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RIP Hayden Kennedy
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Ever since I read this article about a normal day out with HK, I've thought back to his example when I'm out climbing. Though I lack his skill and humility, he resonated with me as the kind of person I want to be. Every so often, his inspiration helps me rise to the occasion and spray a little less, climb that extra pitch, or put friend's goals first. As a community, we're lucky to have so many accounts of his life to serve as an example to us. My condolences to his family. By all accounts, Hayden was an extraordinary climber and person. |
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Hayden was one of those guys that would be filled with pure psych for anyone's accomplishments. I remember him ecstatically celebrating someone's first 12b send with full sincerity, that someone being a person he had just met a few minutes before. He'd always do his damn best to remember you, the anonymous face in the mass of mediocre climbers. |
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This blows. |
Shadrock wrote: "An awareness of mortality prompts us to focus on what's important: developing a strong community of family and friends; engaging in work that stretches us intellectually, creatively and emotionally; understanding that no matter how often we've erred or compromised in the past, we must always try to reach again for the highest ideals." What beautiful words. So sad to read this letter now. |
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I'd discovered Hayden on The Enormocast and in the cerro torre doc. Very sad news. A big loss for the climbing community and a tragedy to the Kennedy family. |
Ryan Nevius wrote: Avalanche |
Todd Bruns wrote: No, read the post. |
DCarey wrote: I donno if that confirms much of anything - it cites this forum post. |
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Ryan Nevius wrote: |
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Chris Reyes, thanks for fact checking. Here is what Black Diamond has posted. "It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our friend, Ambassador and true brother of the BD tribe, Hayden Kennedy. To say Hayden was a talented climber would be an understatement. To say he was one of the world’s best climbers is closer to the truth, yet even those words fall flat and fail miserably at truly describing what Hayden—or HK as we called him—really represented in our sport. He was, with all intents and purposes, a climber who transcended barriers. From high-end 5.14 sport routes at his home crag in Rifle, Colorado, to 5.14 trad lines in the Creek, to the first fair means ascent of Cerro Torre’s Southeast Ridge in Patagonia with Jason Kruk, or his first ascent with Kyle Dempster and Josh Warton on the south face of the Ogre in Pakistan. ⠀ Yet, even that run-on list of incredible achievements hardly captures the whole picture. In truth, trying to share the full breadth of HK’s transcendental abilities in the vertical world, which he effortlessly cultivated in a mere 27 years, is impossible. But to be clear, he was by no means an elitist. In fact, as if born from a different generation, HK was a staunch believer in walking the walk, not talking the talk. You couldn’t find him on social media, and until a few years ago he clung to his malfunctioning, archaic flip phone as if it was a crucial piece to his rack. In short, HK climbed to climb, not to spray. And it was the moments in the mountains that mattered most to him, not “instatweetingmyfacegram” as he would often joke with his friends. HK’s depth went well beyond climbing, however. In high school he played the sax, and recently he applied that musical theory to the guitar while recovering from a torn ACL in his hometown of Carbondale, Colorado. He diligently practiced during the length of that winter’s recovery, and soon had a repertoire of songs that hinted at his eclectic tastes in music. From old school country to classic rock, to German electronica, he absorbed it all with the same ease that he applied to his climbing. Alpine, sport, trad; country, metal, folk. To HK, it was all good. ⠀ For someone so multi-faceted, just climbing wasn’t enough. Whether he was talking at length about his latest reading list, or immersed in the finer points of baking bread, HK was constantly searching for new avenues of self-expression, and new ways to live. He often wrote about his expeditions to the greater ranges—frequently publishing pieces in Alpinist, Rock and Ice, Evening Sends and other mags and websites—and his ability to weave a meaningful narrative through the trials and tribulations of climbing was innate. He also incorporated this skill into his live presentations, where he’d hold the audience rapt with tales that often crossed into the deeper reaches of loss and love and how they become undivided in a life of climbing. What he had recently found, though, was Inge. Inge Perkins was every bit Hayden’s equal. A brilliant climber, skier, and beautiful soul, Inge was HK’s latest source of dedication—and his commitment was unwavering as always. |
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You are right. Sorry. Man this is heartbreaking |
Ryan Nevius wrote: Fuck. It keeps getting worse. |
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Damn, so sad. |
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GNFAC report : http://www.mtavalanche.com/current?platform=hootsuite
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So heartbreaking. There is a piece here that includes some comments from his parents: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2017/10/climber-hayden-kennedy-dead-montana-avalanche/ |
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“Inge Perkin’s body was recovered by the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center at the base of Mt. Imp on October 9th. Hayden survived the avalanche but not the unbearable loss of his partner in life. He chose to end his life. Myself and his mother Julie sorrowfully respect his decision.” - Michael Kennedy, Hayden's father (from Adventure Journal). |
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To Michael and Julie -- You created and raised a truly fine man. Words don't do justice to his life well lived, nor to the magnitude of your loss. |
