Dave Turner 1952 - 2023

Here's to remembering some of the fun climbing with Dave Turner. I climbed with Dave for the last 20 odd years mostly up and down the front range but we also made trips to Arkansas, Wyoming, New Mexico and the desert.  Here are two links to a video of Dave red-pointing Wanker (5.12a) in Boulder Canyon. First half https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpoLOXHw5AQ&ab_channel=HenryLester ; Second half https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laJGU0z3rTA&ab_channel=HenryLester . 

Thanks for posting these Henry! Dave was such a great guy and I really miss him.

Condolences to all those who lost a good friend. This is a nice write up about him.

https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/local-news/2023-01-11/david-turner-remembered-for-enthusiasm-joy-and-zeal-for-outdoor-adventure

Anyone enjoying the plethora of new climbing opportunities in Boulder's Flatirons should say a quiet thanks to Dave's memory. He (along with Rick Thompson) was critical in getting the Flatirons Climbing Council off the ground and cooperating with the City of Boulder. His legal savoir-faire, extensive climbing experience, and a keen sense of humor made this novel and effective program work. He retired to the Western Slope a couple of years ago and it is tragic he didn't get to enjoy it more.

It's tragic to lose such a great climbing partner and friend as Dave Turner.  I began climbing with Dave in 2003 and climbed with him often at Dude's Throne in the early days of the crag's exploration.  He made some notable first ascents at the crag.  He led the first ascent of Missing Link (5.11d) a mixed route that I seconded.  He established the last independent line on the crag, Sky Chi (5.11d) in Fall 2010.  Dave was a very skilled all-around climber and that didn't much change with age.  

I was also with him in June 2005, when he took a serious ground fall off the start of Double Dominatrix before clipping the first bolt.  He had decided to not clip the first bolt from the crack to avoid touching bat shit.  It was not a good idea.  He climbed out onto the face and I became very worried, when he latched a big flake with both hands.  The flake immediately parted from the wall, with Dave's feet about 18 feet above the ground.  He was lucky to land on both feet, but one foot landed on a rock badly breaking his ankle. What was truly amazing was how well he kept it together and managed to hopple out to the car on one leg, as I carried the packs.  I can guarantee most people would have needed a great deal of assistance getting through the talus field in pain and with only one functional leg. That accident put Dave out of commission for Summer 2005.  He got back on his feet and it wasn't long before he was climbing 5.12 again. 

The videos (that Henry Lester posted on the top of the page) of Dave on Wanker (5.12a/b) were from Summer 2011. I'm pretty sure that I was belaying.  As I've gotten older, it seems quite hard to stay skinny.  Dave seemed to be the master of staying fit and not having to deal with losing any unwanted fat in the midsection.  I haven't seen Dave since Summer 2019 when I last climbed with him at Easter Rock and we did Dark Knight (5.11d)   I never would have guessed he was 67 years old then if he hadn't told me.  Shortly after that I moved to the Oregon Coast.  Looking at the photos of Dave on the ski slope at age 70, he didn't appear to have aged much

I will miss never getting to have a great conversation with Dave again.  He will miss his positive energy and his laughter.  At least he died doing what he loved and did not suffer the slow decline of age and disease. 

To finish on a positive note, his route Bar None (5.9-) on Der Zerkle was the second route established in the Flatirons, when the 15 year bolting ban was lifted in 2004.  Yes, we have Dave to thank to all the hard work and many hours dealing with land mangers, that got the Flatirons reopened to new route development.

Dave Turner on Double Dominatrix (5.12d) at Dude's Throne - Golden Gate State Park on August 5, 2011. Photos by Mark Rolofson   

I’m reluctant to post here about David as I did not know him personally, but we corresponded a bit about climbing, aging and The Dolomites. He has one of the most complete climbing resumes of anyone I am aware of. The totality of his climbs back to the 70’s is unreal.  Early ascents of everything, everywhere, and active until his untimely death. After hearing about this, I re-read his Tick and Score list of climbs, methodically trying to comprehend all that he did.  I’m really sad about this.