I'm a bit late getting here, but my condolences to Craig's family and friends. He will certainly be missed. I never had the chance to knowingly meet him, though I think I've seen him around before, but I have read a few of his books and was aware of his impact on the world we inhabit.

Truly a unique and gifted soul. Such a tragedy indeed, but he died with his boots on: an honorable way to go. If any of us could live even half the life he did, then we'd have a full and rewarding life.

Rest in Peace, Craig. See you at the summit.

I've never met Craig yet he has touched my life. I came to climbing later in life than most and needed all the help I could get. Craig's books on 'Mastering Basic Skills' and 'Rock Climbing Anchors' sit dog eared in my study next to my rocking chair where I have read and reread them countless times. I agree that one cannot learn rock climbing just by reading books but thanks to Craig's lucid writing style and clear photographs I am so much farther along with my skills and knowledge than would have otherwise been remotely possible. I have friends who are good friends of Craig's or have been students of his and through them as well as his books I do feel as though I have known him. He certainly has my utmost respect. I had planned on taking some of his clinics in the future and now, sadly, I will never have this opportunity.

I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to his wife and daughter. And thanks, Craig, for making me a better and safer climber.

from SnoDale (I figured since we are posting up in the Memorial section, his warm thoughts are welcomed):

Whoa! I am sorry to hear about Craig. My condolences.

I haven't seen Craig in years, but I first met him in the mid '80s when he was working on the first Big Bros. Four of us were running a climbing store in Denver and he would stop in every couple of months (or more frequently) to show his newest or improved "Bro." A couple of friends used his prototypes a lot, but they were in to arm-barrin', hand stackin' nasty big cracks. The store actually bought some of his first production models, hand delivered. We also bought a photo that was either from him or of him that we blew up to nearly life size of someone/him in a heinous off-width. I would occasionally run into him when I was dragged up to Vedauvoo but never climbed with him. He was way above my whining, pathetic off-width skills (and saying "skills" was pretty much an exaggeration).

Craig contributed a lot to the climbing community and will be missed. RIP.

Dale

I am extremely saddened to hear of Craig's death. My condolences go out to his family and friends. Craig was a wonderful person. He was someone that I looked up to for both his climbing feats and wildly entertaining climbing articles. Craig inspired me well before I ever met and climbed with him in 2004.

There I was climbing among friends and I had one of the guys I considered a legend cheering me on. Craig's belief in the ability of his climbing partners was empowering. His predictions of their success had an uncanny way of proving true. He was awesome at inspiring people to reach their full potential.

So sorry to hear this unfortunate news.

Sort of OT, but not really. I remember in the late 80's Big Bro running ads in Climbing. One featured a local Ft. Collins climber, John Something or Another (i.e., I knew him on a first name basis as did Craig, Joe Crocker, Dave the Hippie, Dimitri, Timmy Fairfield, Wilford, crankenstien, etc... we all went to CSU during the mid/late 80's) but currently my brain can't grasp the last name.

John was on the OW Peaches and Cream. There were some other Big Bro ads w/ Craig I think in Vedavoo. It would be sweet if anyone has any of those old rag pics to post 'em. Heck, it would just be nice to see some shots of him as I have none.

The memorial for Craig is on Sunday afternoon at the AAC. You need tickets (free) if you wish to attend because the theater only holds 375 people. Party on the lawn afterwards is open to everyone. Details here:

http://craigluebbenmemorial.eventbrite.com/

Donate to the Craig Luebben Memorial Fund:

Many people have inquired about how they can help at the moment. Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated and will be dedicated to helping his wife Silvia and 6 year old daughter Giulia.

http://www.nococlimbing.org/get-involved

My condolences to Sylvia, Giulia Maria and family. Truly a down to earth, personable guy.
I met Craig, his daughter and a friend of theirs last fall on the top of third flat iron on a nice day. At the base of the rappels I said to his daughter(with tongue in cheek), do you know your dad pulls really hard? With a puzzled look she said "dad climbed up that easy", making us laugh out loud. It was really great to see him climbing with his daughter sharing that experience together.

