Climbers We Lost in 2019
One person was 17. Two others were only 22. The people herein span every decade beyond the teens and extend to someone who reached 96. Each year we compile our annual tribute to Climbers We Lost. Each year it feels bigger, and bigger means sadder. This year has seemed particularly painful in that we have some multiple victims of accidents: two leading alpinists attempting a winter ascent in the Himalaya; three in the Canadian Rockies; two extremely accomplished and well-prepared young women in the high Sierra. We feel this compilation is important—maybe the most important thing we do all year. We put effort and heart in the project but cannot cover everyone, and are always sad to leave anyone out, often inadvertently. We always encourage you to add photos and remembrances of any others in the comments field. This year’s is our biggest compilation yet. We wish it were far smaller, while taking comfort in the accounts of those who lived long, fulfilling and often extremely impressive natural lifespans. Please, everyone, be careful out there.
—Alison Osius and Michael Levy