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Nancy Daugherty
climber
Washington, DC
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Molly,
I still check this site regularly and agree that it is a great form of community connection. It's been especially wonderful to read postings from your family.
Late in the afternoon a couple of weeks ago I was working away in my office on Pennsylvania Avenue and someone started yelling to come quickly to the window (we have a great view of the US Capitol building). Much to my surprise there was a a double rainbow over the capitol.
Naturally, I thought of you.
much love to all,
Nancy (WVa friend living in DC)
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elemental
Gym climber
Lander, Wyoming
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Feb 14, 2008 - 05:45pm PT
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Danielle
Gym climber
Lake Forest, IL
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Feb 25, 2008 - 05:31am PT
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Dear Molly,
I was fortunate enough to climb with Pete on the trip
through the Wind's in July/August of 2007, a few weeks
before Pete passed away.
He was an amazing leader and he knew how to relate to
everyone. He left our trip early, and everyone was so
happy to see him back in Lander after our return. Its
so hard to think that just ten days later he was gone.
I went on my NOLS trip to straighten out things in my
life and really understand where things were headed.
Pete understood everything, and I could always talk to
him. My trip wouldn't have been the same without him.
That sounds really cliche, but I think everyone on my
trip would've agreed.
Hearing the details about Pete's death was so scary,
because it was so coincidental. Throughout our trip,
Pete would always stress the safety with rockfall.
EVERYTIME even the smallest rock fell on someone's
climb, Pete would yell to "be careful," that he wanted
to be able to make it home to his daughter! Everytime.
It didn't help that he was killed just a few days
after my trip ended.
I'm ashamed that it has taken me so long to write.
Last august, when I first heard that Pete had passed
away, I didn't know what to say with comforting words,
mostly because I wasn't sure I believed them. I found
out what happened on the day that I left home for my
freshman year of college. It was so hard to know that
someone who had helped me to overcome so much had gone
when i was about to make the biggest change thus far.
Well, what motivated me to write is that I was hoping
you could email me your home address. I swear I'm not
creepy, but I'm an art major and did a drawing using
many pictures from my NOLS trip, including ones of
Pete. I am proud that it has since been praised by
many professors at the University of Illinois, was
hung in the Krannert Art Museum, and has made its way
through other art shows as well. The piece is named
after him. I would like to mail the original drawing
to you, it would mean so much to me.
Thank you, and I hope you and Avery are doing well.
Please, please, please email me at bluebug_85@yahoo.com
Danielle Drummond
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landerhunter
Social climber
Ruston, LA
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Feb 28, 2008 - 12:28pm PT
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WHAT A GREAT PICTURE OF AVERY IN PATAGONIA'S NEW CATALOG
HUNTER SMITH
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Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
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Feb 28, 2008 - 08:04pm PT
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Avery ~ we will be sure to bring our Patagonia Catalog to
the beach this summer so you can autograph it -- way cool!
Love,
Aunt Mary, Uncle Bill,
Cousins Chris & Molly
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MWhite
Social climber
Lander
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I saw a beautiful sight today at the Beaver Creek ski trails. Forty-seven racers lined up and at the count of "3, 2, 1, 'yeah buddy!'" skied away in a festive mood. A sizable herd of spectators gathered to cheer them on, and all of the racers did a great job. The raffle was a HUGE success, thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses and the optimism of the raffle ticket purchasers.
Throughout the day kids dug snow forts, cocoa was sipped, sleds zipped down the hills and lots of laughter punctuated the conversations.
Two things all of you should know: Molly was the first woman finisher (yea!!) and Avery won the giant stuffed alligator in the raffle (thanks, Nadine!)
My thanks to all who participated and helped celebrate the power of friendship. Today's gathering was a wonderful honoring of Pete's spirit. It was a heartwarming show of community and love. I'll be smiling for a while to come.
We're already putting thoughts towards how to make it bigger and better next year....
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KB lander
Trad climber
Lander
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I too saw a beautiful site today at Pete's Ski. It was after the race, when I went to do a lap since I'd been manning the kitchen. It was this big, black, cool cloud over the Wind River high peaks. It looked a bit ominous at first, but then I realized it was watching over our event and making sure we were all safe and happy.
It was Pete. It was nice. It was reassuring in this time of doubt. We all still miss Pete from the bottom of our hearts to the top of our little heads. Our community lives differently because we knew Pete. We are more inspired, more spontaneous, more ambitious, and kinder people.
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Robert Harding
climber
Omaha, NE
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Molly - This evening I was talking to my sister, Tracy, (a friend of Cornelia's from the old Kent days) and she was telling me the tragic story and so I stopped by the forum; what a tremendous outpouring of support and love from friends and family. Clearly, Pete touched many people's lives. He must have been a most remarkable person. I hope you and Avery are well.
