Adrianne Wadewitz, Wikipedia Editor and Climber, Killed at Joshua Tree
Adrianne Wadewitz, 37, died of head injuries on April 8 in Palm Springs, California. "Wikiwoman" was a passionate climber and editor for Wikipedia.
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Adrianne Wadewitz, 37, died April 8 in Palm Springs, California, after sustaining head injuries in a fall when her rappel anchor failed at Joshua Tree National Park on March 29.
Wadewitz was a leading contributing editor for Wikipedia, with over 49,000 edits, according to the New York Times. She focused much of her effort into editing entries on female authors and women’s history. She was last working on a detailed article about Steph Davis, Moab climber and wingsuit flyer.
“In Ms. Wadewitz’s hands,” according to the New York Times obituary, “the article became filled with personal details, spectacular photos, a highlighted quotation and 25 footnotes.”
Wadewitz studied Engish at Columbia University, graduating in 1999, and received a Ph.D. from Indiana University in 2011. She began climbing two years ago.