Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

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DeTour
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by DeTour »

susanjoypaul wrote:He told me that he wanted to write a book. It was one of those things he meant to do, really, really, wanted to do, and now there wasn’t time.
Jim did write a book. It's all here on 14ers.com, just waiting to be published in book format. There is ample quantity of fascinating, moving, inspiring storytelling, and enough splendid photography to fill ten books.
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Once torched by truth, a little thing like faith is easy.
Swede Landing, 'Peace Like a River'
The land is forever.
- Steve Almburg, Illinois centennial farmer
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dillonsarnelli
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by dillonsarnelli »

Very sad and surprising news indeed. Having never met Jim, I hope he knew that his amazing pictures were an inspiration to others, including myself. My thoughts are with his family as well.
Dillon Sarnelli
IG @dillonsarnelli
Basecamp, CO
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unclegar
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by unclegar »

I haven't been able to keep up with the forum as much lately and appreciate being informed of this sad news by a friend I met through this site. Jim and I exchanged PM's, emails and phone calls but regretfully never climbed together. He was an amazing athlete and had a huge passion for the mountains. His trip reports and photography were always top-notch. My condolences and prayers for those close to Jim. He will be missed.
...the mountain peaks belong to Him. -- PS 95:4

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.”
― Charles M. Schulz
I fall a lot
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by I fall a lot »

I'm so sorry to hear this. We only exchanged a few brief emails but he was always a class act. What a brutal way to go.

He will be missed.
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JTOlson26
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by JTOlson26 »

So sad to hear. Prayers for the friends and family.
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timstich
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by timstich »

That was really nice, Susan.
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Big Schwimm
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by Big Schwimm »

Terrible news indeed . . . you'll be sorely missed.
The Mountains make us all feel small . . .
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Fisching
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by Fisching »

I, like many others, was taken aback learning of Jim’s passing not only given his young age but being in the dark about his terminal illness. Regardless, it feels only fitting to pay tribute to the personal impact Jim had on me. I can attribute Steve Gladbach for being my mentor in taking me from being a hiker to mountaineer, but I owe Jim for mentoring me from scrambler to rock climber. After relocating to Colorado Springs in mid-2011, I sent a personal message to Jim inquiring about learning to rock climb with in a local group in the area after following a discussion he participated in on the 14ers forum about the subject. Not only did he get back to me, but he offered his personal time to teach me in Garden of the Gods. While I had some of the gear, I by no means had everything necessary, but Jim was more than gracious to share when needed. He felt there was some duty as a veteran being able to mentor the inexperienced, and for that I was appreciative.

And I know there were times he wished I would pick up techniques or remember the “how-to’s” for rope knots at a quicker pace, but he nonetheless stuck with assisting me. Even as a novice, Jim began to look to me as a trustworthy partner willing to join him for a quick soiree in Garden of the Gods on a weekday afternoon. In particular I remember him sending me a message at lunch on unseasonably warm winter day asking what time I’d be done teaching that afternoon. He responded, “Excellent! See you at the Garden at 3:30,” forgoing the formalities of asking if I’d be interested or available. For being in his upper 50’s, Jim had the exuberance of a kid.

There were other times when that youthful exuberance was on full display. That summer, I asked him if he’d be interested in joining Terry and I for the Crestone Traverse and he immediately started a sales pitch for the Arête using a favorite phrase of his, “Think of the Glory, the fame, the trip report, (sans fortune…)!” I joked that he’d probably be winching me in an inglorious fashion to the top of the Needle.

It was also thanks to Jim’s invite to the Colorado Springs Happy Hour in December of 2011. I remember trying to have a conversation with Jim that night, but it was mostly to no avail; he wasn’t exactly a person for loud venues and put in a set of earplugs he brought. Trying to talk to him via shouting was marginally more successful than listening to his responses; he seemed to forget with the earplugs that he would have to speak above a normal conversational level for someone else to hear him. I ended up nodding 93% of the time to God knows what. The invite to the HH is where I met the first of the to-be “Brat Pack” in Dan McCool which sent a whole chain of events in motion that has profoundly impacted my life.

Jim and I made plans to do Evans a few months after that in winter. Anyone who is familiar with Jim from the trail knows he’s one of the fastest hikers in our community. This day was no different. Jim was blazing away, and somehow despite battling a bad cold I was able to keep pace and even get in front of Jim of few times. He remarked and paid me one of the bigger compliments I’ve gotten on a trail, especially given the source, “Hey, you’re fast!” On top of that, I got to witness firsthand his remarkable photography at work, which might be his lasting legacy to the greater community left behind in his abundant trip reports.

Jim thanks for the glory, the trip reports, the photos, the tutelage, and memories. Here’s to hoping you find that elusive fortune on the other side.

Learning to rock climb in the Garden with Jim; his girlfriend on belay.
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A photo of Jim on Mt. Evans, February 2011
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Jim's photo of the sun setting on Mt. Evans, February 2011. Seems to be a fitting way to end a tribute.
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Peter Aitchison on the risks of rock climbing and mountaineering: "That's life, isn't it? We think the challenge and satisfaction you get from doing this is worth the risks."
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ameristrat
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by ameristrat »

I met Jim on a climb of Sunshine and Redcloud last January. I had posted on this site and a meetup group that I was interested in the climb to try to find partners. A few days before the climb, he graciously asked me if we had any more room for him. Having read his TRs, I was taken aback - of course there would be room for such an accomplished climber! This action was representative of how he treated all of us throughout the climb - though he was far more experience than most of us, he was genuinely happy to spend a day with us, teaching where he could. It was humbling.

Our sizeable group spread out that day, and I ended up summitting Sunshine and heading over the Redcloud by his side. He talked about his goal of climbing the 14ers in winter, encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and we struck up an easy conversation about music and guitar playing - something we held in common. He offered to take me under his wing and teach me more about mountaineering and climbing, inviting me to join him on a winter ascent of Uncompahgre and Wetterhorn. He didn't seem the least bit concerned that I had very little experience, and told me he'd be more than happy to teach me anything I needed to know - "how can we learn without instruction?" he had said.

Unfortunately my schedules didn't allow me to make that trip with him, but the encouragement he provided me and the confidence he showed in me meant the world to me.

Jim was a man that I held a great deal of respect for, and I am so saddened to hear of his passing. This one stings.

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

You're headed home, Jim. Climb on.
You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know. - Rene Daumal
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EZSide
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by EZSide »

Wow.

God Rest & Peace.


- Bill
"There are times when the most complicated actions are suddenly summed up, distilled, and strike you with illuminating clarity" - Maurice Herzog
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by Beachrodney »

RIP Jim

Cancer sucks and if there is a chance to donate to a charity in Jim's name, count me in.[/quote]

Does Jim have any family that could chime in on this? I lost my mother to this nasty cancer in October and have been donating here: http://www.pancan.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Rastaman566
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Re: Dancesatmoonrise has passed away

Post by Rastaman566 »

I only exchanged PM's with Jim on a few separate occasions, but I was surprised at how willing he was to provide guidance. While planning one trip, he offered to take me over to Garden of the Gods for some training when he found out that I didn't have very much technical climbing experience. I wish I would have taken him up on this offer when I had the chance. It's so sad to hear about another strong climber leaving us. RIP