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nature
climber
Whereverland....
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Sep 29, 2010 - 10:27pm PT
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I tried to contact Kurt before our trip to the Vampire Spires. He's one of the few that have ever been. I wish he had responded.
The short of him holding that beer has always been a favorite.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Rest in Peace.
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BrassNuts
Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
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Sep 30, 2010 - 01:48am PT
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This is such sad news. Kurt was a larger than life figure in the climbing world and inspired many of us with his accomplishments. I was fortunate to spend a couple of days climbing with him in the Frankenjura back in 1993. Below is the only image I have of Kurt. I remember his great enthusiasm as he gave us the historical "redpoint" tour and the subsequent German beer tour... complete with strongman contests in the pub parking lots. A tragic loss to the climbing community. RIP Kurt.
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Sep 30, 2010 - 02:06am PT
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I'm so sad to hear that he has left us :_(
I would like to think that he and Wolfgang are together climbing again.
You are a true inspiration.
GOD's eternal peace Kurt.
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adnix
Big Wall climber
Finland
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Sep 30, 2010 - 03:01am PT
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I met him at Paso Superior few years ago. Among other things I will always remember sharing a few candys with him. I still remember his comments to Berntd "Das ist ein gutes Bon Bon, ein Karamel Bon Bon!" Then Bernd took some candy, too.
A very humble and sincere person. One of the best! RIP.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Sep 30, 2010 - 05:13am PT
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Chalk the holds, Kurt, we'll be along soon. The world will miss your exuberance.
John
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Bargainhunter
Mountain climber
Central California
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Sep 30, 2010 - 06:18am PT
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Does anyone have details of what actually happened?
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hb81
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 30, 2010 - 07:13am PT
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Below is the only image I have of Kurt.
Nice picture.
Taken at the parking pullout for "Weissenstein" would be my guess...
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Sep 30, 2010 - 08:24am PT
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Sad days. Condolences to family and friends.
I can remember seeing him on an old episode of something (That's Incredible?) where he was off spire jumping with Dave Schultz. He wasn't doing any jumping because he'd ripped his Achilles in a previous leap, but he was the technical advisor. "You must jump like a monkey!" "If you do not make it, this might be your last adventure."
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MisterE
Social climber
Bouncy Tiggerville
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Sep 30, 2010 - 09:40am PT
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Here is a trailer for "Fight Gravity".
It shows a clip of Kurt climbing, and at the end has an interview with him (in German, of course). His smile and laugh says it all, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWRYv8gcAa4
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jopay
climber
so.il
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Sep 30, 2010 - 10:10am PT
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I have a great older tape "The Real Thing" with Jerry Moffat, Ben Moon, Sean Miles and Kurt bouldering and hanging out at the Font. I recall him playing a guitar. They were all staying in this very neat old French country house. Sorry to hear this news.
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Frank Minunni
Trad climber
New York
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Sep 30, 2010 - 10:56am PT
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That Kurt should be gone is very sad indeed. He and Wulfie were two of the best people I've ever met; always positive and supportive of everyone around them. I could go on
about his character but a vignette could be better.
I had been staying in Germany and climbing with Kurt for about two or three weeks and having an awful time trying to climb Limestone.
One day Kurt, Uli and myself went to the Berndt Arnold wall and I failed on yet another route. When I got to the ground, I sat on a boulder with my head in my hands and said
"That's it. I'm going back home and taking up stamp collecting." In the midst of my self pity, Kurt looked at me and said, "Frankie. I've never seen someone fail at so many routes as you." I looked up with blood in my eyes but when I saw the twinkle in his eyes and the barely concealed smirk, I had to chuckle. Kurt started to laugh as well and before we knew it we were in the throes of the hugest belly laugh I've ever had. It was so big that Uli, who had no idea of the recent history got caught up in it and was laughing
just as hard.
When we finally settled down, I took the rack, walked the route and never looked back.
That was Kurt. The ultimate trickster who could see the humor in everything. I can't think of anyone who could have shown me what a fool I was being with such grace and humor.
Frank Minunni
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Reeotch
Trad climber
Kayenta, AZ
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Sep 30, 2010 - 01:52pm PT
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Bump! For a true legend of the climbing world. I never knew him, but his words, images, and routes inspired me.
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Sep 30, 2010 - 04:00pm PT
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Kurt and Reinhold Karl were both people who transcended everything. The very last kind of personalities you'd ever imagine coming out of Germany.
My thoughts go out to all of his many friends around the world.
JL
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Spiky
Trad climber
Wales
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Sep 30, 2010 - 07:13pm PT
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Kurt Albert was a LEGEND! (What is it about Europe that I have to post on a US website.)
At least he is reunited with Gullich again.
With my sincere sympathies to his family and all of his friends. Another fantastic guy taken from us far too soon.
Hopefully, see you on the next lap.
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shipoopoi
Big Wall climber
oakland
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i met kurt in 1983 on a climbing meet in france. he was with gullich. over the years i got to know them both, staying at their pad in eckental, drinking endless coffees in araps, and also in yosemite. they were always friendly, and represented powerful forces in the climbing world. later, i helped kurt set routes for the 1994 world cup in nurnberg. we would run into each other in patagonia often, and excitely catch up on news. he was a friend and an inspiration, and i will miss him dearly, as will my wife who was also a benefactor of kurt's humour and kindness.
ciao, amigo
steve schneider
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426
climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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RIP big fella I've aspired to be like
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rincon
Trad climber
SoCal
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Oct 10, 2010 - 09:27pm PT
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Kurt Albert was remembered on NPR today. Funny to hear him discribed to the non-climbing public...
Kurt Albert was a German rock climber, who invented a style of climbing known as "redpointing," a technique where a climber ascends a rock face without resting on devices such as pitons, or bolts. Today, this technique is the goal of most climbers.
Nice tribute anyhow. You can listen here
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scooney
Trad climber
Palo Alto, CA
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Oct 11, 2010 - 03:57pm PT
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I understand that this is a tragedy. But, I strongly disagree with the portion of the characterization of Kurt Albert's death in the SuperTopo climbing email that reads, "Precise details of the accident are unknown, but these seem superfluous."
The precise details are exactly what count so that others who engage in the same type of climbing might learn from and avoid his mistakes (if there even were any to begin with). If others cannot learn from Mr. Albert's death, it becomes useless a death.
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the kid
Trad climber
fayetteville, wv
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Oct 11, 2010 - 05:55pm PT
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Kurt will be missed! another legend with a heart of gold and a sense of humor just as big. fond memories of climbing with him and Wolfgang in the valley and the meadows.
he lived to climb and climbed to live...
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