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brenwhelan
Jul 15, 2007, 6:13 PM
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This update is via the main Irish Climbing site: www.climbing.ie
In order to honour Michael and his great love of climbing here in Ireland, a memorial gathering of his family and friends will take place next Tuesday 17/07 at 4pm. This gathering will take place at the Fogher Cliffs, adjacent to the Coast Guard Station, where Michael was taken from us. All are welcome to attend.
The site can be reached by taking the 'Ring of Valentia' road from Knightstown on Valentia Island and following the signs for 'The lighthouse Café' and 'Tetrapods'. We hope that some of you can attend and if so please respect the local community, who have self-lessly helped in the search, by driving and parking sensibly on the small roads of the island.
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curt
Jul 15, 2007, 6:18 PM
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fixed link.
Curt
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thomasribiere
Jul 15, 2007, 7:23 PM
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curt wrote: fixed link. Curt
The so calm sea in the TV report adds irony and tragedy to this missing.
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brenwhelan
Jul 15, 2007, 9:45 PM
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This might help anyone thinking of going on Tuesday:
You'd need to get to Shannon airport, it's maybe 100miles away.
http://www.shannonairport.com/flight-info/
You can drive from here to the location, maybe 2.5 to 3 hours drive, due to Irish roads being ropey.
From Dublin airport you can fly to Kerry airport, check
http://www.aerarann.com
For roads and transport info use:
http://www.aaireland.ie/
(This post was edited by brenwhelan on Jul 15, 2007, 9:48 PM)
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camhead
Jul 15, 2007, 10:29 PM
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this is tragic. Reardon has and will always represent the ultimate intersection of physical and mental fitness in climbing to me.
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crackrn
Jul 16, 2007, 5:17 AM
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So sad for his family.
(This post was edited by crackrn on Jul 16, 2007, 5:18 AM)
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epic_ed
Jul 16, 2007, 7:20 AM
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My thoughts and prayers go out to Mike's friends and family, and like many have expressed, I'm still hoping for a miracle. Mike and I had our differences in the online world but I know several people who were his close friends -- it's clear that he loved those around him as with as much passion as he devoted to his climbing and likely even more so. Mike was unapologetically himself and by all accounts lived a very empassioned and intense life. It's hard to believe that he may no longer be with us.
I ran into Mike at JTree last Thanksgiving. He was having a usual Reardon day soloing around the routes at Indian Cove. We had met briefly a couple of times before but it was the first chance I'd had to speak with him about some nasty and personal conflicts we'd had online during the time he was running things here on RC.com. We spoke a few minutes about how unimportant the whole web bullshit really is and how silly those interactions are compared to the things that really matter in our lives -- family, friends, climbing...living. I'm glad I had the chance to bury the proverbial hatchet.
Mike was wise to walk away from the cyber-strife. Life really is too short to get wrapped up in the conflict of personalities and issues we often help to perpetuate in these forums. Hats off to him for focusing his energy in more meaningful and positive directions. The void his passing will leave in the lives of those close to him must be tremendous and my heart goes out to those of you coping with his loss.
Ed
(This post was edited by epic_ed on Jul 16, 2007, 7:21 AM)
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pylonhead
Jul 16, 2007, 7:41 AM
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Still hoping there could be some other possibility.
I met him a few times at Malibu Creek. He was always friendly. The first time we ran into him, he set up a top-rope for us on one of the climbs we were working.
Prayers for him and for his family.
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mattltambor
Jul 16, 2007, 10:26 AM
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Talk about a man who embodied the idea of living life to the fullest. Hearing this news makes me feel ill. I'm hoping against hope that he's just stranded on a beach somewhere, waiting to tell us everything's ok.
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climbinwv
Jul 16, 2007, 12:32 PM
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GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA...
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j_ung
Jul 16, 2007, 12:42 PM
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Oh no. I can't believe this
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kimmyt
Jul 16, 2007, 1:23 PM
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Oh man. Sad is not the word. Micheal was an amazing person. I just remember thinking as he spent a rainy day climbing in a GYM in Provo, UT with climbers there raising money for women's cancer, that THIS GUY was probably ready to poke his eyes out, the famous free soloist, stuck in a gym. But he was so wonderful, so happy to be there with other climbers, sharing his joy of climbing and helping to raise money for those in need, he told stories to our team of climbers, and coached one of them on leading a route that she was worried about trying. He was really an amazing guy. My thoughts are with his family, I'm sure they know how he was loved!
