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NeverSurfaced
Trad climber
Someplace F*#ked!
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Oct 25, 2006 - 07:27pm PT
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Good Advise Ed-
I'm sure this thread means more to Todd's family than we may ever know.
This is by far the strongest turnout with the most positive comments I can recall for anyone on ST. It's a real testament to who Todd was as a person.
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Pablo
Trad climber
J-Tree
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Oct 25, 2006 - 08:00pm PT
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You will be missed Todd,
Paul and Donna
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Lauren
climber
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Oct 25, 2006 - 08:37pm PT
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I am so sorry for Amy, the children, and Paul.
Todd was a truely genuine and enthusiastic person, it didn't matter what your climbing abliltiy was. I met Todd and Paul when I moved to Lander in 2003, at the Gravity Club. I distinctly remember Todd's teasing and joking personality, and thinking what a cool climbing community Lander had.....hell, if everyone was as supportive and friendly as these guys, Lander is going to be a fun place to be. I had no idea that it was Todd and Paul I had interacted with at the time. What a welcome committee.
Todd will be missed by so many.
-Lauren Edwards
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JOEY.F
Social climber
sebastopol
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Oct 25, 2006 - 09:29pm PT
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Total noob here,
Was at the base of Central Pillar on Monday, thinking, "can I do that?"
Didn't know what was happening at the same time...
Now, I know I will, and will think of him when I do.
Heartfelt condolences to Todd's family and friends, very sad.
Always,
Joe.
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elemental
Gym climber
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Oct 25, 2006 - 09:30pm PT
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Hi everyone,
It is snowing in Lander right now.
These are such nice thoughts. There are so many wonderful people out there. Tonight, the Skinner home is filled with voices of friends and the sounds of children playing. The words of the climbers and others on this forum are being read aloud at the dinner table.
I know people are anxious to know the details of what happened to Todd, and they will be forthcoming when the rangers complete their investigation. The important thing now, though, is to realize what great kindness there is in this sometimes too cruel world. To understand that our love of the sport and the people in it can transcend even death, and bring those of us left behind a little closer together.
We are hoping to see so many of you in Lander this Saturday for Todd's birthday party. Let's hope he's doing well on the next big adventure.
Amy Skinner and
Steve Bechtel
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StevieB
Social climber
Burlington, VT
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:06pm PT
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My connection to Todd was through Amy, who I've been friends with for many years. Though I was only with Todd on a handful of occasions, he left an indelible imprint on me - as he has, obviously, on the lives of many others. I remember seeing one of his and Paul's memorable slidehows in Portland in the early 90's. Todd shifted seamlessly from rock climbing travelog to climbing as a metaphor for life. His quote that I recall was "do what you fear to do, and the fear will die" (with credit given to Emerson) before admitting to the crowd of 200+ his fear of singing in public. Of course, this admission was soon followed by a loud, over-the-top version of a cowboy ballad, sung in Todd's enthusiastic, though not angelic voice. I can't tell you the number of times in my life I've been stopped in my tracks with fear, and have pushed on recollecting Todd's irrepressible spirit.
Todd was a true original who will be missed by so many people. My sincere condolences to Amy, Hannah, Sarah and Jake; Lucy and Garold Whisler; the Skinner Family; and the many friends in Todd's universe.
Steve Boutcher
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Swillard
Mountain climber
Vernon, B.C.
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:18pm PT
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I saw Todd on and off in Boulder in the 80s though I never came close to climbing at his level. He was a super-positive guy and it was infectious. Some critics argued he was publicity-seeking, but I think his exploits were worth sharing. As a dad of two small kids who still sometimes climbs, I feel so sad for those he leaves behind.
Doug Geller
Vernon, B.C.
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NeverSurfaced
Trad climber
Someplace F*#ked!
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:22pm PT
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Amy, good to hear your sourounded by loving friends and family. It would appear as though your extended family is boundless; it speaks volumes as to the kind of person Todd was, is and always will be.
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Babits
climber
wy
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:32pm PT
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Amy, Hannah, Jake, and Sarah, I want to thank you, for letting Todd go climbing with me. I know that the time Todd and I spent climbing was time that he was away from his family. Hopefully, the time he was away from home helped to make your time together with him all the more memorable. This is a very sad event and we all share in your loss, but I know you will all continue to grow and prosper.
Todd, thank you, for your endless optimism, enthusiasm, encouragement, and generosity. May your accomplishments and vision continue to be an inspiration to future generations. I will remember you, not so much for what has already been done, but for what still needs to be done, because we have only begun to scratch the surface. There are so many new routes left to be done, places to explore, new lessons to be learned and shared. Every day we have here is precious, we must take every opportunity to accomplish our goals, we can not let another season go by, waiting.
