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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Mar 21, 2018 - 09:18pm PT
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Anyone who has stanced a hand drilled bolt knows Tom's spirit. Or at least I would like to think that.
Rest well Tom
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jstan
climber
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Mar 21, 2018 - 09:35pm PT
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Many decades ago I was talking to Bridwell about a Higgins face climb I had had trouble with.
Bridwell said, " I was not a face climber. But Higgns........" At that point Bridwell only shook his head.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Mar 21, 2018 - 10:03pm PT
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such very sad news
whenever I met Tom it was always a memorable occurrence, and I will keep those fond memories as a gift. Those memories always bubble up when I'm imagining my line through one of his climbs, getting up the courage to go where he went first.
thanks Tom.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Mar 21, 2018 - 10:27pm PT
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In the fall of 1972, (my senior year at Cal) Tom showed up in Berkeley, and we bouldered together at Indian Rock quite a bit. This news stuns and saddens me greatly. He was one of the most likeable climbers -- and people -- I've ever known. I can't imagine the grief his family must feel now.
Rest in peace, good man.
John
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 21, 2018 - 10:43pm PT
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hey there say, tamara... i did not know him, or his family... i am so sad to hear this, and, my prayers and condolences,to her, the rest of his family, and his loved ones... :(
may friends and loved-ones make her strong, through this sad hard time, of
moving on without him... :(
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Mar 22, 2018 - 05:19am PT
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Lynne, the op was edited and the only reference to what you mention is your own. You too, have the power to edit.
I don’t entirely agree, btw,but I’m sure that topic will get its own thread
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Off White
climber
Tenino, WA
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Mar 22, 2018 - 06:26am PT
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The fact that Tom Higgins, a Titan from my youth, would post here as LongAgo and tell stories was one of the things that charmed me about this place.
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Tom Patterson
Trad climber
Seattle
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Mar 22, 2018 - 06:37am PT
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What a profound loss. My sincere condolences to his family and all his many friends.
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shipoopoi
Big Wall climber
oakland
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Mar 22, 2018 - 10:12am PT
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my sincere condolences to tom's family and friends. he will be immortal in my eye for his routes in my beloved tuolumne. long ago he helped me with an article on tuolumne, much appreciated. so sad, steve
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Mar 22, 2018 - 10:39am PT
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Sad news.
Fly free Tom.
I offer my sincere condolences to Toms Family and friends.
RIP
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Alan Rubin
climber
Amherst,MA.
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Mar 22, 2018 - 10:48am PT
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So very sorry to read this. I never knew Tom personally but followed his climbing accomplishments from afar throughout his career and occasionally had the opportunity to sample some of his many outstanding routes. We were pretty much exact contemporaries based on the opposite coasts(though Tom was a far more accomplished climber than I have ever been) and we shared a common profession. More recently I have always been impressed by his occasional contributions on this forum. Condolences to his family. RIP Tom.
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Chris Jones
Social climber
Glen Ellen, CA
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Mar 22, 2018 - 11:07am PT
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A stunning loss to not only the climbing world, but the wider world itself. Our thoughts are with his wife Nancy and their daughter Alanna.
One of the several climbs I did over the years with Tom was his superb Tuolomne route, "The Vision." We both found the crux pitch quite sketchy on that occasion, but had such a good time. And that wonderful heartfelt laugh he had. Such a fine, fine person.
Some years ago I gave a talk on American climbing at a UK conference. I stated: "I remember talking to Californian Tom Higgins about his trip to the Alps in the mid 1960s. He had spent his time in Chamonix free climbing the routes on the Aiguille de l’M and Pointe Albert! I was appalled. It struck me as absolute stupidity; what about the great North Face routes! These Americans simply don’t get it I thought to myself. But many years later I now realize that his quest was in fact visionary."
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Mar 22, 2018 - 01:36pm PT
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You struggle up a run out route in Tuolumne, and you sigh in relief as you reach a bolt. Then you think, "This guy stood on some dinky stance long enough to put in that bolt."
A unique form of service to fellow human beings, thank you Tom for all those dicey placements, and for your thoughtful, articulate musings on the climbing scene.
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Bruce Morris
Trad climber
Soulsbyville, California
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Mar 22, 2018 - 01:58pm PT
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I can still remember when Bob Harrington sent me and Nick Badyrka out away from the road to do Tom Higgin's "Vision". Beautiful location, beautiful rock and the crux pitch was just amazing.
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Mar 22, 2018 - 02:01pm PT
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My condolences to his family and friends.
I only knew Tom Higgins through his fine writing & the writing & photos by other climbers.
My life is poorer for never having met him.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Outside the Asylum
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Mar 22, 2018 - 03:40pm PT
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Very sad news, about someone whose uncompromising ethics and actions set an example for all to aspire to.
We corresponded a little, but never met - I'd hoped that he would be at the Robbins memorial.
His deft writing was also a marvel, such as his satire "In Due Time". It's fascinating that Yosemite in the 1960s should have inspired the work of Sheridan Anderson and that of Higgins, and also that of Robbins in Tis-sa-Ack. All somewhat introspective and all gently witty.
Some of us once did his route The Peanut, on the apron by the Yosemite Falls trail. Rather adventuresome, although being inured to Squamish slabs helped.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Mar 22, 2018 - 03:50pm PT
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So sad.
My sincere condolences to Tom's family and friends.
Rest in Peace, Tom.
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scuffy b
climber
heading slowly NNW
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Mar 22, 2018 - 05:48pm PT
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I was lucky to meet him in my formative years. Tom and Bruce Cooke were the most influential people in my little world. Delightful. Thanks, Tom. You made a difference. Best wishes for Nancy.
Steve Moyles
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California, now Ireland
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Mar 22, 2018 - 06:30pm PT
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Oh no, so sad. Like John, I used to boulder with Tom at Indian Rocks, a super nice guy, a gentleman, and a darn great climber. Patrick
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