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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2006 - 02:22am PT
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Well Jimme I bet you're no idiot!
(Probably have a summer yurt in T-ride.)
Buster,
remember when Charlie joined us at the top of the Owl in '99 doing the melodramatic 'final steps' and calling it the Cerro Torre of Arches? lol
Then he wanted to repeat Kyle and my route on the nearby Bulbous Head but didn't have enough slings to fake into aiders.
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Jimme
Mountain climber
ulaanbaatar
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Dec 28, 2006 - 02:30am PT
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We had one in T-ride during the festival. Better call them Ger's, yurt is Turkish and the Mongolians don't like them much.
You'd be surprised how warm they are, even during the winter when it's minus 40 F. I'll send you some pictures.
cheers Jimme
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2006 - 02:39am PT
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If they're warm why do you call them Gers?
Then there was the slide show he gave to the guides at their meeting in Estes after the first cert exam.
Fifty horny guys in the room and one of his slides is of a seemingly attractive blonde from behind with desert rock beyond and below.
All he said was, "This was taken on the summit of Castleton."
Five seconds pass with a pregnant pause.
Then ten.
Finally from the very back of the room in the most annoyed voice possible the guy sitting next to Grandstaff finally blurts out, "AND????"
The room cracked up.
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Jimme
Mountain climber
ulaanbaatar
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Dec 28, 2006 - 03:07am PT
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Well what can I say, Ger means in fact: "cozy warm home"
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buster
Mountain climber
canada
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Dec 28, 2006 - 07:03am PT
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jimme and ron,charlie always took great delight in
the exploits of the grand staff,as related by me.charlie had the killer sense of humour.he was however the ultimate dirtbag.one time we were in a pub in glagow,scotland.we were there with my brother,a big bastard,not a climber,and some of my roudy friends.we were all sipping ales.it came charlie,s time to ante up,he kept sipping.my brother leaned forward and crooked his finger at chacha,""in scotland,we don,t give a f*#k how good a climber you are,the only thing we care about,is your ability to put your hand in your pocket and by us a drink"" charlie laffed like hell,and quickly ponied up.honour was rstored all round.i,m gonna miss him a lot.jimme,i,d love to come to mongolia,lets do it.how,s your rugby team??,buster.
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426
Sport climber
Buzzard Point, TN
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Dec 28, 2006 - 09:02am PT
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Sad news...take care all.
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igikpak
Mountain climber
Ridgway
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Dec 28, 2006 - 11:27am PT
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In the mountains all is pure, all is calm;
all complication is cut off.
Rare are they who know to listen:
Happy they who possess wisdom.
If the cold wind stings and bothers you,
Sit in the sun: It is always warm there.
Its hot rays burn like flames,
While, opposite, in the shade, all is frost and snow.
One pauses on ledges, One climbs to the foot of high clouds;
One sits in the depths of a gorge, one passes windy grottos.
Here is the realm of harmony and joy.
Where the past and present become eternal.
-5th century buddhist poem
We will miss you Charlie and Chris. The wit and humour and the search for the perfect adventure. Love Max & Barb Kendall
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Anguish
Mountain climber
Jackson Hole Wyo.
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Dec 28, 2006 - 11:48am PT
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Charlie and Mike Munger were heading to Patagonia to do the Super Couloir, back in the day (70s) and hatched a training plan at the Climber's Ranch in the Tetons. To steel themselves, they would jump off the Diving Board (Eldorado) teathered to a 150-ft rope (one at a time). This they did, though not without consequences. I think Mike might have broken some ribs, but off they went and completed their Patagonia climb.
Somebody filmed the plunge, as I understood, using a Super 8 camera. Format is not quite square and the budding cinematographer decided to take the movie "vertical."
Well, I guess the only way to view the movie is lying down, since those projectors don't work on their sides.
Charlie never sought fame or traded on his accomplishments in the public marketplace, as far as I know. Unique and inspiring.
Angus Thuermer
Jackson Hole
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geezer
Mountain climber
Missoula
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Dec 28, 2006 - 12:11pm PT
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Had the pleasure of meeting Charlie when he worked at Neptune's and sold me my first pair of alpine touring ski's and binding's for my first trip to Alaska.
Amazingly when I saw him in Eldorado a couple of months later he came up and asked how my trip went. Was impressed that this someone climber would take the time to inquire how my humble adventure turned out.
A real loss.
Steve
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2006 - 12:55pm PT
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Steve, its not amazing if you knew Charlie. He sure wasn't perfect. He could be more stubborn than any of my mules. He could be very insensitive to others. He could be quite miserly. His feet smelled like a putrefied carcass.
But there wasn't an ounce of snobbery in him. He knew full well that he was considered a super-climber and it mattered not one wit to him. He took people at their character with no regard for status. If you treated him well, if you were interesting or humorous then that was all that mattered and your value as a friend could not have been higher. I learned more than I could ever enumerate from Charlie but high on the list was the importance of having and also just being open to a sense of community.
And he would not be patronizing. It was always genuine. What you saw was what you got.
