Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Martin Fitch
climber
Tahoe City
|
|
Just had a beer with Minksie last night!
|
|
IV
climber
tahoe
|
|
I'm so so sad to say, our dear friend and mentor is no longer with us. We love you Pete and we will strive to climb with as great a style as you showed us! Cheers,
Chip
|
|
Stewart Johnson
climber
lake forest
|
|
thanks for all the great times Peter, i love you man!
|
|
Brian Biega
climber
Truckee, CA
|
|
My Condolences to all Peter Minks Friends and Family.
Peter- See you on the other side!
Cheers Mate
|
|
Black Feather
Mountain climber
Tahoe City, CA
|
|
So, Minksy passed away on his own terms january 7th. A memorial will be held january 14th at alpine meadows lodge from 5 to 8 pm. Slideshow and open mic, and probably his eiger movie in the background... email pics to dthatcher@skialpine.com, and we hope you all can attend. His sons Tim and Curtis will be there, and possibly other relatives via Skype...
|
|
Martin Fitch
climber
Tahoe City
|
|
|
Jan 14, 2012 - 07:19pm PT
|
RIP Peter Minks. Know that there are climbers out there that will never forget you and will always be inspired by your spirit. Climb on Minksie
|
|
Abenda
climber
|
|
|
Jan 14, 2012 - 09:05pm PT
|
Well what can I say. Not such good news. My heart wants to know what happened but really I dont want to know. I dont do wakes anymore.
I remember going together to his first son's baptism in Tahoe. We both were standing there in church wondering if God was going to smite us down at any minute.
I hope he got some new teeth before he died.
I called Fritz Fox to let him know.
Danm, another break in the wall.
|
|
KENNO
climber
Birkenhead. UK
|
|
|
Jan 23, 2013 - 05:04am PT
|
Pure curiosity I tapped in "Peter Minks" to see what would come up and there he was . Pete and a dear school teacher Roger Heywood introduced a few of us to the joys of climbing around 1968/69 when we would visit the Llanberis Pass and do a few short routes over the week-end or go for a day to Helsby Crag. I remember after Pete and Co, did the Eiger, they had a narrated film show about the ascent in Birkenhead town hall and it was called "The Legend Of The Evil Eiger North Face", the show was a bit amateurish what with Pete trying to narrate what happened as each slide was shown and trying not to swear,laugh or just be Peter.I had a lot of years climbing with my old school friend Johnny Girven and later with Pete's brother Alan, but alas as with a lot of things I got married and the week-ends got less and less and eventually I was too old to start up again. But on seeing the news of the sad passing of a giant,to me anyway,in climbing circles, I felt the need to write something. As a result of knowing Pete I had such great times and memories. God Bless you Pete and Rest in Peace.
|
|
Stewart Johnson
climber
lake forest
|
|
|
Jan 23, 2013 - 09:58am PT
|
im raising my glass again, thanks peter!
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 23, 2013 - 10:16am PT
|
Peter was a great guy and a great climbing partner....we did the Nose together in 72 or 3. But let's face it he was part of that far too large fraternity of climbers who had their potential diminished by alcohol.
As a community we tend to idolize climbers who can be the life of the party and still send the next day. Ever notice that the best of them ended up with drastically shortened careers, and in many cases, difficult health and financial issues in their latter years.
Peter, when i met him in the 70's, idolized Don Whillans and tried to emulate him. Whillans was one of the most colorful climbers in history, but definetly not a person who's lifestyle deserved copying- he became quite obese and died of a heart attack at age 52.
I partied pretty hard with Peter but, early on, came to the conclusion that my lifestyle had to change.....when you are young you can get away with anything.
Funny how we almost revere young climbers who can party and perform but pity the same people when they are old.
|
|
chappy
Social climber
ventura
|
|
|
Jan 23, 2013 - 11:59am PT
|
Jim,
I couldn't agree with you more. I've seen far to many climbing buddies throw their lives away because they just couldn't come to terms with their partying and drinking. For most of us it was a phase, for some it became a life style with no future. Pete and I were real close for a number of years. If he were still with us I would have loved to reconnect with him. I will post the Silver Strand FA photos some time soon. Pete had a great lead up there.
Chappy
|
|
k-man
Gym climber
SCruz
|
|
|
Jan 23, 2013 - 12:25pm PT
|
Funny how we almost revere young climbers who can party and perform but pity the same people when they are old.
A fantastic observation. Jim Belushi anybody?
Oh right, he never got old...
|
|
jaaan
Trad climber
Chamonix, France
|
|
|
Jan 23, 2013 - 12:50pm PT
|
Did you mean Jim or John Belushi?
|
|
IV
climber
tahoe
|
|
So nice of you to tell us how much Pete's "potential" was diminished by alcohol. Is climbing everything in life? Jim I wonder what people will say when your gone? Maybe they'll just wait till then to say what they really think.
|
|
donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 6, 2013 - 07:20am PT
|
IV, i understand where you are coming from but i was using climbing as a metaphor for life. I knew Peter pretty well in the 70's and my attraction to him was his personality not his climbing ability. I met Whillans around the same time (when he was far past his prime) and again we hit it off on a personal level....we never climbed together.
Both had impressive climbing resumes and personal charisma. If Peter or Don walked into a room, believe me, they were noticed. The climbing lifestyle has always had a bit of machismo and a "damn the torpedos" element to it. In England in the 70's, how hard you could party and "then" climb was a part of a climber's reputation.
I have known quite a few climbers who have had problems with drugs and/or alcohol. If i am frank in relating some of these "well known" facts, it is as a cautionary tale
I miss Peter and wish that we could have had a continued relationship after the 70's.
IV, if, after i am gone, some of the facts of my life can serve as a warning for others, i can think of no better epitaph.
|
|
healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
|
|
If, after i am gone, some of the facts of my life can serve as a warning for others, i can think of no better epitaph.
I'm almost sure there's a clever retort in there somewhere, but I've gotten too old and lame to think of it.
|
|
Stewart Johnson
climber
lake forest
|
|
having to support your climbing via the trades was never easy.
ill toss back another pint for Pete and Don.
|
|
Scott McNamara
climber
Tucson, Arizona
|
|
It would be kind of fun to have a funeral for Donini before he dies.
At least he would get to enjoy it and set the record straight!
|
|
Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
|
|
As far as I can see donini's life is hardly a cautionary tale unless research reveals some sort of negative consequence to freebasing geritol.
|
|
IV
climber
tahoe
|
|
One would think a cautionary tale as it relates to Minsky's life should be well informed. Pete was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, a known cause of blood clots which was what took him from us. Is passing away surrounded with family and Numerous close friends something that should be seen as part of your "cautionary tale"? Being close with Pete for the last 10 years of his life, I can envision him laughing at the idea of you pitying him as he was one of the happiest people I've known. He would of told you to .. off anyway. It seems fitting, as you look down upon how you think Pete lived, he now looks down upon you from a significant height. (20,320 ft)
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!