RIP Rob Jansen (rjansen77)

[marie123]

Reading these posts made this a heartbreaking and touching day. It is clear Rob was an incredible person. Friends and family of Rob - rather than mourning this tragic loss, feel proud to have known this very special human being for his all too short stay. I personally am using Rob as a life inspiration to live everyday with passion and adventure, to always smile, to pursue our dreams, and to really share our love of the mountains with one another. In every photo Rob was smiling - every comment and trip report was positive and uplifting. I would consider my life a success if I can be even half the person he was. May he live on forever in all our hearts and minds. Rob, the world is a better place because of you.

[I Man]

Reading these posts made this a heartbreaking and touching day. It is clear Rob was an incredible person. Friends and family of Rob - rather than mourning this tragic loss, feel proud to have known this very special human being for his all too short stay. I personally am using Rob as a life inspiration to live everyday with passion and adventure, to always smile, to pursue our dreams, and to really share our love of the mountains with one another. In every photo Rob was smiling - every comment and trip report was positive and uplifting. I would consider my life a success if I can be even half the person he was. May he live on forever in all our hearts and minds. Rob, the world is a better place because of you.

Well said. It is amazing to see how many others feel as I do.

[tmathews]

We are in Glenwood Springs with Mr. Jansen. Lots of raw emotions.

IMAG0124.jpg (168.05 KiB) Viewed 3784 times

[bergsteigen]

RIP Rob. We will miss you terribly!



I met Rob and his father and sister at the base of Blanca in June 2009. They didn't have crampons and didn't feel comfortable ascending the peak that way. I felt bad, since they had flown all the way from Connecticut to hike a 14er, a family tradition it seems. At least Rob was able to go get Ellingwood Pt with some other climbers, while his family waited. They were such a nice family, chatting with us for a while as we put on our crampons and got ready for an exciting snow/ice climb of Blanca.

Over a year later, Rob searched me out. Found my website and emailed me. He was a senior geology student and wanted to ask me a bit about what I have done in my career and what I thought of various geology organizations (to work for). I was incredibly amazed and touched that he remembered our conversation about geology and that he wanted my opinion. So we started up an email communication for a little while. He also wanted to live the geologist/mountaineers' dream of working and living in Colorado, so that he could follow both his passion for geology (glaciovolcanic deposits and paleo-climate analysis that he did in BC) as well as his passion for mountains. So I helped him with whatever advice that I could possibly give. And as we all know, he moved here after college and had been following his dream ever since.

I am still reeling, and have been in a bit of a haze since I heard the news. At first I thought I didn't hear right. I had to hear it a few times over before it sunk in. If I can feel this way with a guy that I didn't know as well as I would have liked, I can not imagine what his family and close hiking partners/friends are feeling right now. My heart goes out to his family, Jeff, Greg, Dan, Dillon, Tyler and the rest. Tyler, I hope you make a speedy recovery.

To Rob's father and sister, I know I can speak for many of us, should you ever want to come to Colorado to hike more 14ers, there will be many of us willing to help you and hike with you, if you like. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

[mtgirl]

I met Rob last fall on a 14ers.com group hike on Quandary. He was fairly new to this community of climbers and wore a sign with his forum name so everyone knew who he was. He wanted to meet as many of us as he could. Super friendly guy with a great personality and love for the mountains. RIP Rob......my prayers are with his friends and family during this tragic time.

Here Rob is pictured in the center with green jacket and sign. I'm to his left, along with many other forum members who had the privilege of meeting him that day.

[joshbrink]

I never met Rob in person, but I did ask him a lot of questions. He was always so gracious in answering them all and usually going above and beyond the original question. He was very generous with his knowledge and it was much appreciated. My thoughts are with his family.
RIP

[Obese_goat]

Reading these posts made this a heartbreaking and touching day. It is clear Rob was an incredible person. Friends and family of Rob - rather than mourning this tragic loss, feel proud to have known this very special human being for his all too short stay. I personally am using Rob as a life inspiration to live everyday with passion and adventure, to always smile, to pursue our dreams, and to really share our love of the mountains with one another. In every photo Rob was smiling - every comment and trip report was positive and uplifting. I would consider my life a success if I can be even half the person he was. May he live on forever in all our hearts and minds. Rob, the world is a better place because of you.

