comfort to see that he is still lighting up the world through all those who love him.
I forwarded links about Pete to friends who don't know Pete - I wanted them to meet your amazing man and understand that it is possible to love and live and work and marry and parent with full-on joy. I want them to see what a rich community such a life inspires. And, selfishly, I wanted them to understand why I am so sad and why my friend Molly needs all our hugs and tears and laughter. One friend wrote a long response that ended: "it would seem Pete's life provides a template for living well and big and pink and with courage and love and passion. I'm going to
try to learn from his example." Pete is still teaching...
Love, Dorsey (a friend from high school)
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pegasus2007@ureach.com
climber
Minneapolis,MN
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Aug 15, 2007 - 08:07pm PT
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To the family and friends of Pete especially Molly and Avery,
The tragic news of Pete’s death fills me with memories. I’d like to share a story about Pete and some thoughts on grieving.
Pete made quite an impression the first few days I worked with him in the field many years ago. I was working my first course, the PL was working her second course and due to the first course leader’s illness and crazy summer staffing Pete was the third CL to join us. He joined the adventure course at the second ration half way through the course. I remember vividly two meals Pete prepared with a few extra treats he brought. He whipped up burritos complete with canned beans and fresh veggies. Later he baked an apple coffee cake with real apples. Pete had a knack for providing little things at the right time that made a big difference. He delighted in being thoughtful.
I also would like to share some thoughts on grieving. I’ve found grieving can be a special time that among the sadness is joy, humor and love. Sixteen years ago, my mother died suddenly when I was twenty-one and through the grieving process memories flooded back and I appreciated being surrounded by the love of family and friends. Through the grieving process (which never ends) I found new ability to experience the joys and sorrows of life.
I hope you all can grieve well and let the feeling flow -- cry, laugh, scream, etc. Even consider skinny dipping. After laughing and crying for a couple hours at an outdoor memorial service for a friend, who died in a climbing accident in Yosemite, the group ran toward the Merced River. We experience a group skinny dip and the cold river water was refreshing and emotionally cleansing.
My life is far away from those Idaho Mountains where I first met Pete thirteen years ago but I remember many lessons including how little things at the right time can make a big difference. As I watch my 11 month old toddle about I am reminded of the miracle of life and love amongst family members. I’ll especially be thinking of you, Molly and Avery, as you grieve. I’ll be sending loving energy toward all of you gathered in Wyoming this weekend to remember Pete.
Lots of love,
Peggy Savanick Guiney
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