Last year on this day, our friend Wray Landon died in an avalanche while skiing the South Teton in Grand Teton National Park. (Here is the original report posted on TetonAT.) I have mourned the loss of Wray a lot over the past year and I really miss him. I know people are out there honoring Wray in many different ways today and I am joining some friends for a pre-dawn patrol session, something Wray was famous for. I had plans to celebrate his life on a multi-day mission in the park this weekend, in full view of a line we skied together, but the weather put the kibosh on that idea.
I made this video a few days after his passing. It’s from a descent of the line he was killed on, two days before that tragic day. RIP Wray…we miss you!!!
I have a fond memories of skiing the Sickle that will stick with me for years to come and I deeply am saddened by the loss of another great person. Wray, your spirit lives on!
I didn’t know Wray real well but this is the kind of guy he was. Years back a friend asked if I wanted to go climbing at Humbug Spires in Montana. It has a classic multi-pitch climb on a beautiful granite spire. We met a couple people there and one of them was Wray. It looked like it was going to be one of those trips where to many people got invited and might turn out to be a debacle. We started off and I remember thinking “oh here we go, this is going to be a complete junk showâ€. I felt that way until I watched Wray set up a hanging belay for three other people quickly and confidently. He climbed the crux and then managed all of the ropes, while directing us, joking and laughing the entire time. We had a great time that day because Wray just kept smiling and working those ropes. I remember it wasn’t that he was trying to be patient he was just having fun.
This is my most favorite video Steve has done…so powerful thank you.
right on paul. i like it too…in a weird sort of way.