Well said. It is amazing to see how many others feel as I do.

RIP Rob! These memorial threads always touch home with me. Accidents in the backcountry can happen to every single one of us at any given moment. Death is always a reminder to count your blessings and enjoy each step you take next time your in the wilderness. Enjoy every second of the hike the way Rob would have because the mountains and gravity certainly don't care how experienced we are. When it's our time, it's our time, and there's not much we can do about it besides take every precaution possible. Very sad to read about this unfortunate accident. Certainly called accidents for a reason. Although my peaks and post counts are low and I have never met any of you in person, or exchanged messages, I feel a connection to each and every one of you becasue of the time spent in the mountains and on the website. I'm always trying to gather info and research plans for future hikes or just to kill time at work. In doing so, I idolize members of this forum. I feel like I already know some of you or that you all are friends for providing me insight and knowledge. DAMN YOU MIDDLEBROOK! jk jk but seriously....It always hurts when we lose a member of the community because whether we have met or not, we can all relate. We all share the same love for the mountains and mother nature. I feel bad for all the fallen climbers, friends and families of those who are affected by the mountains claiming lives every year. My heart goes out to all who are hurting right now and I'm hoping for the speedy recovery of those involved and the injured Tyler. Never met you Rob but you've inspired me. I've read some of your comments on threads and quite a few of your trip reports. Your trip reports were very meaningful and well written. Especially Holy Cross with your pops. Glad you shared that with your old man! Quite the accomplishment. Rereading it made me want a cold dale's ale right about now... Your love and passion for the mountains were clearly evident and I'm glad you got to experience more of the mountains than most do and you did it in such a short time. I'm sure your enjoying the views of the tallest mountains from the heavens above! Please watch over the rest of us as we travel through. RIP Good Sir.

[tundratif]

What sad news this is. I met Rob last year at the Fall Gathering and then at a couple of the Denver Happy Hours. While I certainly didn't know him as well as a lot of folks here did, he stuck out in a good way. I remember he waited for me to catch up on the hike up Handies even though he was way faster and he had no reason to. He always had a smile and was full of such positive energy and ambitions. We had a short conversation at a happy hour earlier this summer about hiking plans for the rest of the summer. It was such an inspiration to hear his goals of finishing, and running the marathon, and a few other trips. His enthusiam for the mountains and the hiking community that he had found radiated out in the conversation. It's been refreshing to watch his energy embrace others on this site over the last year.

Rob - My heart goes out to your family and friends. And to you, I hope you find peace and the most perfect bluebird Colorado day. Thanks so much for all you have given us.

[Skip Perkins]

Having not met Rob I went to his profile to learn a bit more about him. What stood out to me was how he looked at his accomplishments. He said he didn't have accomplishments, just highlights. His highlights were Rainier, Grand Teton, Whitney, Shasta, 52 14ers, and the Leadville Trail Marathon. After reading the posts on this thread, I believe his big accomplishment has been his positive effect on so many people over a short period of time. May his family and friends find peace at such a difficult time.

[gsliva]

Sad. This kind of rock fall disaster is like a trap door. RIP. It could have caught any of us. My glass is raised.

[greenwok]

Heavy sigh...nice touch to post the hike with his dad - very cool experience!

We were so excited for our plans for us all to get together to go to Chicago Basin next weekend.

For those wondering what kind of an amazing person Rob was here is the link to his last trip report on Holy Cross with his father.

http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... ki=Include" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OBC13]

This is very sad. My prayers and encouragement to the family. May he rest in peace.