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Vegasclimber
Trad climber
Las Vegas, NV.
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May 20, 2014 - 02:08am PT
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I only met Richie a few times in the Valley, but every time I saw him he always seemed so stoked and yet a really chill guy. I remember thinking instantly that he would be an awesome guy to have on the wall with you.
RIP Richie, and my condolences to his sister, family and friends that loved him.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, or In What Time Zone Am I?
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May 20, 2014 - 02:14am PT
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This hurts. He was so kind and funny and just a few words with him and I'd feel the energy...the stoke...another blow-to-the-gut loss.
Susan
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TMayse
climber
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May 20, 2014 - 08:39am PT
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I met Richie a few years ago in Camp IV. My first impression was who was this lean looking dude with no body fat and a rugged look to him? We hit it off from our first conversation. Rich was super cool and as chilled as they come. His stories were clearly a cut above the rest of us. Rich was a total hard man in every sense of the word. He climbed the hard routes, the ones that have seen no traffic since their first ascent. I thought to myself after first meeting each other that this is a guy who the real deal! We had some things in common… we were about the same age, had worked in a factory type job and lived in the Midwest. However, Rich left all that sh#t behind and started living the climbers dream. I will miss seeing your smiling face Rich and hearing about your adventures. My trips to the valley won’t be the same. You are sorely missed my friend.
My condolences to Rich’s family and all that knew him.
~Tony Mayse
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dirt claud
Social climber
san diego,ca
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May 20, 2014 - 10:02am PT
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As someone who just watches from the sidelines the exploits of some of the greats here, I am greatly saddened when I hear of a loss of another soul who gave and will continue to give so much inspiration to myself and others. From reading the stories about this man it is obvious he was loved by many and a great void is being felt in the Valley and many other places. Very sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Richie.
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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May 20, 2014 - 10:32am PT
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Never met him nor did I know much about him but the stories you all share are telling. We lost a great one. So sorry to friends and family.
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Rich is my hero
Social climber
Dallas
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May 20, 2014 - 10:45am PT
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From the family (Mark) - Thank you all for the kind words and pictures. You really never know what you had until it's gone. Please continue to share pictures and stories so I can share with my family and boys. Your posts mean the world to me and my family.
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gabeman
Trad climber
el portal
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May 20, 2014 - 11:31am PT
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My buddy Richie lived life to the fullest every day! Sweet, charming, genuine, caring, daring, hilarious, inspiring and so many other great qualities. Richie went out doing what he loved to do in the place he called home. This is him and I two weeks ago on the summit of the lost brother wall. We had just finished a new route up the steep headwall. Richie loved the magic of adventure and is probably climbing some sweet line in the next level right now, cracking jokes all the while:) I'm thankful to be your friend and to of known such a great man! I'll carry with me the awesome memories that I have of you!
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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May 20, 2014 - 11:37am PT
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wow, sorry to hear this
terrible news
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skcreidc
Social climber
SD, CA
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May 20, 2014 - 11:50am PT
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Cynthia, I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss. As someone else said, one day at a time.
I've never met the man, but it's obvious he had a large positive impact on those that he met.
Chris
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WBraun
climber
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May 20, 2014 - 11:57am PT
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Our tribes lost one hell of great guy .....
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BrentA
Gym climber
Roca Rojo
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May 20, 2014 - 12:02pm PT
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Golden Jah to Richie's family in this time.
Such a special dude.
I believe I met Richie on his first trip to El Cap. This was so many years ago I'm not sure what year it was.
I clearly remember the moment though at the base of Tangerine Trip.
Talking excitedly on his phone he had a rattlesnake cornered with a stick.
It sounded like whomever was on the other end of the phone didn't believe him, or share in his excitement.
SO HE THREW HIS PHONE AT THE SNAKE.
Now the snake is all coiled up around the phone, pissed off...but NOW the person on the other end can hear the snake rattling. So, it's all good.
