A Colorado climber died after falling from one of Nepal’s most famous peaks.
Professional alpine climber Michael Gardner fell to his death Monday while making his second attempt up the north face of Nepal’s Jannu East, which sits at nearly 25,000 feet.
The 32-year-old was with his longtime climbing partner Sam Hennessey at the time. Gardner was described as a “true climber” by his sponsor, Arc’teryx, who shared an Instagram tribute to him.
Professional alpine climber Michael Gardner fell to his death Monday while making his second attempt up the north face of Nepal’s Jannu East.
Jannu East of Nepal, which is located at almost 25,000 feet
“We are deeply saddened to share that our dear friend and Arc’teryx athlete Michael Gardner passed away climbing Jannu East in the mountains of Nepal earlier this week,” the post said, adding that the company was “grateful to report” that Hennessey descended safely.
‘His passion was sharing his missions and goals as if to say, “See how much fun we had?” “And I invite you to enter the dream with him,” the post continued.
The lengthy tribute further added that it would take “pages and pages” to list his accomplishments, noting, “More than anything, it is who Mike was as a person that will leave a lasting impact on us and certainly our community.”
On the way up the mountain after the incident, Hennessey reportedly ran into a French climbing team, who helped search unsuccessfully for Gardner’s body.
During their seven-year climbing collaboration, Gardner and Sam Hennessey had “accumulated an otherworldly list of standard-breaking ascents.”
Gardner was a second-generation Exum guide, promoted by the oldest guiding service in North America, and was one of the youngest guides in America.
In Gardner’s last Instagram post from September, he wrote: “It seemed like a short summer season between expeditions. But my cup is full and I’m ready for the next chapter. I had lots of sunshine, good times and connections with family and friends.
A drone and foot search also failed to locate him, and all they found was some of his personal equipment under his face.
The details surrounding his downfall are still unclear. climbing magazine reported.
During their seven-year climbing collaboration, Gardner and Hennessey had “accumulated an otherworldly list of standard-breaking ascents,” Outside reported.
The pair made the second ascent of Light Traveler on the southwest face of Denali, climbing from their camp at 7,200 feet to the summit in just 36 hours, according to the Exum Mountain Guides website.
The route was successfully climbed in 2001 by Stephen Kock and Marjo Prezelj, who took 51 hours to reach the summit from their camp at 14,200 feet, according to Climbing magazine.
Gardner spent five seasons skiing competitively, guided 12 ascents of Denali, including a blind climber, and made more than 150 ascents of Grand Teton.
Gardner was a second-generation guide for Exum, which bills itself as the oldest guiding service in North America. He was one of the youngest guides in America, after starting his first mountaineering trips at the age of eight.
He was born in Ridgeway, Colorado, according to Arc’teryx, and has gone on skiing and climbing expeditions on every continent.
Most of his childhood was spent following his father from ‘the Tetons to Nepal, and everywhere in between’, before his father died in an accident while solo climbing the Grand Teton in 2008, when Gardner was just 16. years.
Gardner leaves behind his mother, Colleen, and sister, Megan, according to Climbing magazine.
Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight shared a tribute on Instagram with photos of the couple kissing.
‘I feel so lucky to have been loved by you, Mikey. “It truly has been the greatest gift I have ever received,” Hight said.
Olympic snowboarder Elena Hight shared a tribute on Instagram with photos of the couple kissing.
She wrote: ‘While our months together were short, I found the days precious, long and full. We fell in love so quickly. Faster than either of us thought.
She described their time together as ‘Neverland’ and said it ‘felt like magic.’
‘I feel so lucky to have been loved by you, Mikey. “It truly has been the greatest gift I have ever received,” Hight added.
Atomic Skis, an equipment company that Gardner had tagged in his Instagram bio, said that every interaction with him “felt like a gift” and that “his love and passion for the mountains was truly contagious.”
In Gardner’s last Instagram post from September, he wrote: “It seemed like a short summer season between expeditions. But my cup is full and I’m ready for the next chapter. I had lots of sunshine, good times and connections with family and friends. ‘
‘Mike was an optimist who lived a big and bold life. “His legacy will be eternal through the souls he touched and the limits he refused to acknowledge,” said Arc’teryx, which sponsored the climber.
‘I’m very excited and grateful to be back in the big hills with my friend. Teeth to the wind,’ he said.
The climber’s friends also posted tributes on social media.
‘You were larger than life, my brother. “A beacon of strength inside and out, with your unique ability to uplift everyone around you and an unmatched level of humility,” one wrote.
‘We not only lost a climber, but one of the greatest mountaineers of our generation. “Your spirit will always be a part of these mountains and your legacy will continue to inspire us all,” wrote another.