Missing US Pilot in Italy

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Jan

Mountain climber

Okinawa, Japan

Jan 31, 2013 - 11:15am PT

So sorry. If he ejected, it's most likely there was a mechanical malfunction. Sometimes competence isn't enough, and accidents just happen.
Flying those jets is a dangerous profession. Every year dedicated pilots who defend our nation and our interests abroad don't make it back.
It never gets any easier and saying they're heroes sounds very hollow right now, but in time, his family and friends will be able to take consolation from that.

climbski2

Mountain climber

Anchorage AK, Reno NV

Jan 31, 2013 - 11:32am PT

Ahh crap.....

I am so sorry about your friend.

Anastasia

climber

InLOVEwithAris.

Jan 31, 2013 - 11:36am PT

My deepest condolences to all his friends, family, and his town. I can't imagine facing my life with my baby Aristides without Bill. I can't imagine his wife's pain and suffering. May the child be born healthy and easily. May she find her way so even though she will ALWAYS miss him, that she will find the balance and feel strength and joy for knowing him.

Anastasia

rwedgee

Ice climber

canyon country,CA

Jan 31, 2013 - 11:59am PT

I am so sorry.

mrtropy

Trad climber

Nor Cal

Jan 31, 2013 - 12:00pm PT

Very sorry to hear that Brad. I am sure it has hit your small community very hard. Condolences to all.....

Jeff

mucci

Trad climber

The pitch of Bagalaar above you

Topic Author's Reply - Jan 31, 2013 - 12:01pm PT

Very sorry for this outcome.

Best regards to his family and close friends.

Untimely.

Josh.

Jason Torlano

Social climber

Jan 31, 2013 - 12:09pm PT

Sorry for your lost. "Lest we forget the fallen soldiers of yesterday"

Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber

Old and Broken Down in Appalachia

Jan 31, 2013 - 12:20pm PT

10b4me

Boulder climber

Somewhere on 395

Jan 31, 2013 - 12:25pm PT

Condolences to friends and family

klk

Trad climber

cali

Jan 31, 2013 - 12:43pm PT

awful news.

big blow to the entire community.

condolences

survival

Big Wall climber

Terrapin Station

Jan 31, 2013 - 12:52pm PT

Very very sorry to read this.

All of our condolences to Luc's family and friends.

The climbing world is less, and the US Air Force is less today.

Salute.

survival

Big Wall climber

Terrapin Station

Jan 31, 2013 - 01:33pm PT

labrat

Trad climber

Nevada City, CA

Jan 31, 2013 - 02:35pm PT

:-( Sad news. RIP

Michelle

Social climber

Toshi's Station, picking up power converters.

Jan 31, 2013 - 02:39pm PT

I've been in semi shock since this went down and I immediately thought of you Brad. Big loss for Twain Harte and the world. My thoughts are with his family and the many people I know at home struggling with this loss.

mtnyoung

Trad climber

Twain Harte, California

Jan 31, 2013 - 03:18pm PT

After Luc and I had been climbing together for a while he told me he wanted to do some longer routes in the High Sierra. We did a few such routes before he left for the Air Force Academy and one during a summer when he was home.

He was an incredibly strong climber and in good cardio/hiking shape too.

Our first longer climb was The Nevabe Ridge on Mount Morgan North. This route is only class three, but it's a long, long ridge with a lot of elevation gain.

We started fairly early, each carrying our own day packs. I'm strong, and by that point I'd done well over one hundred High Sierra routes. I hiked steeply uphill toward the actual ridge. Luc meanwhile hiked a little ahead. He was very strong, and 20 years younger than me.

As we sometimes did, the two of us exchanged some well meaning banter during the day. For the first hour or so Luc stayed ahead of me. He'd periodically stop to shout back: "are you OK old man?" And, "are you going to make it ?" I assured Luc that I'd make the summit, but that I'd do so at my own pace.

After the first hour of hiking Luc slowed noticeably. I kept up my normal, "all day" pace. Soon I was waiting for him. I didn't say anything, I just waited. After a few hours he was really lagging; this was his first time ever at these altitudes, and he lacked experience and obviously hadn't paced himself.

Finally, when the summit was in sight, I told Luc that I was going to continue at my pace and that I'd wait for him there. I went ahead, and when I arrived, I ate lunch. It was 15 minutes before Luc arrived.

He was amazed at the views; this was really his first time in the high mountains. I said nothing more about having to wait for him. Obviously, he'd stopped with the "old man" comments long before. We descended to the car by mid-afternoon.

Point made.

A year later we did the North Ridge of Lone Pine Peak. We roped up for some of this, but did most of it without gear. Even after we untied, we stayed fairly close to each other for the majority of the climb. It was obvious that Luc was pacing himself, now smarter and more experienced up high.

However, as Lone Pine's summit came into view, Luc quietly picked up his pace (on class two terrain by now). Did I mention how strong he was? He gradually pulled ahead of me toward the summit. He then waited for me there for 15 minutes. After I arrived he never said a word about his wait.

Counter-point made.

We spent the rest of that Lone Pine trip cragging on the east side.

Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber

Old and Broken Down in Appalachia

Jan 31, 2013 - 03:25pm PT

Military aviation is very dangerous even peacetime.

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.

Jan 31, 2013 - 03:28pm PT

rest well Luc

SalNichols

Big Wall climber

Richmond, CA

Jan 31, 2013 - 10:06pm PT

I spent most of my adult life working to make sure that these kids came home on their own two feet, so events like this break my heart. My deepest condolences to all of you, family and friends, that knew Luc.