I tried to walk around him and act like this sort of thing happened all the time. I thought he was a kook.
That year Richie was on vacation from Ford. He was only getting 2 weeks off that year. I was impressed with only 2 weeks off you would jam out to Yosemite to try to solo El Cap.
While he didn't make it up the Trip we got to know each other in the way you do spending too much time in the meadow.
He was implicitly my friend, my bro, an adventure partner.
Messages, plans, trips, Hooker, jumping, years all roll together. I remember running into him in Ouray, sneaking into my van and catching up.
Richie got harder at an inversely proportional rate to me getting softer. I'm proud the direction he grew with his climbing.
I'm sad and nauseous writing this. Fly high my friend.
Make sure the rack is sorted, I will lead the next one.
Brent
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j-tree
Big Wall climber
Typewriters and Ledges
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May 20, 2014 - 12:03pm PT
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Lambone
Big Wall climber
Ashland, Or
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May 20, 2014 - 12:34pm PT
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Richie was one of those few fixtures in Yosemite that made my annual visits to the Valley feel like returning home to family.
I never had the pleasure of climbing with him but spent countless hours just lounging with him doing the El Cap lieback, swinging in the alcove, sharing beers and smokes around the campfire, swapping stories and laughs.
He was always so encouraging about my adventures on the big stone, it seemed every route I was getting on he had some wild tale of his own epic on the same climb where he ran out of water, or forgot his headlamp and climbed by brail through the night. It felt like hearing his stoke on a route insured success, and I'd often postpone my departure just for the chance to chill with Richie a bit longer.
Never judgmental, ever humble, and ALWAYS treated everyone like an equal... I learned a lot from Richie and am glad I had the chance to know him. I think I'll always be looking for him in the usual spots. I know his spirit will remain in the Valley of the Gods, watching and rooting us onward and upward, rolling us a smoke for good 'ole times sake.
RIP brother.
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BlindmanPhotos
Social climber
Truckee,CA
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May 20, 2014 - 12:35pm PT
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I only just met Richie two weeks ago and hiked and camped with him up on the diving board at half dome. He was so energetic and happy to help show off his backyard. A truly pure soul who will be missed greatly. Here he is just two weeks ago living to the fullest.
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Ottawa Doug
Social climber
Ottawa, Canada
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May 20, 2014 - 12:56pm PT
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Only met Richie a couple of times. He was always friendly, humble etc...
He will be missed a ton.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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May 20, 2014 - 01:42pm PT
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To Mark and Cindy, your brother was always open and friendly to every soul he ever met. Seemed always stoked, upbeat and happy the few times I met him, willing to share whatever. Great guy. The world could do with a lot more like him, sorry for your loss.
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roy
Social climber
NZ -> SB,CA -> Zurich
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May 20, 2014 - 02:41pm PT
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This is tragic news - so obviously a great guy. My condolences to his family and friends. .... Roy
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Tom R
climber
Rainy England
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May 20, 2014 - 05:37pm PT
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Me, Richie and Nate all climbed our first El Cap route together way back in the day. It was such a mega epic and we were way out of our depth. It was amazing fun though and the photo that I have up in my living room of us at the rim of El Cap brings amazing memories. Everyone is just beaming out of their brains as we can't believe we topped out.
When all of us were too scared to lead one of the pitches, Richie stepped up and took it.
When we ran out of water, Richie just said he didn't need it and we should drink the last bit.
On one of the belays he clipped into a water bottle sling instead of the main point and when it ripped and he caught himself on a sling, he just shrugged and said "whoops, that was careless". No drama.
He had a really screwed knee that was due for an op after he got off the wall but he didn't complain once about it, and still carried a flipping heavy load down the ledges. He just soldiered on and wouldn't have anything but be a great team player.
One of the truly dependable and massively giving people that I've met in my years of climbing. It brings a smile to my face just to think of the funny things he did and said.
Rest in peace Richie.
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