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D.Eubanks
climber
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May 23, 2013 - 09:18am PT
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Delhi Dog, your post was spot on!
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OR
Trad climber
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May 23, 2013 - 09:39am PT
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Uhggggg...just found the thread. Vibes, thoughts and prayers to Mason, Mark, Families and friends.
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Regan
Big Wall climber
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May 23, 2013 - 09:40am PT
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Very sad and tragic.
Deep condolences to friends and family...
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Norwegian
Trad climber
the tip of god's middle finger
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May 23, 2013 - 09:49am PT
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a song about a mason named mason,
who died when his wall collapsed around him.
"mason was a mighty man,
a mighty man was he."
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Red Wing
climber
California
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May 23, 2013 - 10:52am PT
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Dear Marc,
I was in the party that was climbing behind you guys after you bivied on Grey. I helped you with the lower out on the bolt ladder traversing pitch that gets you on Muir, remember? I am so sorry, Marc. I don't know what to say. It is hard to believe.
We had time to talk a bit while you were out on lead. Mason and I shared funny stories, talked about home, family, walls... such a nice guy. We shared many similar experiences over many years of climbing in the Valley. On El Cap we are all brothers.
At that belay, the bad weather had me down and I said to him "Man, I don't know why I do this anymore". He looked at me for a sec, smiled, put his hand up in the air, palm facing me, and said, "Yeah you do." We high fived and then the rain fell harder. We were smiling. This is the Mason I will remember. Wherever it comes from, whatever it is, I'll work hard to keep the passion, Mason!
All the best to you, Marc. Maybe someday we'll meet again. Much love to you and the Robisons.
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telemon01
Trad climber
Montana
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May 23, 2013 - 12:33pm PT
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Wow everybody, I am completely overwhelmed by all the kind and generous messages being posted here and to my email. What an unbelievable and surreal experience this is. I keep asking myself,
"Is this real? Am I really the partner of the guy who just died on El Cap?"
Norwegian, thanks for the music vid. Red Wing, wow, thanks for reaching out. I know we were holding you guys up a little bit. Your input on the lower out was very much appreciated. Ending that day in the cold and rain by headlamp was just another aspect of the climb that made our experience so poignant. That feeling of getting into the ledge and warming up after a long day is so, so good.
Big wall climbing distills life down to it's very essence. The whole multi day process is broken down to one small step after another, with gravity a constant reminder of how precious life is.
I don't know what else to say. As far as the questions about the rope, it was a newer Edelweiss 10.5 big wall rope. As far as the block goes, it is the one seen in the photo posted by Melissa earlier in the thread, the large triangular block beneath the right hand side of the roof, just above the 3rd piece in her photo. (if my attempt to copy her link doesn't work, it is the photo in post #130)
http://www.supertopo.com/photos/18/22/303772_22984_L.jpg
Mason must have inadvertently dislodged the block while reaching left to put a cam in beneath the roof. I wasn't looking up at the time the block pulled. I heard the grating noise and pulled myself tight in to the wall. It was in his lap when he flew by the belay. Here is a picture of the missing block, showing Mason's last piece before he fell.
I have mixed feelings about providing so much detail, but all the questions are valid, and I think it is important to clarify what went on up there. After seeing Melissa's photo, and recognizing it as the same line Mason was taking, I see this as a good opportunity to remove the speculation and mystery of what happened.
Mason, a man who had as much passion for his work as he did his climbing. To know that he was taken out by a block so similar to other countless blocks he has hoisted and worked with in the past is bittersweet.
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Mark Hudon
Trad climber
Hood River, OR
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May 23, 2013 - 12:40pm PT
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Oh man, I just want to reach into that photo and give Mason a great big hug.
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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May 23, 2013 - 12:46pm PT
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Thanks for providing this info even though I'm sure it is very hard to write and think about. Very sorry for your loss of a great friend and human being.
Edit: +1 on Marks comment. ^^
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Lambone
Big Wall climber
Ashland, Or
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May 23, 2013 - 12:50pm PT
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Thanks Marc. Nasty chunk of rock... :(
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Aimee D
Social climber
Seattle
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May 23, 2013 - 12:56pm PT
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One of Mason's friends has started a page for donations in Mason's memory to expand the climbing park in Columbia Falls, Montana.
https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/bWB03
Thank you for letting me come by and listen. -Aimee
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GhoulweJ
Trad climber
El Dorado Hills, CA
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May 23, 2013 - 01:08pm PT
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Wow, I can see that block just dropping right into ones lap.
Thank you for posting up those details. That about sums up the speculation of the matter.