Robert Harding
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Molly Absolon
climber
Lander, Wyoming
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I wanted to share a letter I wrote to the Lander community following this past weekend's ski race to honor Pete and raise money for the memorial fund for Avery. It's been a sad time for me lately, but this past weekend was a bright spot.
Here's what I wrote:
Dear Lander Community,
Thanks so much to each and every one of you who helped make this weekend’s For Pete’s Sake Ski Race a success. I was honored and moved by the outpouring and support that was evidenced by the number of participants, spectators, raffle ticket buyers, and businesses involved in the event. Pete would undoubtedly have been both embarrassed and very touched by this showing of generosity.
I have to admit I approached the day with trepidation. I was grateful to the people who planned and hosted the race, and frightened to be exposed and vulnerable in front of a crowd. My grief is still very raw and I worried that I’d have a hard time at an event honoring Pete especially just days after so many of us had come together to commemorate Jim Ratz. It can be emotionally exhausting to deal with the sense of loss that these events often trigger. But the For Pete’s Sake race day turned out to be a beautiful, fun gathering, and I’m very grateful to everyone who was involved.
Thanks especially to Missy White, Tavis Eddy, Paul Cornia, Kathy Brown, Steve Matson, Garth Reber, Chris Brauneis, Brian Stanford from Gannett Peak Sports, NOLS Rocky Mountain, Elemental Training Center, the people who stood along the race course as medical support, the people who cheered the racers along, the businesses that donated gifts for the raffle, Nadine Nilles who gave up her prize—a giant stuffed alligator—for Avery, our friends who came from out of town to race and cheer, the people I’ve never met who showed up to participate—everyone who helped pull the day off, thank you. I’m sorry if I missed any key names. I hope you know I’m grateful to all of you.
I feel blessed to be part of this community and am not sure how I would have survived if it weren’t for the incredible support Avery and I have received from our friends and neighbors over the past six months. And for those who are interested, Avery is signed up to go to a horseback riding day camp with her cousin this summer—her first use of the memorial fund.
Thank you all so much,
Molly Absolon
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Basso
Social climber
Laramie, Wyoming
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Mar 12, 2008 - 03:48pm PT
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Molly,
As always, a gas and an honor to see you rockin' out with our little band...
'Yuh *Real* Wyomin' Woman Yuh'
Shaun Kelley
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Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
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Mar 25, 2008 - 11:23pm PT
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Dear Friends and Family ~
Some of you may check this website knowing that it is @ March 30th, Pete's birthday and just wondering who might have written something on the blog. So being the older sister I am, here I am just thinking about Pete and knowing that many of you out there are also. Thank you for your thoughts.
I am thinking about the beautiful cairne that Molly made for Pete and the Tibetan prayer flags that blow with the wind. It is a wonderful place to be.
Please join me and put on a "Pete smile" this March. Share the positive energy that continues to surround each of us daily as we remember how blessed we are for being touched by such a wonderful individual and how this gift keeps on giving.
Mary Therese
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Al_T.Tude
Trad climber
Monterey, CA
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Mar 31, 2008 - 07:41pm PT
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I was visiting my Boy Scout council's lodge in the Sierra Nevada Mountains this winter and saw a story posted on the bulletin board. It was entitled "Why We Don't Throw Rocks". On this sheet of paper the story of Peter's misfortune was told.
Sadly, this will not return Pete to his family and friends, but his story is now being told to boy scouts not only to teach the perils of tossing rocks, but also to alert them to be aware of the unintended consequences of their actions.
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Laurie
climber
Boise, Idaho
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Dear Molly,
I'm embarrassed to say that I just found out about Pete's death so long after the fact. So while your grieving started in August, mine starts today.
I knew you both, oh so briefly, as you were instructors on the climbing section of my semester in Baja in 1995. How lucky I was to have the privilege of your energy for a mere two weeks of my course. You were this strong, radiant, grounded woman who I looked up to and Pete was a goofball who made me laugh. The two of you are definitely the standout instructors from my course.
Perhaps I think of Pete when I think about my NOLS course because he was the one stuck with the assignment of driving me 5 or 6 hours to the U.S. border for medical treatment. I was miserable, with severe intestinal pain, but half the time I couldn't tell if I was doubled over from the pain or from the laughter. When we got to the border, the border agent asked Pete if he had any "armas." Well, much to my dismay, Pete replied, "Thermos? Yes, we have a thermos." Oh dear. You can imagine the reaction...several border patrol agents ordering us out of the van...All was cleared up quickly and Pete, of course, was unfazed. Later, at the hospital, Pete's running commentary made the experience much more interesting. He quickly dubbed my doctor "Dr. Nairobi" and seemed to delight in the fact that this guy spoke absolutely zero English...making it hard to receive proper treatment.
