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Peak Hopper
Boulder climber
Placerville, CA
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First of all I want to thank everyone who has posted comments in this forum. The expressions of love and admiration for Jeff and his work have been so amazing. We, his family, have always known that Jeff was special, we just didn't realize how far-reaching his circle of friends was, and how greatly he affected so many people in such a positive way.
Reading everyone's comments has provided such solace to us, even though they usually bring us to tears. He was, indeed, a very unique individual, everyone's favorite uncle, and will always hold a special place in our hearts, where right now there is a huge hole.
Several people have asked about a memorial. Although we are still awaiting approval from NPS, we are planning on something for Sunday, September 20th in the Park. Once we receive approval from the Park Service, we will post the details for those interested in joining together for a celebration of his life.
Thank you again for all of the comments of support for us and his friends in the Yosemite community and beyond.
Jeff's brother.
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Tfunk
climber
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Dear all,
It helps so much to read everyone's postings on here. Some friends in Davis started a blog to archive photos, stories and memories of Jeff as well, with the intention of it being open for all of Jeff's multiple communities to contribute.
http://www.yosemite-jeffmaurer.blogspot.com
If you would like to contribute something, or want a place for your story to be archived, please email marisafe@gmail.com and I can add you to the author list.
Jeff was my good friend and i loved him dearly. His passing has inspired me to stop wasting time doing things I don't really want to do, and create more moments when I'm really living the way I want to. It's all about choices, and Jeff made some really great decisions.
I take solace in the fact that Jeff was doing something he loved, and in a place he loved. It's my hope that his stories will reach people beyond those who knew him, and will be an inspiration, not only to take up the important conservation work he was so passionate about, but to live as beautifully and gently as he did.
love,
marisa
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Hugo
Sport climber
Mexico
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Nuestro mas sentido pesame, desde México para el que fué un exelente compañero y amigo durante su estancia en el proyecto Veracruz Riber of Raptors. Su gran humildad y nobleza lo caracterizaban como a los grandes hombres.
Siempre te recorademos con cariño Jeff
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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I only met Jeff a time or two, but know some of his friends well. From that, I know he could only have been an incredible man of many splendid dimensions. I grieve that my friends must suffer the loss of his presence.
Somebody wrote
" I believe he was scooped up for somewhere he's needed more. " That strikes me as exactly the case. In my inner experience, I see some folks die because they got stuck and needed to reset, just as we need to sleep after a hard day. Others who leave us aren't stuck, but learned their lessons and have other paths to walk. I won't belabor the point for the sake of those who don't share that faith, but I'm seeing the divine chessboard being rearranged for global transformation these days and I expect Jeff has something to offer in a way we can't imagine.
Much love and healing to those who will miss him.
PEace
Karl
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brat
climber
El Portal
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Sep 12, 2009 - 12:32pm PT
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Every interaction I had with this man was beautiful. I feel so lucky to have known him, to have shared this community with him. I cannot count how many times Jeff Maurer made me late for something. Whenever I ran into him, it turned into a long conversation, no matter the consequences, no matter the prior plans. I saw him near DAFF Dome a few days before his death, and I am so glad that I halted my hurrying to chat for a while.
Jeff, your smile, your warmth, and your salsa dancing skills will be sorely missed around here.
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Fixdpin
Trad climber
Porterville,CA
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Sep 12, 2009 - 11:05pm PT
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I had heard of, but did not know Jeff. My deepest sympathy to his family, and my deepest sympathy to those who had to live through this hideous experience with him. It must have been devastating for his partner and the people there as well.
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Crippy C
climber
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Sep 14, 2009 - 10:31pm PT
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There was only one Jeff. Incredible talent for birding and laughter, dulcimer and friendship, the youngest son of an exceptional family. How can one person have meant so much to so many? It's up to all of us now to continue with life's work, love, purpose, joy. Jeff is greatly missed, clearly there is a void where he once bubbled over with his twinkle of the eye, enthusiasm, zest. What is truly lasting is not what we feel is missing (oh so much), it is what he has given us while he was with us. We miss you, Jeff! Love to the
Maurer family, dear K., the many pals, all. Our thoughts and love, RC and ABC
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tinker b
climber
the commonwealth
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Oct 22, 2009 - 04:29pm PT
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it has been almost two months since jeff's death and i still am processing it.
i should have told the story weeks ago, but where would i begin?
there are so many details that are important to me...it feels like the story could go on forever.
i don't really want to sit in front of this computer on a beautiful day, so i will make it short.
it was super windy that day, and we talked of not climbing, but the wind was out of the west, and once we dropped below the plateau we were protected, and decided to go on.
there was a party just starting at the base as we came down the decent. at the base of the third pillar to the right of the regular start. jeff eyed some cracks that looked pretty. we debated climbing them and looked at our topos and hastily thought it was the crack system for linticular limbo. we debated climbing this route...only one star, only slightly harder. we thought that there would be two more parties coming down to climb, and didn't really want to be in the middle of a bunch of people.
jeff was chomping at the bit to climb, and i grabbed a flat rock at the base and flipped it to just make a quick and clear decision.
jeff started climbing and about 40 feet up, maybe more, the crack split. one direction was a steep crack to the left that jeff felt must be hard 5.10, the other direction was a lower angle slab with a thinner seam.
we both took out our topos at this point and realized we had misread them in our haste and we were not on linticular limbo. at this point i really wanted jeff to come down, the second for the other party was leaving the base and i really don't like climbing into the unknown, but i didn't say anything. jeff felt like the lower angle slab climbing wasn't bad and headed out in that direction. he told me to inform him at half rope, and he would make a decision then.
soon after this i saw rocks coming down. at the time i thought that they were rocks that jeff knocked off. i think i stepped to the side out of the rockfall zone, and could no longer see jeff. soon after jeff said something. my memory has created it to be "woah", and i felt the rope go slack. i felt two pieces pop, and watched the last 7 feet of the fall to the ground as a blur. i expected jeff to pop up and say "holy shit". he was unconscious, i yelled for help, and i really can't write anymore about that part at this time.
as the weeks pass i am still unlocking pieces of the puzzle. i do not know why they are important to me, nothing can reverse jeff's death, and that is all i want.
i guess the thing i realized was that none of the entries mentioned rockfall. it could have been from the top of the route, or something that jeff knocked loose while he was climbing, but jeff was having no problems with the climbing, and did not expect to fall.
the two piecess that pulled were a trango 1" piece (similar to a .5 bd) and a metoulious purple 0. he had three other pieces in the crack, a metoulious yellow 2, bd .75, bd .4.
from looking at the rope i am guessing jeff was ~70 feet up. i keep on trying to look at what distances are, and i realize that in the mountains space is hard to judge. i am guessing this distance based on where there was blood on my end of the rope, and loosely measuring that. i don't really remember getting over to him and if i had to let out rope to do that.
as all hallows eve approaches thoughts of the dead are closer.
if anyone has any questions or thoughts feel free to contact me. i've got to go.
jo-lynne
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guyman
Trad climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Oct 22, 2009 - 05:17pm PT
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Tinker. Thank you for posting.
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tinker b
climber
the commonwealth
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Oct 24, 2009 - 04:43pm PT
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sorry, i just wanted to get this bumped up.
peace,
jo-lynne
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tria
Trad climber
Davis
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Oct 24, 2009 - 07:04pm PT
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Thank you for sharing such a painful story.
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Domingo
Trad climber
El Portal, CA
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Aug 30, 2010 - 02:01am PT
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A year already? Still miss you, Jeff.
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le_bruce
climber
Oakland, CA
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Just read through, want to bump. RIP.
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