Obviously, Todd’s departure is a huge loss that no one had planned on, and it will take some time to absorb this, reflect on our own lives, and make adjustments.
Adios!
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two ravens
Boulder climber
pinedale, wy
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:48pm PT
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I haven't seen Todd for 10 years or so, as I don't climb much anymore. So I pulled out my old yearbooks (Todd was a few years ahead of me in school) and there he is a skinny teenager in his senior year - stylish bell bottoms, full head of hair and that trademark goofy grin, smiling out at the world, so many adventures ahead of him.
My Dad and I were just telling tales about our various memories of the Skinner clan, and dad said that Todd's parents are flat out the best people he has ever known. As you all know, Todd was carrying on that tradition in his own amazing way.
Our hearts go out to Todd's father especially, and all the rest of his family and friends too. Peace to all.
 Kelly Ravner and Charlie Raper
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inhisfootsteps
Sport climber
Out West where the climbin's always good.
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Oct 25, 2006 - 11:52pm PT
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Hey all,
Again this is Becca, Todd and Amy's niece. Aunt Amy I cannot wait to see you and the kids, the drive will be so long tommarow. Mr. Betchel, *sorry if I misspelled it*, thank you so much for all that you are doing for our family. It means so much to us and I hope you know that.
This time, I am coming to the forum because I feel like this is such a community that I can come to release my fears or concerns. One thing that I am having a great deal of dealing with from this all is whether or not I think that I want to climb anymore. My Uncle Todd and I were talking about climbing Devil's Tower together last fall and it had been a dream of mine since I visited Yosemite to follow in his footsteps and climb El Cap doing the Salathe route. Most of the climbing I did was pretty hard stuff for me just because I am young and in-experienced but Todd was always there to support me and make me do it even though I didnt want to. Now that my uncle isnt here, im not sure whether or not I have the passion to do it anymore. I loved doing it but it was mostly because I looked up to him so much. He was my hero and most definatly a father-figure like someone else said on the forum. I LOVE the stories you guys tell. It makes me feel like he shared so many good times with people that we are all connected somehow. I wish those of you who couldn't see how cool he was, could've met him. I'm positive you would have loved him. I especially love what someone wrote about he was the type of dad to let his kids eat junk for breakfast. That makes me laugh everytime I see that. He was totally like that. You just couldnt help but laugh when you were around him. Thanks guys for all the stories and laughs. It makes the family and friends of him feel so much better. Please come to his birthday party on Saturday- it would mean so much. You all rock.
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Lezlie Lehmann
Trad climber
Van Nuys, Ca.
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Oct 26, 2006 - 12:00am PT
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It was June 1985. I had just turned 30. My boyfriend, Hans (now my husband of 18 years), our golden retriever, Tascha, and I were in the incubation stage of our year off from being working stiffs and we had just made our first climbing purchases: top roping tools and a single 150 meter rope and books, so we could teach ourselves to climb when we stopped in Index, Washington and saw a site that blew our minds - there was Todd at least 200 ft above ground, free soloing what looked like a freakishly steep featureless face - we were so naive; M&Ms without the helmets but still; I thought I was looking at a demented God, and a beautiful one at that with his golden hair falling all over his face and his pink tank top and baggy short pants rolled up at the cuffs, just dancing like Baryshnikov up that impossible looking line. I literally held my breath till he sailed over to a fixed rope and rappelled down.
His barely white beat up ol VW bus was parked next to our '82 Toyota shortbed with a cabover camper on top and I was frying up bacon for BLT sandwiches when he ambled through the parking lot unfazed and grinnning at us through the camper door with his signature "Ain't life grand?" smile. If I was entranced seeing him free solo, I was totally captivated by his charm and impish smile and his friendliness. The first thing I ever said to Todd Skinner was, "Would you like a BLT?" When he finished licking the mayonnaise off his taped fingers, he woke his then partner, Beth Wald, from a nap and she belayed him on "City Park," Todd's then pet project and of course the hardest climb that had not yet gone free, which of course made it all the more alluring to Todd, who would not be deterred, even by greasy holds that had been made so by jealous local climbers who were not happy about this Wyoming "Cowboy," hornin' in on "their so-called territory." Todd wasn't even fazed by it.
From that point on, Todd took us under his protective wing; he so admired that we had cut loose from society's noose for an entire year that he made a point of always letting us know where he'd be hangin' his resoles next so we could meet up with him, which we did faithfully for the rest of that year, all the way through the Spring of '86. And it was, without a doubt, a history-making year because Todd Rocked the Climbing Community with a shake-up make-over unlike any it had known before. ALong with a small but faithfully devoted crew, headed up by Paul Piana and Beth Wald, and Bill Hatcher, against some fierce and sometimes brutally dangerous controversy, Todd turned the trad tide upside down and created a new wave form he called, "Sport Climbing;" by raising the difficulty level of climbing from the top down, and protecting a seemingly impossible line in advance of climbing it, he made the impossible possible, and safer to boot. And even though Hans and never did embrace Sport climbing over trad, we loved and admired Todd for his gumption, his passion, his grace, his incomparable wit and his unparalleled kindness.