Anyway, this story has no point other than to remind you of what you already know...Pete was a special person with an incredible knack to see the humor and the positive in everything. In just two weeks he (and you!) managed to make such an impression on me that 13 years later I can still see his smile. Now I wish I had reached out to you and to him long, long ago just to say "Thanks. I learned a lot from you guys. I'm so glad you were instructors on my course."
Sending you and Avery love and light as you navigate this new and unwanted chapter in your life.
Namaste,
Laurie Wertich
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Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
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Hi Everyone~
Spring is here! finally.
It has been a long winter, but I know that the spring & summer will be filled with lots of good things.
Our lives are connected with family and friends these days~the jewels that life gives us.
Our daughter is going on a NOLS Mountaineering course in June, the one that Pete taught. Our son is going to climb Denali through Alaska Mountaineering School~another connection with Pete.
May this find you enjoying those around you for today.
Mary
Pete's sister
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Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
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Jul 31, 2008 - 12:44am PT
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August of 2008 is around the corner. So many times I have come to this blog site as a place to mourne and celebrate Pete's life. So once again I am here....and you are too my dear family and friends. It has been a year....quite a year. Our lives move on and I'd like to catch you up.
Our son, Chris, summitted Denali on July 2, 2008. AMS did a great job with this course. A storm was moving in, but it cleared. He summitted in PetenMolly's 20th wedding anniversary...need I say more. A gift for our hearts.
When summitting Chris wore Pete's same black overalls that Pete is pictured in on his "throne" photo....
Our daughter, Molly, had a marvelous NOLS Mountaineering course this summer ~ the very course Pete and Gary Wilmot taught together.
As you can imagine, Pete would have just LOVED being a part of this. It is sad and we miss him, but I know he has been with us - cuz this is all too wonderful for it to have happened without his guidance and love.
July was our Jersey shore family time together. Molly and Avery and all of us were there. It was really good. We are now actually to the point that we can talk about Pete without going into some major duldrums! We laugh and we want to talk about all of our great times together. We are building on our wonderful past for new future and it is unfolding before us.
Avery is special. At minature golf on Long Beach Island, NJ she remembered doing this with her Dad. And...I love when she says, "You know my Dad was funny!" Her presence is a present always.
Our neighbor returned from a NOLS course in India. During this course, a NOLS instructor shared what a wonderful example of a hero that Pete was. To know that my neighbor now knows Pete is Pete being close to us.
So, I smile, I look forward to sharing and hearing about Pete more in the future. I look forward to our lives continuing to move on with new opportunities to love and care for others.
May your heart be warmed. May you enjoy a smile.
Take Care Always,
In Love,
Mary
Pete's sister
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 31, 2008 - 12:57am PT
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hey there dear mary... as you know, i did not know any of you, but i have hoped and prayed for your families's victory...
this is a bump so all your beloved friends will soon see this and send more well-wishes to you...
may god continue to bless you so very, very much, with love and respects to all...
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Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
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Aug 12, 2008 - 12:14am PT
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August 11, 2008
Peter, we missed you today ~ we remembered you ~
Peter, we relished the rich life you led ~
Peter, we love what you gave to so many in this world ~
Peter, we are the better for it ~
Peter, we will miss you always ~
Laughing, Loving and Smiling Always,
Mary
xoxo
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Aug 12, 2008 - 12:45am PT
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Hello, Molly...Mary and entire family. My deep, deep bottom of the heart sympathy, love and caring for you in the loss of the one who was the spice and light in your life.
My husband Dan, a climber BITD, Father of 4 and LOVED, Died at the end of December 2007. The pain of loss, the grief is something no one can comprehend until it enters your life.
Struggling to process my best friends death, these words came to me. "The pool of grief has no stream out. But when those that love us dip a cup into the pool and take away some of the grief the pool slowly becomes less and less." God be with you all now and in the years and special days that you will always remember. Lynne Leichtfuss
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Alison Frost
climber
Crestone, Colorado
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I know this blog won't go on forever, but I've been touched by how many times Pete is remembered in the NOLS community, and with such affection. Best wishes go out to Molly, Avery and the whole family - may you know that Pete's spirit is not soon forgotten.
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Cornelia Brefka
climber
Greenwich, CT
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Dec 19, 2008 - 09:13pm PT
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This forum dedicated to Pete began with this quotation,
"Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk the way with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind, and peace will be always with you."
As my two boys now head into their first Christmas without their father, Mark, who died in April I try to make sense out of all this loss in their/our lives and don't succeed. I keep coming back to this quotation, however, because it does help and I do find some comfort.
We miss you Pete and Mark.
Cornelia (one of Molly's sisters)
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