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brothaweed
Trad climber
Monterey, California
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Aug 22, 2007 - 03:07am PT
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I met Mike in November of 2005 in J-Tree. My buddy Logan and I saw this blond haired dude going up and down routes with incredible fluidity. Being the Zen/Buddhist/Hindu aficcionado that I am, I was immediately intrigued with this guy who was obviously "one with the rock". He disappeared, and it wasn't till later that day we came across him once more over by the Lost Horse rock formation. The first chance I got I approached him. Logan and I ended up enjoying a good 30-45mins of talking about anything and everything. I just remember him as a super social guy with a great smile and a great sense of humor.
He also confirmed my eastern beliefs... i.e. he climbed a lot to get to where he was. Being fearful or fearless was not the issue. Soloing was about being free and in the moment. What he did... was what he did.
After reading almost this entire forum, and pretty much seeing every picture, and being taken to youtube multiple times, I can see he has come across many a person's lives in the same manner he came across mine. He definitely has a beautiful soul!
Mike, I'm half way to the Mojo club. I've bouldered naked in J-Tree and climbed a route naked at the Pinnacles National Monument in California. Your energy is still strong and will be so for quite some time. RIP.
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Rubi
Mountain climber
Vancouver Island, BC
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Aug 28, 2007 - 01:02am PT
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"Thank god for chalk bags"
RUBI
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BadInfluence
Mountain climber
Dak side
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Aug 30, 2007 - 01:38pm PT
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it's still hard to believe that a Mike has vanished. I was hoping that one he would show back up. Way to Hit it when you were around Mike.
RIP
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 13, 2008 - 03:08am PT
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Michael disappeared a year (366 days) ago today, and I thought it would be an appropriate time for his friends to remember him. I hope his wife, daughter, and other family are doing as well as they might in the circumstances.
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Anastasia
climber
Not there
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Jul 13, 2008 - 04:18am PT
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I will never forget Michael, he was unforgettable in all the good ways.
Now having him disappear so close to my birthday, it makes the lines between life and death stand out even more for me.
We are all gauranteed death. What is not gauranteed is a good life.
Live well in his honor. Love well, take the time to see the beauty that surrounds you every day and enjoy it.
AF
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jul 13, 2008 - 10:32am PT
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When I think of Michael what comes to mind is the lesson of keeping an open mind.
I'd heard plenty of sh#t talk about him, but when I met him at ClimbFest last year he was the nicest guy in the world, positive, energetic, generous with his consideration.
What a tragedy!
I can only hope that in writing this it might prompt others to likewise be less predisposed to assumptions and more inclined to give people a chance to show their true metal.
I think he would like that.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 13, 2008 - 01:22pm PT
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hey there piton ron... say, this is a very nice lesson that far too many folks find hard to learn...
what a nice blessing to leave as new growth, for the memory of michael...
it is a very good thing to stop and look bad a someone's life, like this... i, too, hope his family is doing better in facing all this...
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sawin
climber
So., CA.
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Jul 14, 2008 - 05:56pm PT
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Great Balls of Fire (grade HVS/5a), at Ailladie, Ireland.
Copyright (c) 2008 Bryce Sawin
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
GNU Free Documentation License
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
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bachar
Gym climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 16, 2008 - 12:17am PT
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Reardon I know you're on Supertopo somehow.
We miss you brother.
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graham
Social climber
Ventura, California
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Jul 16, 2008 - 02:04pm PT
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My wife and I were on Sahara Terror on Monday at Tahquitz. About 2/3 the way up is a dead tree that sticks straight out off a ledge. When I looked real close I saw this little fabricated Doll dangling from one of its branches. It made me laugh pretty well, I told her I’d bet 100 bucks Reardon put that there.
I was smiling about it all the way to the summit.
Just the day before a few of us were talking about it being a year ago that he left. I’ve missed the energetic phone calls and I still see his name scroll across my cell phone.
Hope all involved are well
Mike Graham
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graham
Social climber
Ventura, California
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Jul 16, 2008 - 02:05pm PT
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My wife and I were on Sahara Terror on Monday at Tahquitz. About 2/3 the way up is a dead tree that sticks straight out off a ledge. When I looked real close I saw this little fabricated Doll dangling from one of its branches. It made me laugh pretty well, I told her I’d bet 100 bucks Reardon put that there.
I was smiling about it all the way to the summit.
Just the day before a few of us were talking about it being a year ago that he left. I’ve missed the energetic phone calls and I still see his name scroll across my cell phone.
Hope all involved are well
Mike Graham
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MistyJ
Social climber
Cleveland,Ohio
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Jul 16, 2008 - 02:35pm PT
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Mike- Don't know if you will remember me. Mike Miller had me work the O.R. show for you many years ago. I hope all is well with you. Missy
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Sebastopol, CA
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Jul 16, 2008 - 02:55pm PT
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I hope this doesn't seem inappropriate. The other day I was heading up the backside of Banner Peak when a guy with long blonde hair and a big smile came running down from out of the blue. He was super friendly and helpful, said he'd just tagged Mts. Davis, and Ritter and was off for more. I watched him descend for a few minutes wondering if I'd just seen Reardon's ghost. Though the register revealed a different name, Michael's spirit lives.
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EP
Social climber
Way Out There
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Jul 16, 2008 - 03:22pm PT
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Margee has a photo of Michael free soloing Airy Interlude buck naked hanging in the Needles lookout.
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graham
Social climber
Ventura, California
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Jul 16, 2008 - 04:27pm PT
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Hi Missy, sure I remember, it wasn’t that long ago…I’ll shoot you off a message.
Jerry sounds like an interesting encounter? I couldn’t begin to imagine how many people he influenced in such a short time.
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Curt
Boulder climber
Gilbert, AZ
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Jul 17, 2008 - 12:46am PT
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Geeze, has it actually been a year now? I'm still sad when I think about this.
Curt
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sawin
climber
So. Cal.
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Jul 17, 2008 - 09:25pm PT
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Amazing Reardon free solo.
< Link >
It's another thread and not a bump so do come back.
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Steve's sister
Social climber
Las Vegas, NV
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Aug 13, 2009 - 08:59pm PT
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Thought of Michael today as well.
11 months to the day after my brother.
Life is weird!
Sorry if I seem a bit macabe', trippin' down memory lane today!
July and August have been hard for the past 3 years.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Aug 13, 2009 - 10:09pm PT
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Lisa, it's quite OK - I suspect you're far from the only person whose memories of lost friends have arisen anew recently. I'd been thinking about Steve and Michael also, and others.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Aug 14, 2009 - 12:04am PT
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Yeah, Lisa, glad you posted and glad to have met you. It's hell along with trying to find harmony, as we talked about, when the ones you love so much are gone from your lives. Please free to email me or call me on the phone 24/7. Peace Gal and you are in my thoughts and prayers. Lynne
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