Every morning I wake up and the first thing I see is Todd freeing the Salathe and Paul belaying him inside a tent on a ledge below. On his outstretched red-clad right arm he wrote on this framed poster, "Hans & Lezlie- Climb Wildly."
We were in Yosemite this past weekend and I actually thought I saw Todd climbing above the Nose on El Cap, as I was viewing climbers from a telescope in the meadow 1500' below - we didn't actually know Todd was there; had we known, we would have surely scouted around till we found him; just to say "Howdy" and see him smile again. I am devastated that this beloved and loving man is gone, though his star will glint like the light in his baby blues on and on and on. Todd Skinner will be loved and cherished and remembered for all time - of this I have no doubt- for he is legendary and there will never be another Todd- the Best of the Best. My heart is full, and aching Amy, for you, for Todd, for your children, your family & friends, and for all of us who are Blessed to have been graced by Todd's Great Big Beingness. His spirit is Vast and will influence and inspire us to be passionate and true to our own paths.
May you be bouyed by the wings of his protective love where ever he flies tonight and ever more
Lezlie Lehmann
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Oct 26, 2006 - 12:13am PT
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Hey Becca,
I'm so sorry for your loss. You'll know when it's time to climb again. Don't push it and don't worry if it doesn't come. If and when it does come it will feel like just the right thing to do. Don't force it. It will either come or it won't. I spent a lot of time with Todd over the years and one of his unique qualities was that it ALWAYS felt like the right time to climb with him. He was amazing. I miss him, too.
Mal
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Oct 26, 2006 - 12:35am PT
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Hi all, glad you stopped by to read up on old Todd Skinner, the riding-est, roping-est cowboy who ever donned a pair of climbing shoes.
To Becca (Todd & Amy's niece): I think you will want to climb again sometime, maybe sooner than you think. Right now I can imagine you've got a hole in your heart where your Uncle Todd was, and that will be there for a while. I guess ole Todd would say to follow your heart, and I couldn't say much more than that.
Back in '89 I guess it was, the year after Todd and Paul Piana's rise to rock star status after freeing the Salathe, I got to spend a month or so living in the teepee with them in the Black Hills at Rushmore. Jacob Valdez rounded out the crew, and a tough-as-nails, sweet-as-pie smokejumper named Amy Whisler stopped by too. It was late fall, and she'd just finished a work season as I recall. Bill Hatcher showed up for a while (and bore witness to my harassment at the hands of the local constabulary - thanks again, Bill!). Sams Lightner stopped by too for a spell. Quite a crew.
Of course Todd made sure to school me on the lore and legends of the Black Hills and took me out and spooked me on some of the Needles' classics. But mostly our days were spent on new Rushmore projects, and sitting around the teepee cooking meals, telling tales and, for me anyway, feeling very far away from the rest of the world. It was there that I, for once, taught Todd something: the fabled Australian Stick Dance. (Ask me if you want to know about it, but be forewarned: several of us nearly ended up in the fire that night, and no alcohol was involved).
That boy was the real deal, as shown by the comments found here. It makes me want to be a better person, a better father, and to always feel that way. Thanks Todd, and thanks to his family for sharing him with us.
Bill McMahon
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poop_tube
Big Wall climber
33° 45' N 117° 52' W
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Oct 26, 2006 - 12:51am PT
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Todd,
Much love bro. You'll always live on some way some how in my mind. Rock on.
Kia
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Lezlie Lehmann
Trad climber
Van Nuys, Ca.
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Oct 26, 2006 - 12:58am PT
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Becca Skinner,if it Rocks your world then Climb On!!!!
I was 30 years old the first time I roped up and the first time I set eyes on your amazing uncle Todd, the bravest and most outrageously wild climber I have ever had the privilege to know, climb, camp and party with. Climbing isn't limited to the actual effort of moving up or across a rock face. It is the most powerful and all encompassing activity I have ever had the pleasure to lose my inhibitions to. I am never moreso fully alive and self-aware than when I am climbing and I'm 51 years old and still mad for the rock after 21 years! And Your uncle Todd is probably the main reason I love climbing as much as I do. His love for climbing was like a flu bug that when it bit anyone remotely interested in climbing within his range, we couldn't help but want to get next to a wall after seeing him create his magic on it. Of this I am sure: He wouldn't want you to continue climbing for him or out of respect or your love for him; it has to be your own passion; I believe Todd climbed because it was a big part of what made him who he was; like a limb or an organ. He sought and found fulfillment in this pursuit. I'm sure it helped him to discover and achieve excellence and success in other areas of his life.
