Riccardo Cassin RIP

One of the true greats in the history of alpinism passed away yesterday at the venerabl age of 100. In a century filled with great climbers he was truly one of the most visionary. While most in the States will recognize his name from the ridge that bears it on Denali, his masterpiece was the line he forged up the Walker Spur on the north face of the Jorasses. Having just returned from the Alps, I can say it is one of the most striking lines I have ever seen in the mountains. This was in addition to the lines he put up on the north faces of Cima Ovest and the Piz Badile. It is thanks to men like him that alpinism captures the imagination of so many. His legacy will live on. RIP

This is indeed a sad passing. Cassin was truly one of the great trailblazers of our sport. RIP

Riccardo Cassin will live on in my memories until I die as one who inspired me to how I should climb. Although I've never had the discipline he retained through out his life to physically train himself, so that he could climb hard first ascent rock climbing routes at 80+ years old.
His spirituality about man's relationship to the mountain became my relationship also, fundamentally that the mountains were to be respected and revered. The mountains were climbed to share with us theirs that have atmospheric greatness. The mountains geological sculptors changing their appearances daily and we the guest viewers of they're greatness at sculpturing and unfortunately dying from their process at sculpturing sometimes.
It's difficult to put into words. Reverence is the closest word I can come up with. If Riccardo revered mountains, he revered life and thereby I will revere him because of the routes he chose to do first before anyone else imagined them.
He presented himself to us all and everyone of his routes will remind us all of his presence on that mountain as long as that mountain remains standing here on earth. Reading about his climbs and how he climbed them he became one of my mentors, educators, teacher's on how and why I should climb.
Thank you, Riccardo Cassin.