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mdavid
Big Wall climber
CA, CO, TX
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Oct 25, 2006 - 10:43am PT
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RIP
life is such a short window
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Watusi
Social climber
Joshua Tree, CA
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Oct 25, 2006 - 10:48am PT
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I just received the news last night from Al Bartlett of this tragedy...I knew Todd fairly well from his visits to the Monument back in the 80's and found him to be a very nice person, he will be sorely missed. God Bless!
Michael Paul
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pyro
Social climber
I'm not telling,
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:07am PT
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Todd gave me the Crazy glue when my finger was ripped. good father figure. I feel sad.
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:56am PT
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What an overwhelming show of support we have here! Thanks for posting your memories and tales, everyone. It makes a nice collective memory, and it gives me solace.
Does anyone know how to contact Jacob Valdez?
 Bill
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looking sketchy there...
Social climber
Latitute 33
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Oct 25, 2006 - 12:33pm PT
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Todd was a great guy, friendly and encouraging of others efforts. Very sad news indeed. My sincere condolences to his family, his wife and small children.
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elemental
Gym climber
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Oct 25, 2006 - 12:57pm PT
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Here's a great quote from a book Todd had been reading, about which he told Steve Petro...actually the very last time Steve ever spoke with him, at the end of July:
"When it comes time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with
fear of death, so when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more
time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death
song, and die like a hero going home." Tecumseh ( Shawnee)
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Larry
Trad climber
Reno NV
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Oct 25, 2006 - 01:09pm PT
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Unbelievable.
The world's a poorer place without Todd's enthusiasm.
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Laurie Sain
climber
Lander, WY
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Oct 25, 2006 - 01:22pm PT
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I am neither a close friend of Todd's nor a climber.
But I know he was a positive force in the climbing world, in the Lander community, and for his friends and family.
Peace to us all.
Laurie
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Barto
climber
Minneapolis, MN
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Oct 25, 2006 - 01:28pm PT
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I feel so lucky to have known Todd and disbelief that he is gone. I suspect that like me, everyone who met him must feel compelled to share stories about those brief or extended moments to draw him back to us.
Todd was the most inspiring climber--probably person--I ever met. Big smile. Bigger energy. Cowboy poet. (His brilliant route names--and Paul's--are a gift.) He led me to climb harder, get stronger, stay on the road, tell better stories, love the West more, and let go of the bullshit and embrace the dream. And I barely followed where he led. I don't know about you all, but when I chose not to partake in one of his schemes, say traveling to Mexico in 1986, bolting by moonlight to avoid detection, or traveling hither and thon, I soon felt--and will always feel--poorer for having said no.
I cannot imagine how losing Todd must feel for those who were closest to him. My heart goes out to you.
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T J
climber
Squamish, BC
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Oct 25, 2006 - 01:31pm PT
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I was introduced to Todd by a friend in the early 90's, climbed with him in Lander, and was fortunate enough to stay with Todd and Amy several times in their Hueco home.
Todd and Amy were incredibly welcoming and generous. Staying and climbing with them I learned something new about enthusiasm, about camraderie, about friendship. The positive community they created was incredible - I felt inspired to try and be a better person.
Journey on, Todd. My thoughts are especially with you Amy.
Tyler Jordan
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ronkat
climber
Bldr
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Oct 25, 2006 - 01:31pm PT
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Todd! Amazing man!
Joy lingers like stories
of blue finger cracks.
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Molly Absolon
climber
Lander, Wyoming
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Oct 25, 2006 - 03:27pm PT
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I'm supposed to be working, but I keep coming back to this forum again and again, amazed at the outpouring of love and support for Todd and his family. I don't know why I should be surprised, because like so many of the people who have written in, I too was encouraged by Todd as I struggled up easy climbs that were hard for me; I too watched him reach out to my young daughter and make her laugh; I too heard his funny stories and saw him light up an audience; I too was the recepient of his incredible hospitality and generosity; and I too saw him with his children. He was a motivator. He was kind and giving. He made people laugh.
I've also been over to Todd and Amy's house and seen the sadness his death has left behind. Todd was an incredible light in so many people's lives and for many of us, that is enough. But it is hard to think of Hannah, Sarah and Jake growing up without him around. It's hard to think of Amy raising those kids by herself.
A friend of my father's once said,"Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk the way with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind, and peace will be always with you."
I send those words out to all of us. It's how Todd lived, and how we too should move forward. It's how we can help Amy.
Rest in peace, Todd.
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Manley
Trad climber
from Kentucky, living in St. Louis
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Oct 25, 2006 - 04:13pm PT
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First let me just say how truely sad I am to hear the new of his passing. While I was not fortunate enough to know him personally, I, like the entire adventure world, knew well of his accomplishements, as well as his incredibly positive personality.
My deepest sympathy and love to his children, wife and to all those who shared experiences with him during this life time.
RIP Todd, and all the love and support in the world to your family forever.
Manley
I'm sure in time we will have a more complete answer to the circumstance of this tragedy, but for now we should just focus on his family, his life and his many great acomplishements....
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TE
climber
NY
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Oct 25, 2006 - 05:22pm PT
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Todd had a rare quality that made everyone around him better. His whole being smiled when he told a story and when he politely listened to one of yours. His feats are legendary and, fortunately, so are the wonderful qualities that so many of you have expressed in your postings. While deeply saddened by his death and his family’s great loss, I can think of few individuals who have lived their lives as fully as Todd appeared to live his. His memory will continue to inspire us for many years to come. But today is a sad day. My deepest condolences to Amy, their children, families, and friends.