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Dec 28, 2006 - 01:28pm PT
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I am always so saddened to learn of the death of a beloved friend. My heart, hope, love and prayers go out to Ron and Jeff and all of Charlie's friends, and of course to the friends and family of Christine.
I only met Charlie once so far as I know, when he whizzed by me on the East Ledges descent of El Cap. I didn't realize who he was at first until I saw the Trango notations on his pig. Charlie was a cham-peen pig wrassler if ever I saw one!
It seems so much harder when those we love die at this time of year! It's times like this I give thanks for those I love and those who love me. Life is so short and fragile, especially for those of us who risk our necks to pursue our chosen direction of climbing - it could happen to any of us tomorrow. If you do nothing else today, tell at least one person that you love them and value them as your friend.
In Him,
Pete
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Jimme
Mountain climber
ulaanbaatar
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Dec 28, 2006 - 02:19pm PT
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Aye John, you,re welcome to Mongolia anytime. Ron is giving it a thought as well. I have to get some more dram though. The lads played the Manila ten's, ended fourth out off 16. Their first tournament, awesome.
Take care we'll get together soon,
Long mae yer lum riek.
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freeheelgirl
Trad climber
san francisco
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Dec 28, 2006 - 02:30pm PT
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I always smile (and laugh at myself) when I think of my first meeting with Charlie. I was new to Telluride, new to the mountain world. I'd never been climbing, and didn't know who any of the players were. We were out, Telluride style, celebrating a friend's birthday. The birthday boy and I were talking about rock climbing and I said I'd like to learn. He told me to go ask his friend Charlie to teach me. So, I did. I didn't have a clue who Charlie Fowler was, and he didn't care. I just slid across the table to talk to him and ask him if he'd take me climbing. His response was SURE! Always happy to teach someone new, to share his passion and his knowledge. We never did get to climb together but I always loved talking to him about his travels and climbs, and the climbs I've done/adventures I've had since I first met him. I also got to climb Mt. Baker with Chris a couple of years back and loved to catch up with the two of them at Mountainfilm every year. Their energy, compassion, knowledge, stories and zest for life - all of which they both loved to share - will be missed by many. My heart is with their families and their communities around the globe ~ R
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Dec 28, 2006 - 04:22pm PT
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RIP Charlie...we'll miss you. Condolences to Charlie's family as well...this is hard stuff. I've known Charlie since when he on-sighted the DNB. Always had much respect for him and always had good times together.
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up2top
Big Wall climber
Phoenix, AZ
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Dec 28, 2006 - 06:31pm PT
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I wish I could have known them. I've heard about Charlie's exploits since early in my climbing days, but didn't know much about him as a person until these posts. Christine, on the other hand, won a place in my heart several years ago about the time I began climbing. The Discovery Channel ran a series that covered her expedition to one of the Himalayan's 6000 meter peaks -- Ama Dablam, if I recall. The series caught my interest initially from the sheer beauty and steepness of their objective, but it turns out that under all of the Gortex and puffed-up down there was a member of the expedition who was one hot looking lady. It became quickly appearant that she wasn't just a token chick along for the climb. To the contrary, she was the expedition leader and was climbing circles around most of the other team members.
In the episodes that followed you got to see a lot of who Christine was and what made her tick. The climb was an especially emotional ordeal because she was dealing with the loss of her husband just a few months prior who was supposed to have been on the expedition with them. Her class, candor, and toughness -- both mental and physical -- very much inspired me. I had always hoped our paths would cross at some point. There were two people early in my climbing days that help form my attitudes and perspective about the sport -- Christine and Alex Lowe, both of which are saddly no longer with us, but surely inspired more people than they could ever know to push their limits a little harder and a little further.
My sincere condolences to all the friends and family of Charlie and Christine.
Ed
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'Pass the Pitons' Pete
Big Wall climber
like Oakville, Ontario, Canada, eh?
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Dec 28, 2006 - 07:03pm PT
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It appears to be [url="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16368852/"]Charlie's body which has been found.[/url]
Thank goodness. This would be a sad but huge relief to his family, who would be unable to declare him dead for seven[?] years otherwise. Hopefully he can be returned home. I hope they can find Christine, too.
Prayers,
Pete
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siddhi
Social climber
allenspark, co
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Dec 28, 2006 - 07:45pm PT
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i feel like i am writing to charlie... as well as sharing a story with his friends, family,
and community. and in away i am trying to thank him for what he has done in his
life.
unfortunately, i haven't been in the know about charlie, and his world, since he crawled off the mountain in tibet, and consquently lost a few toes. he stayed with me for about a month after this. we tootled around the countryside showing slide shows, attempting to boulder, and stuff like that, while he recovered.
i first met charlie in 1977, in the popcycle section of the toulumne meadows grocery store, and at the time i thought, i like this guy, who just like myself, is so intent on finding the perfect popcycle, to buy and eat.
a couple months later, i saw in the distance,the same profile, meandering down the road in eldorado. i flagged him down and explained to him that we kind of knew each other from yosemite, even though, we really hadn't spoken to each other. we became friends. and i think this was a week or so, after he dove off the divingboard.