The pictures of Mason makes you want to just hang out and climb with the guy....
He looks a climbing partner full of stoke and spirit.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
dancin on the tip of god's middle finger
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May 23, 2013 - 01:19pm PT
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when this stone bull meets the heavenly matador,
all Mason says,
"don't you weep for me."
and then he boldly passed thru the red cape.
his stature is our's to follow.
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Red Wing
climber
California
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May 23, 2013 - 02:01pm PT
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We're all brothers/sisters up there, Marc. Mason helped get our bags through that slot leading up to Grey. Hard keeping up with that guy!
We could hear you guys laughing up on your portaledges in the evening, enjoying being done with the day. It was really nice morale boost for us after a cold rainy day. I wish I could give you and the Robisons a big 'ol hug. I'm so sorry.
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gstock
climber
Yosemite Valley
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May 23, 2013 - 02:57pm PT
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McHale's Navy
Trad climber
Panorama City, California & living in Seattle
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May 23, 2013 - 03:05pm PT
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Marc, thanks much for posting that info - it's what we all wanted and needed. It sure looks like it would be hard to get a read on that block. You kind of figure it's been there for awhile so why is it going anywhere today? When I was young it was hard to forget the Jim Madsen story. I'm sure all of our friends that have been 'surprised' would want us to know as much as possible about what happened exactly. El Cap is a beautiful and amazing place. It pulls you in and doesn't let go sometimes. One of the biggest struggles of my life was whether to keep going up it or not. I will always be amazed by it. Peace to Mason and happy trails to you.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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May 23, 2013 - 03:08pm PT
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hey there say, telemon1... oh my... now i understand why there was an explosion-noise (edit: meaning, i did not understand the size of the rocks and rockfall, at first)...
i feel for the climbers, always, like if they were my brothers, being that my brother climbed all those years and i, at the time, in a situation where i really could not contact my family very often, WONDERED and prayed for all of them... wondering if i'd ever seen them again... *was married in south texas and had just enough for our kids, to get by...
after divorce, i found this open door to mark/chappy now, and so many
that feel the same way that most of our family felt about the greatoutdoors...
thus, i hope and pray for all the climbers and THIS TIME:
my brother himself WAS THERE in the area of all this...
thus--not being able to understand why they heard such an explosion
noise kept nagging at me--now i understand...
of course, it cause me and others and you, more pain, as to mason's last
moments... but i pray that the balm for this pain, god's grace, in my
eyes (and of course in the eyes of others, each have their own balm),
but, well,:
i pray that the balm will, after soothing us, SPREAD out and soothe others
connected to this situation, and other accidents, and give ongoing-healing
in the ways that come to our attention, even it it is YEARS down the line, as well...
as we can see, it IS coming in, in a good strong flow...
life is complex enough, and increase more, with the situations of life that we face that are beyond just eating and sleeping and caring for our daily body as to family-circles...
when things happen to friends or loved ones, there is just that
need to understand, as IF in some way, it will help us KNOW how to reach out better, to help ease the 'results' of whatever the 'said complexities' had left in the wake...
when it is good complexities, of course, there is no need for healing, but for sharing joy...
how much more so, though, should healing be shared...
however, a step at a time, as we are dealing with others BEYOND our family-circle, and must take care, as we do not yet always know and understand them as well as those that we already know...
thank you for sharing this...
as with all fallen climbers, his folks will not be forgotten, in my prayers...
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Colombia, South America
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May 23, 2013 - 03:48pm PT
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^^^ Those two pictures a couple of posts above show what happened. This could have happened to anyone, just looks like any other block on el Cap.
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Nilepoc
Big Wall climber
Tx
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May 23, 2013 - 04:08pm PT
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Thank you for sharing the picture of the void left be that block. It pales in size to the void left by the loss of a climber like Mason. His videos speak well of his character and I find myself wishing I could have shared a pitch with him.
As others have stated it could have been any of us on any route. It is calming to know the cause and perplexing to think about the fickleness of that block.
My thoughts go out to all impacted by this and especially the family and Mason's partner.
RIP Mason.
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wbw
Trad climber
'cross the great divide
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May 23, 2013 - 04:15pm PT
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Such an innocuous looking little bit of climbing. I can easily imagine pushing right on that block standing there in my aiders, trying to get as much reach to the left as possible.
Thanks for posting that picture Mark.
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Baron Weasel
Trad climber
England
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May 23, 2013 - 04:22pm PT
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Best wishes to all who knew Mason. Will think of him when ever I hear The Grateful Dead, Mason's Children...
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