K.
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j_ung
Jul 16, 2007, 1:28 PM
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I have been and still am proud to call Michael my friend. I shouldn't be stunned, considering the way Michael lived life, but I am none the less. I'll miss you Michael.
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baja_java
Jul 16, 2007, 4:14 PM
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thoughts are with Mike's family and friends
always fun to run into Mike out at JTree. saw him couple months back out at Mel's Diner, not too long after an FA he did up at the Needles. i asked him about the gear beta for that route. just kidding around. he had a lot of fun with that one. good laughs. had run into Mike at Mel's about a year or so before, and he hadn't been back there in all that time either. just so happened we were there again that same day. "hey," he said as my partner and i headed back to the campground, "same place. same time. next year"
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freezorburn
Jul 16, 2007, 4:18 PM
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+++++++++++Vibes sent to the Family.
Tragic, Sad and totally not fair, he wasn’t even climbing! It is completely ridicules,pointless and unbelivable to go out like that. Completely Tragic.
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zeke_sf
Jul 16, 2007, 4:29 PM
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j_ung wrote: I have been and still am proud to call Michael my friend. I shouldn't be stunned, considering the way Michael lived life, but I am none the less. I'll miss you Michael.
I feel the same way that we shouldn't be surprised, yet some people have such an aura of invincibility that we are shocked when reality intervenes. I heard this news while out climbing and I was saddened more than I would expect for somebody I have never met. I feel for his loved ones, especially his daughter, but I know he lived life to the absolute fullest and hopefully the memory of his spirit will lead his family back to happiness. Although I don't care to even try emulating his exploits, he was a hero to myself and many others.
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SoloJoe
Jul 16, 2007, 4:45 PM
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Never met Michael Reardon, but I have read several articles about him and his solo ascents. He was very inspiring for those of us who envy such talent.
Condolences go out to Michael's family, friends and all who knew him. Even those who he inspired through magazine articles. I will surely miss reading about one of the Greats of this climbing era!
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johnnym
Jul 16, 2007, 6:12 PM
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I also am proud to call Michael my friend, though I met him only once, it seems like we have been friends for ever. Let me quote from my first interview I did with Michael on Crimpermag.com:
JM. To conclude, if the unthinkable ever happened, what would you most like to be remembered for? (This needn't be climbing related - I personally believe that the reason I was put on this planet is for my son Sam).
MR. Don’t shed a tear, raise a pint and laugh because I’m living hard and loving harder than anyone has a right to. Besides, the devil won’t have me and we know the old man upstairs isn’t opening the gates so I’ll still be around and giggling right along with you until we meet again.
See ya soon mate!
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jdouble
Jul 16, 2007, 6:29 PM
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The world will be a less colorful place without Reardon.
Will miss you.
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fenix83
Moderator
Jul 16, 2007, 6:35 PM
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johnnym wrote: MR. Don’t shed a tear, raise a pint and laugh because I’m living hard and loving harder than anyone has a right to. Besides, the devil won’t have me and we know the old man upstairs isn’t opening the gates so I’ll still be around and giggling right along with you until we meet again.
I had refused to post on this thread because I refused to believe it could be true... I'll still hold out for a miracle, but the quoted post, especially the portion in italics reminded me of this:
In reply to: And so he fell but didn't land 'Til he reached the dwelling of the damned. Then he upped and bid Old Nick farewell And started climbing out of Hell. It's now all uphill whiche'r route he take. And yet we hope for Henry's sake, That the grading of his route to Heaven Is somewhat less than five-eleven.
We'll climb together, on this side or the other.
-F
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reno
Jul 16, 2007, 6:43 PM
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Never met him. Wish I had.
Michael was the catalyst for many good discussions about climbing, ethics, style, and risk. He raised awareness, even if he didn't intend to, and for that, I am indebted to him.
His strength of character, his spirit, and his attitude towards life should be an inspiration for us all.
I wish his family and friends the strength to get through this very tragic time.
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erisspirit
Jul 16, 2007, 6:55 PM
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This is really sad 
I met him at Malibu creek. He was really cool and showed us a traverse over part of the creak. We all fell in at the crux... including him  . He pointed out a few other good climbs and we all chatted for awhile. As everyone said before he was really enthusiastic and personable.
sad sad news
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moose_droppings
Jul 16, 2007, 7:04 PM
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Things do indeed look dark and dire. I do not want to give anyone false hope, but will reserve my condolences till we get the official word.
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