during this time, i showed charlie some of my photos of my overland trip to nepal, and some other photos by my swiss climbing friend... and it was like the bells went off in his head, when he saw these photos. he said to me, i am going to travel to climb peaks more alpine style, and take photograph of my experiences. it was about as straight forward as that.
and by what i can tell he never waivered from this plan. back then, with in a month of our looking at photos, he showed me that he had a shot record, passport everything in hand and he was good to go to patagonia
at the time i said to my swiss photographer friend reudi, "do you know charlie?"
he said "no" and i remember saying so strongly to him..."YOU WILL"
at times, i had experienced honing in from charlie, and sometimes it hurt. but mostly i needed the insightfulness. i still think about some of the things charlie pointed out to me like, i might do good to try some meditating.
and when he said i was either "crazy or stupid", i think he was just because he was just a little upset that i was way up on the titan wall by myself, with him down on the ground below, and I decided i wasn't exactly sure how to set up my caribiners for the repel down... you know back then it was a complicated procedure. actually, that sent him pacing. i am glad he found woman in his life that were more proficient in climbing. all and all it was memorable experience, and i kept the red desert dirt from the titan attempt, on my fifteen dollar sears boots, he didn't like the
boots either
but the point i'm trying to make, and what i would like to say to charlie, is to me his photos ended up being so much like his words. they are the real thing, with clarity,and purpose. actually, his pictures were always that way. but the change i see in his later photos, is what is particularly moving, its like he grew as tall as the mountains he climbed, and he began to photograph expressing not just the rawness and beauty, of what he saw, but the spiritual quality that he was feeling too. its almost like a i want to beleive that he went to all these remote places just to bring us all together in a compassionate way.
i am truly moved by charlies accomplishments , and i pray the example he has set keeps me in this inspirational space.
who would have known, what was going to become..of the life of charlie
and i hope i can buy his book of writings and photos someday
and i hope i don't get kicked off of this forum
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deuce4
Big Wall climber
the Southwest
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Dec 28, 2006 - 08:21pm PT
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Just got this from Bill Hatcher:
OSPREY PACKS TO HOST FUNDRAISER FOR FOWLER-BOSKOFF SEARCH FUND
Osprey Packs will host a fundraiser to aid in the search for local climbers Charlie Fowler and Chris Boskoff on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Abbey Theatre in Durango, CO. Local professional photographers, Bill Hatcher, Kennan Harvey and Scott Smith will present a sampling of their work. There will be a silent auction with great gear from outdoor companies Osprey, Outdoor Research, Prana, local outdoor shops and many, many more. A suggested donation of $10 gets you in the door.
Norwood, Colorado based climbers, Charlie Fowler and Chris Boskoff have been missing in central-western China since November 9, 2006. They were not on their booked flight back to Denver on December 4. It is speculated that they may be either on or below a remote mountain near the town of Dequen in Yunnan Province, or near the towns of Litang and Batang in Sichuan Province.
Christine Boskoff has summited six 8,000-meter peaks including two summits of Mt. Everest and has established over 100 rock routes in the southwest U.S. She is the owner of Seattle based Mountain Madness, an adventure travel and expedition operator. She has guided six of the seven summits and in 2002 attempted K2 with Fowler.
Charlie Fowler has nearly 40 years of climbing experience with ascents of Cho Oyu and Shishipangma, a dominant list of established routes in SW Colorado, and a handful of guide books to his credit. He is considered an expert on the area in Eastern Tibet in which he and Chris were exploring.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will be routed to the Fowler-Boskoff Search Fund. Donations are currently being taken via the following channels:
The Fowler-Boskoff Search Fund
In Telluride - Deliver Checks:
Mountainfilm office at 109 East Colorado Avenue (above The Toggery)
Mail Checks to Mountainfilm:
Mountainfilm, LTD
PO Box 1088
Telluride CO 81435
(Edit: Wells Fargo direct deposit information removed for saftey reasons, contact organizers below for more info).
About Osprey Packs
From our humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz California, to our current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Our mission is to create innovative high performance gear that reflects our love of adventure and our devotion to the outdoors. We succeed when we meet the demanding expectation of our most discerning customers and they are proud to use our packs. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has over thirty-two years of pack-making experience.
Media contacts:
Kristin Carpenter-Ogden
KCPR
970-259-3555
kco@kristincarpenter.com
Gareth Martins
Osprey Packs, Inc.
970-564-5900x14
gareth@ospreypacks.com
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turd
climber
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Dec 28, 2006 - 08:35pm PT
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siddhi,
thank you for that.
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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Dec 28, 2006 - 08:53pm PT
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Denverpost is reporting some details regarding an avalanche accident.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4914610
I never met Charlie but feel as though I know him really well from reading and hearing so much about him for so many years from friends.
Just the other day I found the alternative sound track on Ron's and Jeff's Clean Aid movie. Listen to it when you get a chance as Charlie is one of the people providing comments.
Deepest sympathy to family and friends.
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