Fallen Comrades

Sad news today. Fredrick Ericsson has perished in a fall while fixing ropes in the 'bottleneck' section on K2's Cesan Route. This part of the route is very near the top. His official website is now reporting on the accident.

Details are still blurry, but C.R. Johnson passed away while skiing at Squaw Valley today. He was skiing the Headwall at Squaw and apparently hit his head. Rest in Peace, C.R.

Long time champion of the Canadian freeskiing circuit "Captain" Jack Carey tragically passed away yesterday at the age of 64.

Shane McConkey jumped out of this world, while base-jumping today in Italy. Skiers, athletes, enthusiasts, laughers and lovers of life around the world will mourn his early departure.

If you’re looking for a good present for a big mountain skier who likes reading, The Edge of Never by William Kerig is a worthy buy. Click through for a book review and an interview with the author and a video about the film being made about the book.

At approximately 3:45pm this afternoon, 27-year-old John Nicoletta of Aspen, Colorado, died due to injuries sustained during a fall while competing on the first day of the Freeskiing World Championships at Alyeska Resort, Alaska. Nicoletta was the 47th competitor of the day down the Headwall below Alyeska Peak.

Billy Poole was quite a spectacle/specimen. A spectacle specimen I saw in Billy Poole. Billy's agile nature and the clever way he went about could only be described by first simply shaking his hand/paw and seeing the kindness in his eyes then quickly realizing what a physical specimen he was. I think people that strong inherently know and understand the responsibilities that come along with it. Billy took his physical responsibility seriously and decided that skiing would be the sport.

Mid-winter blues kicked in a little while ago. What are midwinter-blues? Its that feeling when you have skied more powder than your legs can handle, it isn't snowing 10cms everyday, and people you know are dieing in the mountains. Thats the blues. But one bluebird day in the gloomy, overcast heart of winter can be like overdosing on Prozac.