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Ammon McNeely RIP
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Wendy, I often have similar thoughts. sometimes stuff seems like its is just too random to be random. and if there is a god he /she is insanely cruel. |
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Nick I feel like I felt after Hayden and Inge died, like life just isn’t fair and makes no sense sometimes. WTF universe? Ammon was an inspiration, so what’s your point universe? I’m so sorry for his girlfriend and his family and his many many friends. |
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It's crazy, I often hear myself rationalizing, or I hear other climbers rationalizing, saying things like, yes, climbing might be dangerous, but you could die crossing the street, or whatever--as if this somehow makes the risks of climbing more tolerable or understandable. And whenever I hear these things, or say them myself, something doesn't sit totally right with me--I feel like I'm lying to myself in a big way. And then here comes a story like this--One of the biggest, baddest risk takers ever, who escaped every kind of near-death experience, killed watching a sunset when a cliff edge breaks loose. No meaning, just coincidence. Ammon's last ride...I hope he could make some peace in that flight down. YAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! |
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OMG, so sad to see my friend pass away. the last time I saw him was in SLC. I went out of my way to look him up to try and talk him out of base jumping. seems like he got busted or busted up every year jumping o.ff shit. of course I was unsuccessful. it was like telling evil kneel to stop jumping motorcycles. but I felt I had to try. soon after he had the big wipeout where he almost lost his leg.. at least I tried. he was so brave and talented on the big walls, and that reticent time is just ridiculous. the world has lost a great character. he will be be missed big time. steve schneider |
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Comming out now from people that were there. He was sitting down on a rock to watch the sun set it broke and they both slid over. His girlfriend was there with someone else. Motorcycle was parked at base. |
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Ammon lived a life not motivated by fear, which I VASTLY respect and honor. He and I talked about this quite a bit, and we agreed that death is stalking us all in countless ways that we can't foresee (just as we see from what happened), so we talked about how you can't live a risk-averse life. You have to live with gusto and boldness. Ammon did! I am deeply saddened by his death, but that's just selfish on my part, because I miss him. Mostly, I honor his life and strive to live my own on the terms that he and I discussed. As we always morbidly joke, "Yer gonna die." But Ammon LIVED! It was my privilege to share a bit of his life, and that's what I'm going to take with me. Blessings and comfort to his family. It sounds trite, but I deeply mean it. |
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RIP Ammon. |
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RIP |
Peter Bealwrote: Ammon’s motorcycle was parked. He walked out onto a precipice with his girlfriend and another friend to enjoy the sunset. As Ammon was trying to sit down, he lost the footing under his prosthetic leg, and fell backwards off the cliff. A friend was videoing the sunset, and clearly captured everything that happened. Yes, I’ve seen the video. There’s no need for further speculation. ☮️ Source: I’m Ammon’s sister |
Amanda Haywoodwrote: I'm sorry for your and your family's loss. As you know, he was an inspiration to many people. |
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Thanks Amanda. Deepest condolences to you and your family. Ammon brought so much to the world of climbing. |
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For those interested in this man's life and want a small glimpse into his personality, I thought this movie from 10 years ago was well made. It's about a controversial El Cap route called Wings of Steel, and that's the focus of the film, but Ammon is a main character in that story. It's free on Amazon for me, and maybe for most of you (all of you?) as well: https://www.amazon.com/Assault-El-Capitan-Ammon-McNeely/dp/B00STUXTGA/ref=atv_pr_sw_sc RIP bro |
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I first learned of Ammon from the Wings Of Steel doc and while I didn't know him something very essential and pure comes across in that film. While very strange to feel a sense of loss for someone you've never met, it's obvious that is the case for so many who did know him and so many in his orbit. RIP. |
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So many of us will miss this merchant of badass stoke. Condolences to his family and friends. |
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Hey everyone. Ammons girlfriend Sarah here, I was with him. It wasn't anything to do with his dirt bike or rock breaking... I figure I'll let y'all know what happened from my perspective. We went to watch the sunset from an epic vantage point in Moab, and walked out to a little peninsula to sit down. I was ahead of him ten feet or so. On the way, you had to step down a little 1' ledge. He was leading with his peg leg, lost his balance and just fell backwards into the void. About 300 feet. I watched him go, we locked eyes and I knew he knew what was happening ❤️ We had walked this peninsula before a few times... A freak accident, I guess it was just his time, as they say... It's a pretty hard one to accept. What a cool guy, aren't we all so lucky to have known him? I sure do miss that crazy fella. Fly free with the ravens and your bros and amigas Ammon, I love you so so much ❤️ |
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Deepest condolences to you Sarah, and Ammons Family. |
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Thank you for sharing, Sarah. I'm so sorry! |
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WOW! Sara. So sorry you have to go through this. |
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Ammon memory: Left a reel rock screening in Slc, the valley uprising one, 2 other buddies and myself took to the bathrooms to relieve ourselves. We were shoulder to shoulder in the stalls hooting and yaaaarrrr’reling about the radness and badassery we were just compromised by, finish our stall time and washing hands, out of nowhere waddles AMMON.. we all nearly conceived biologically illegitimate children. We were so juiced to see him.. after answering all of our questions in classic Ammon humility we parted ways. The three of us left slapping fives bewildered and in awe, we had met El Cap himself.. the impression was left. He is such a humble giant. I’ll miss running into the humble jumble of a man that is Ammon. Condolences to friends and family |
