Another Reason We're Climbing

There are many reasons to raise money for Cancer Research. We've heard personal stories from many people, many of which are absolutely inspiring, but some of these situations would honestly break your heart.

The photo here is of my first climbing partner, Paul. This shot was taken on the summit of Mt. Lefroy, high above Lake Louise during a memorable season in the 1990's. Paul was a crazy Brit that loved the Beatles on vinyl, Jeeps, road biking, hiking, camping and, of course, rock and alpine climbing. Paul and I learned to handle ropes, crampons and ice axes together. We slowly progressed from top rope 5.5s to sport climbs, run-out gear climbs and eventually Multi-Pitch Trad Routes on Alberta's Rock Climbing Playground, Mt. Yamnuska. It was on this relative Big Wall that Paul and I pushed our limits and learned a lot. We would drive out from Calgary after work, eating dinner in the Jeep, rushing up the 2000 ft apron of Yamnuska, roping up and swapping leads with minimal protection placed it to save time. We would get within a couple pitches of the top before the the sun set, forcing us to finish our climbs by headlamp. Our focus was on safety and fun, and it was definitely both.

It was on Mt. Yamnuska that Paul and his wife Kris would have to bivy out in the open after a surprise rain storm turned to driving snow, soaking them in their fleece jackets and resulting in a very uncomfortable night near the summit of the mountain and a long walk back to their Jeep the next morning. Paul was always prepared, but this one caught him off guard. He was proud of his experience and his skill, so he turned this into another learning opportunity.

Paul loved Road Trips and each Autumn many of us would head down to Smith Rock in central Oregon for a few weeks of Rock Climbing in the sun before we had to face Winter back in Canada. One year, only a few days after returning from Smith Rock, Paul collapsed on the floor of his home in Calgary. He was out of breath and had to drag himself to his Jeep to get to the Emergency Ward of the Hospital. After several tests it was determined that Paul had Skin Cancer that had worked its way into his lungs. Paul was a fighter who, as I said, never wanted to be rescued, but this was more serious than any climb he had ever undertaken. Skill and experience couldn't get him out of this one. Within months Paul was gone, after having just met his own son who was born just a few months earlier.

Paul was never forgotten. A short time later, Paul's Wife, some friends and I climbed Paul's favourite route on Yamnuska called Grillmair's Chimney. At the spectacular finish of that route, right near where it tops out at the peak of that mountain that overlooks the Prairies of Alberta, we mounted a plaque in memory of Paul that read "Climb On, Monkey Boy, Forever In Our Hearts". Anyone who has seen Mt. Yamnuska will agree that it looks like the World's Largest Gravestone, which is fitting for Paul who was larger-than-life in many ways.

Paul's life was cut way too short by this brutal disease. Most of us know someone that has faced similar challenges, and in fact it is tough to find anyone who has not been influenced somehow by cancer. It is for this reason that we are doing what we can to make a small, but hopefully meaningful difference in the search for a cure for cancer.

If you read this, please donate. If you can't donate, please pass along our message to other people that you know. Thank you.