Mountain Project Logo

Loss to the climbing community!

Original Post
Alex "Tojo" Kray · · Chandler, AZ · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 100

On 2/11 Saturday evening, near the Pond, Duke, one the world's best crag dogs, was struck and killed by a vehicle on the freeway. Thankfully, he did not suffer. He is survived by his parents, Nick Bujak and Jamee Stark-Riemer, as well as large groups of us from the climbing community who will never forget him!

Jamee S · · Phoenix · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

I love you guys...at this point that's all I can say. I miss him like crazy and am still in disbelief.

jeffrey c gibson · · pheonix az · Joined May 2010 · Points: 850

This was more then a dog...to us he was a friend.

Sam Lightner, Jr. · · Lander, WY · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 2,732

I'm very sorry.

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

Sorry about your loss. Do you have a photo of Duke you could post?

Alex "Tojo" Kray · · Chandler, AZ · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 100
Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi? · · Vegas · Joined May 2005 · Points: 4,115
Sorry for your loss.

Alex, great heart warming pics of some of Duke's adventures. Thanks for sharing! : )
jbird · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

I never knew Duke but I am sorry for your loss. Looks like he has a great family and had lots of fun while he was here.

jeffrey c gibson · · pheonix az · Joined May 2010 · Points: 850

<3

TimMoore · · NC · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 5

I'm sorry for your loss. The passing of a beloved companion is always hard.

Gary Dunn · · Baltimore · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 35

Sorry for you loss...

Clymb · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 15

We love and miss you, Duke! Such a great pooch :(

David Sampson · · Tempe AZ, · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 1,207

so sorry for your loss..

jeffrey c gibson · · pheonix az · Joined May 2010 · Points: 850
jeffrey c gibson · · pheonix az · Joined May 2010 · Points: 850
jeffrey c gibson · · pheonix az · Joined May 2010 · Points: 850
nicholas bujak · · Glendale, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 230

Hey guys thank you for the support. If I did not have all of you to help me through this it would have been much more difficult. This was a terrible thing that happened to Jamee and I. This was our child. I did not know what to do with him after I picked him up off the side of the road and started driving back to Glendale and then turned around to go to our fave climbing area. At this point I am wondering if the obvious grave like stone pile might somehow affect access. I thought this was public land but it may not be. Honestly I think if things are already tense (I don't think we have any issues with access so far?) it may begin discussion and disagreement. I would not want that to happen. At this point I think I will for now take the collar down. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas on what to do or could get me in touch with the rancher so I could apologize and ask for permission then please get in touch with me at 3472057667 or nbujak@yahoo.com or through Facebook. Jamee and I are planning on heading that way on Wednesday. I think I will be camping out there on the weekend company would be appreciated.

Pat Mac · · Bishop, CA · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 158

Hi, Nicholas

I am sorry for your loss and I am glad to hear that he didn't suffer.
Duke was a great crag dog and was very lively and playful. His adventurous spirit will be missed.

I know we are not the best of acquaintances. But how you dealt with duke's death at the this area was not very well thought through and needs to be fixed. Since I know you haven't been going to this area for very long please let me inform you how this will create issues.

First is the access:
1) This area is private property and the land owner for now let's us use that area and we pick up after ourselves. Any kind of disturbance around that area aka "Large rock piles" will bring attention to the land owner even further.

Location?????
2) Where you buried your dog is the MAIN CAMP site where EVERYONE comes to camp and hangout for the weekend when climbing at this wonderful area. For you and many others we find this place special and like a second home. And should not be a place where we lay to rest our beloved pets. That is disrespectful of others peoples space when they spend time there. Not even 6feet back is an area where I camp and have camped for over 5years. At the very least, take him out of the camp site. And out of plain site. I don't think it's right for you to subject every single human being that comes and climbs here to be sleeping next to a grave. Not cool.

Now I am not here to yell at you and make you feel even more worse than you already do. But I am here to inform you that this situation needs to be taken care of. And next time have other people in mind when you do something like this that will have an affect on how other people spend there time there.

-Pat

Jamee S · · Phoenix · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

To be completely honest, I don't think anyone who was in Nick's situation would have been thinking very logically at that point. Clearly you haven't lost anyone who meant as much to us as Duke did. I understand where property issues may or may not come into play, but so far you're the only one who has brought this up as an issue to us, and this is coming from multiple climbers throughout the US.

I may only be speaking for myself, but I sure as hell will not be digging up my dog and reliving his death all over again.

And not to sound like a bitch, but that message definitely rubbed me the wrong way.

nicholas bujak · · Glendale, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 230

Pat the reason I gave my email and phone number is so trolls like you could reach me directly. We have history and it irritates me to even hear your opinion. This post has been changed to get rid of the area name so please delete any reference to where he is buried. As for feeling uncomfortable the bigger issue may become that you should not be camping there cause it is private land and may cause access issues. Yes I agree maybe could have found a better spot.\. Cheers. You're a jerk and will always be a jerk.

Tim McCabe · · Tucson, AZ · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 130

First off I have lost pets that were like children to my wife and I.

Two of them are buried right out side of our fence.

No one wants to come off like a jerk. But seriously my first thought was did he really bury his dog on public land.

Honestly I do sympathize with the guy and no I wouldn't expect him to go and dig the dog up.

But maybe someone should at least put the area back to a more natural state.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Arizona & New Mexico
Post a Reply to "Loss to the climbing community!"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.