Prayers for Doug Coombs

[Freebird]

http://pistehors.com/archives/A2006041/

Doug Coombs, world renown ski mountaineer, extreme skier, AMGA guide, etc etc etc... was killed in an avy in La Grave, France two days ago.

I haven't had a chance to read the whole report, but I will later tonight. I found out last night at dinner with a friend of Dinas. I promptly came home and opened a :beermug: in remembrance of Doug.

[pulverschwein]

Yeah, we heard and have been mourning here, Freebird. Here's the thread in case you missed it: http://timefortuckerman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6262. Horrible, depressing way to end the season.

[DNH]

not killed in an avy, but in trying to rescue his mortally injured friend.

-speaks volumes for the kind of guy Coombs was.

[DMC]

:( :jumpturn:

[Freebird]

Crap, I just checked the avy forum, didn't even look in the other ones for it...

my bad.

-signing off

[DSM]

Check out article in today's NYT with detailed account of Doug Coombs last run and a few pics. Sad but he went out doing what he loved.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/17/sports/othersports/17ski.html?ex=1148011200&en=cc7631725e2cb8b5&ei=5087%0A

[ATP]

It saddens me every time I read an account, largely because Doug Coombs was doing everything right and had learned to be careful out there, so he could be there for his family. It was only when he was distraught over his friend's fall that he lost track of his own safety. It's a lesson to remember. The last death on our own Rockpile in Pipeline Gully happened for much the same reason, only there the friend survived. Half the deaths in Mammoth's geothermal vent this winter happened because would-be rescuers acted too quickly. We're all taught, to a certain extent, that heroism consists in taking risks and acting quickly and decisively to save those in need. I'd just suggest that we always remember to take a second and breathe before leaping to the rescue without adequate precautions.

[RR]

..We're all taught, to a certain extent, that heroism consists in taking risks and acting quickly and decisively to save those in need. I'd just suggest that we always remember to take a second and breathe before leaping to the rescue without adequate precautions.Agreed, I believe that it is more heroic to take that extra moment to prepare correctly when every fibre of being is screaming RUSH IN NOW...

[ATP]

Certainly it takes tougher stuff to force yourself to stop and think. Heroism is so laced with societal norms that I don't know what makes you more a hero. I guess as long as it remains results-based, stopping to think is an essential part of heroism, but it's just so easy to lionize the recently departed, particularly if they martyr themselves. How man FDNY hats did you see before 9-11?

[RR]

... How man FDNY hats did you see before 9-11?full center marks on that! Mcluhan was right.