Words are hard to come by in a time like this but acceptance is harder. Posting here feels like a first step toward that. Craig so obviously influenced so many lives and the loss is great in our community, but the loss I most mourn is his presence in the daily lives of Sylvia and especially Giulia. And selfishly, his presence in mine.
In my tongue tied state about all I can say is that I looked forward to each chance to get together with Craig and smile, whether for work or play. That is a heartfelt compliment. Thanks to all of you for posting here. I have taken some solace in reading your posts and I'm sure others have as well. Sarah, I too was struck by Craig's eloquent distillation of parenting. "Be kind and try hard" is how he said it to me. Words to live by indeed. I will try.

Sad to hear of Craig's passing, I rememeber first meeting him when roaming the shores of Horsetooth Reservoir back in the 1980s. He always greeted you with a curious smile and I new from day one that climbing was in his soul. He amazed me by his in depth thinking about climbing gear and recall him talking about a variety of ideas when it came to protecting the lead climber in precarious situations, hence the "Big Bro" a clever design to protect off-width cracks. In the mid 1980s he arranged to have me give a slide presentation, "Modern Rock Gymnastics" for the outdoor program at CSU. The day of the presentation he set me up with the ropes course director and they had me run through the course. I had a lot of fun with it and ran through it in average time. A few years later he and a few of the locals began the Horsetooth Hang, a bouldering comp still prestigious today. At the 1st comp, the master boulder Mammen took 1st, I ran a distant 2nd, contending only after I was able to pull off the Left Eliminator as a double lunge. Years past and the next time I saw him was at Derek Hersey's Memorial in Eldorado Canyon. He came up to me, eyes of fire, as he could be, and said he had just arrived straight from Yosemite, and that him and Derek, only a few days earlier had climbed the Nose on El Cap in a day, a rare feat especially back then as well as today. He was dumb founded, sad as we are of his passing. I new then that he was a dedicated master climber and I was in awe of his accomplishment. Last years I saw him at the Southern Sun sitting next to Lynn Hill, chatting as us climbers do, over a cold one, reflecting about a climb or so. He still had that smile and his song remained the same. He will be missed.

Vedauwoo "Next Step" Climbing Clinic in honor of Craig Luebben. As many of you may or may not know, Craig guided for us.

Come join us on August 29-31 for our Vedauwoo "Next Step" Climbing Clinic in honor of Craig. Craig worked with us to put this program together. We all know that he loved Vedauwoo and would be upset if we cancelled this course.

This three day course is jam packed with climbing and skills training. We'll be covering everything from intermediate techniques, to understanding traditional gear, to basic rock rescue.

Cost: $500

All the proceeds collected will go to Craig's family. Click here for more information on the Vedauwoo "Next Step" Climbing Clinic.

Come and join one of our AMGA trained/certified rock guides and bring your climbing skill and knowledge to the next level.

Thanks,

Colorado Mountain School Staff
800-836-4008 x3

For everyone not able to come to the memorial service and reception on Sunday, and those who are looking to continue supporting Craig's family, friends of Craig Luebben and the American Mountaineering Museum will be continuing to raise money for the Luebben family at the Museum's Thirsty 3RD Thursday event August 20th 5:30PM - 8PM. All proceeds will go to the Luebben family.

American Mountaineering Museum
710 10th St. Golden, CO 80401
303-996-2763
info@mountaineeringmuseum.org

The closer Sunday comes, the more I feel just like my soul is out-of-body.

Things I will think of Craig: Offwidths, Golden City, & Munter-Mule to Munter Mule to Munter Mule. Whenever I see a length of accessory cord I will think of all the things he could come up with; maybe I can come up with some improvement using cord some day, or some slick way to better rig an anchor without a cluster. But I doubt it, I'll always be Base-Line, but that's ok too.