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AlliRW
Sport climber
Ten Sleep, WY
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Oct 25, 2006 - 05:54pm PT
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It is with a sense of terrible loss that I'm sure is felt not only by Todd's family and close friends, but also, throughout this state's tight-knit climbing community (not to mention the climbing community at large) that I write these words. Todd was a legend I'd known of for years, one of those larger-than-life famous climbers, who became an acquaintance of mine when I lived in Lander a few winters back. I don't even believe we'd ever met in person when he responded to a desperate email I sent to him following the announcement of the impending closure of the co-op climbing gym. He graciously offered me free usage of his private gym whenever I wanted to go there. Upon meeting Todd at the co-op gym when it was subsequently saved from closure, his infectious enthusiasm combined with an utter lack of any attempt on his part to pound his chest about his accomplishments or who he was impressed me tremendously. He just joined in our training session, bouldered for a while with us, and then chatted with me about climbing the way anyone else would, with no spray involved. Todd was and will continue to be an inspiration to me, for his courage to just do what he thought was right and to unapologetically be himself, for his Wyoming spirit, for his genuine generosity in allowing me to use his gym sight unseen, and of course, for his incredible accomplishments on the rock.
Alli Rainey Wendling
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keep looking up
Trad climber
San Francisco South Bay, CA
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Oct 25, 2006 - 05:59pm PT
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the good die young....
sorry to see you go young man
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shelli johnson
Social climber
lander, wyoming
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Oct 25, 2006 - 06:42pm PT
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Though I'm not a climber, I admired Todd and was fascinated to hear and read about his first ascents.
When I moved back to Lander in 1995 I was writing for the Lander Journal. I had heard about Todd Skinner from my dad and others. I couldn't wait to meet the world's most famous free climber who happened to live in my hometown of Lander. He had rock star fame in our small town, especially to those of us unfamiliar with the sport of climbing.
I met him for the first time to interview him for a feature story. The 2-hour interview impacted me for several days following...and that first meeting with Todd taught me important lessons. He was so inspiring; I had never talked to anyone with so much natural energy and motivating ability. When my husband and I would run into him on Fairfield Hill, or on other hikes near the crags, we'd talk for 5-10 minutes with Todd, and afterward we joked that we felt we owed him something... He had a gift to inspire and motivate...like no one else I've ever met in my life.
The last time I talked to Todd was a few weeks ago at our sons' last soccer game. We were talking about his speaking schedule and I reminded him how disappointed I was that Wyoming Tourism didn't accept our offer to have Todd as the keynote speaker at a tourism show a couple years ago. Todd, who travels the world presenting to and inspiring workforces of large corporations, made the comment, "I'm exporting myself. I want to do more of these things in my state here." I wanted everyone in our home state to get the opportunity to see the world-class presentation by one of Wyoming's own and to be inspired by Todd like I was. He was scheduled to be the keynote presenter at the Nov. 17 Wyoming Heritage Conference, and I have been telling everyone I know throughout the state to attend for the purpose of seeing and benefitting from the Todd Skinner Presentation.
Todd, thanks for the inspiration you brought me. It was significant.
We are heartbroken for Amy and the kids. There is no one sweeter than Amy, and their children are beautiful products of Amy and Todd.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Amy, and Hannah, Jake and Sarah – and to Todd's family and friends.
Todd, you will be missed!
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h2oman
climber
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Oct 25, 2006 - 07:00pm PT
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I've now spent over 24 hours trying to sort this all out. Memories of Todd just keep flowing through my brain...
One thing that is very clear from the responses here is that hundreds, if not thousands, of people got a piece of Todd, he was so giving of himself. Most of the time I spent with him was prior to Amy, but my wife and I did visit both of them at Hueco several times. It is clear that all of us owe Amy a huge debt of gratitude for sharing Todd with us. I know this must have been difficult for her to do at times, but she did so graciously. Thank you, Amy.
Gregg and Vivian
Klamath Falls, OR
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Oct 25, 2006 - 07:05pm PT
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Just a request
It might be for the greater good that the topic of this thread be left to just to commemorate Todd's life and to help share the stories of those who are grieving from his loss. Undoubtedly, we're all wondering how this happened and what could have gone wrong, but this thread -- as it is -- has become kind of a sacred spot in the ether for friends and family to come and try to cope. Maybe we can best honor that quest by taking up the discussion of the accident, itself, in another thread at another time.
My condolences to Todd's friends and family. I wish I could have known him.
Ed
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B
Trad climber
SF CA
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Oct 25, 2006 - 07:15pm PT
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Wow really sads news.
I had the honor of meeting Todd when he spoke for a national sales meeting in Vegas back in 1997 for an old employer. I was the only person who was personally interested in climbing but Todd's amazing storytelling had a whole bunch of beer salesmen hanging on the side of Trando Tower right there with him. It was definitely the very best motivational speech I have ever heard.
After that we went to a climbing gym and Todd cheered each and everyone on to try to get to the top.
As the only climber I felt like I was meeting a legend but when he and I spoke one on one he made me feel as much of a climber as he was.
From so many posts it is clear that Todd may have been climbings greatest ambassador and cheerleader.
He even drew a map to the house in Hueco for me on the back of a signed Trango poster so I could "visit any time". I felt as welcome as if I too were a climbing legend.
Since then I have become a stonger and more experienced climber. I can't help but think that Todd's gift of enthusiasm helped me get to where I am now. Thanks man!
I feel lucky to have met him at all.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Rest in peace and say hi to all our climbing brothers and sisters who have gone ahead of us to the "happy climbing land".
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