Meg O'Neill

This is a place to remember Meg O'Neill, who lost her life on April 2, 2023, while ice climbing in Utah. If you'd like to read more about the accident, you can find that information on the "Injuries and Accidents" Thread, or in this article in Climbing Magazine. There has been a tremendous outpouring of love for Meg in this Facebook "For Meg" page. 

Meg was one of those people you would meet once at a crag and remember forever. She would remember you too.  Meg seemed to know half the climbing community. She was fully present and engaged with people and the world, and had a way of making every experience special and every person feel special. She loved to climb in costumes, especially tutus and wings.  

Meg spent her adult life working in the field of education, primarily science and outdoor education. Her greatest passion was empowering young people through education and outdoor adventure. She spent most of her career teaching Outdoor and Environmental Science for many organizations:  Yosemite Institute/NatureBridge, Outward Bound, Utah International School, Boys and Girls Club, and Embark Outdoors.

You can carry on Meg's legacy by sharing the outdoors with others, as both a place to adventure and a place to protect. Wear a fun outfit if you'd like, and connect with those around you. We love you, Meg.

Meg (left) and me back in the early 2010s after climbing Lost Arrow Direct. She rocked the lead of the wide pitch. 

Meg was one of my first guests when I moved to Vegas.  I had met her the same day and given her my number.  That night their tent was destroyed by a storm and they called.   They stayed for the remainder of their trip and over the years she brought many great people to our house.  She loved our massive Great Dane, Kappy and he often chose her lap to sit in.   She was also gracious enough to let us crash in her house in El Portal when we visited Yosemite.   Many stories of her visits but I always loved her enthusiasm and thirst for adventure.  We left Vegas for Kansas 6 years ago so have lost touch other than following her ice climbing adventures online.

Condolences to her family and friends. . .

I was sad to hear about Meg passing on. I always enjoyed seeing her and chatting about life and climbing. Those were fun times. Im glad i knew her.
Ted Roberts

I'm really sorry to hear this. I've bumped into Meg several times over the years.  It's always nice to catch up with an old friend. 

Years ago on my first real road trip she let me, my wife and dog crash at her place when we were driving through Salt Lake.  We barely knew her at the time but she opened her house and showed us around the city.

Fast forward several years later and she volunteered to walk up to the ten sleep crags with us and hold our 5 month old baby while mom and dad climbed. It's very rare to find a climber who will hold a Crag baby.

I first met Meg climbing in Paynes Ford, NZ.  I was a total n00b and threaded the chains wrong, something she realized after she seconded and realized I nearly killed her.  She was very direct but very forgiving of my dumb mistake,  I learned a lot that day.  We climbed quite a lot at Hangdog camp in on that trip, she supported me in my quest to send my first 5.111, and we hiked the Rees-Dart together for a 4-5 day trip and got to know one another well.  Stateside we met up at Indian creek,  crossed paths in the valley.  I remember her stoke when she said she’d done her first Yosemite 5.10 lead.  I’m sad she’s not around anymore.  She was a good egg.