Don't let your fear overwhelm your love and passion for doing anything that rocks your Being, Becca. Your Uncle Todd will carry his love for you always no matter what you choose to do.
I have two sons; my younger one, who is 12, and is named Grant, after Yosemite Granite, is a natural born climber and I will support and encourage him to climb as much as he wants as safely as he possibly can. I do not want him to be harmed by anything in life, but I have to honor his desires, especially the ones that enhance his Beingness.
BTW, Is your Mom, Holly? If so, I still have the original chalk bag that she made and Todd sold to me for $10.00 back in 1985, to help support his climbing "habit," when he was still without corporate sponsors! It has a lightning bolt on it! Todd spoke of his family lovingly, and often, and whether he embellished the truth or not, he'd crack us up, and we knew he had an adventurous childhood.
I wish you and your family, Becca, the strength and hope and faith to bear this horrific loss.
Lezlie
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LaAlpinista
Trad climber
Seattle
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Oct 26, 2006 - 01:00am PT
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I only saw Todd very briefly, but I remember his wonderful enjoyment of life, of climbing, and the fun he got from sharing all this with others. He was giving a short climbing seminar at an indoor gym -- and just had a grand time telling stories, jokes, and giving us weekend-type climbers pointers on technique. He really enjoyed encouraging us. He was enthusiastic and energetic and natural.....
very inspiring.
My heart goes out to his family.
Good climbing in the Summerland, Todd.
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Dfrost
Social climber
Ca
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Oct 26, 2006 - 01:02am PT
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Todd sort of sparkled. Hard to picture him without a smile, so he is forever
wearing one in my mind. I worked in the industry, and it is important to note,
as you have, he was such a great guy. Though, not only to serious peers.
Today, I had to tell one of his friends who didn't know and have never seen
my friend so, so sad. I knew him a bit, his Uncle Courtney better. Knowing the
stock the boy was from, let you know that he was the real deal ... bunch of
cowboy outdoorsmen. Todd was as warm and welcoming to people who weren't
serious climbers as well. He caused you to have the sense, if he was talking to
you, that you were the most important thing he had to do that moment. I have
learned a lasting lesson from that. When I told my son and daughter, now grown, what had happened, they just yelled ... no! There is a memorial for him, Saturday at
3:30 at Sinks Canyon in Lander. I am so sorry for Amy and their children, for his
family in Pinedale ... his dear uncles ... his dad. One can only hope to leave
such a void. Rest well, good man.
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Jim Herson
climber
Emerald Hills, CA
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Oct 26, 2006 - 01:05am PT
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My deepest condolences to Todd's loved ones.
It's odd that the loss of a guy I never met is so devastating but then it's odd that a guy I never met had such a profound impact on my life.
It was my first year of climbing and we had just crawled off Half Dome, thrashed to the core. The Valley floor was a buzz about Paul and Todd freeing the Headwall. Hadn't a clue who Paul or Todd or the Headwall were but the excitement was intoxicating. Discovering what they had climbed, where they had climbed, and how they had climbed it against the backdrop of just getting my tushie trashed on HD was life altering.
Clipping the anchors on Paul and Todd's route years later lived up to every bit of the buzz and was in fact my 2nd most memorable climbing moment. The 1st came a year later when Todd Skinner called me up to offer me a beer!! Rarely do my sport idols -- or for that matter my so called 'friends' -- offer me a beer. Ultimately, however, he graciously relented and allowed me to owe him a beer for all he had done for me personally and climbing in general.
Of course having never met Todd it took almost a full minute to dive head first into Salathe smack. Todd had a good laugh at all the pettiness their breakthrough climb brought out. In that short phone call Todd went from my climbing hero to just plain hero. Thanks Todd!
Jim
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Jeff & Beth Leafgreen
Sport climber
Lander, Wyoming
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Oct 26, 2006 - 01:15am PT
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It’s been incredible reading all of the stories and memories of Todd the last couple days. I can’t help but think of the time I went climbing with Todd, Paul and my (soon to be) husband, Jeff. We were climbing at a newly developed area near Wild Iris. Jeff had just on-sighted a route that Paul had put in, and was cleaning the gear off it. The route was steep with a huge over hang at the top. As Jeff was coming down cleaning the gear off, he reached the point where the over hang connected into the vertical wall. Forgetting that he had a quick draw clip from his harness to my end of the rope…he let go of the wall. As he swung out from the wall…he lifted me off the ground. Before I knew what had happened, I was stuck in a large tree!! Of course the entire time screaming! Here they come! Todd and Paul to my rescue! They got me out of the tree and stood by while I lowered Jeff to the ground…seeing as I was still shook up from the ride! I still have the scars on my leg! I don’t know what we would have done if Todd and Paul weren’t there.
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