Cassy Doolittle

Cassy Doolittle was fiery and fierce! She was more psyched on climbing in the mountains than anyone I’ve climbed with. She didn’t really do the talk about climbing, spray about climbing, care about fancy gear, she just went climbing, and was a student of all aspects of climbing. She would be so focused on her goals and planning ahead, while at the same time was so present with the NOW. and wanted to just have fun. Young beautiful crusher climbing hard technical trad routes and big walls but was far more than just a climber, she was was pursuing a Ph.D. in neuroscience, artist, and a good friend.

You can read more about her from this great article below

www.climbing.com/news/american-climber-cassy-doolittle-dies-patagonia/

May 24, 1997 — December 25, 2022

I’ve been missing her a whole lot as I’m sure the rest of the community does too. So I thought I’d share this again. Love you Cassy.

Maybe we can share some photos and stories here?

Photo by: Megan dean.

I only knew Cassy for a week in Wyoming but the news of her passing shook me, completely unfair. She tried so damn hard at everything she did, including having fun.

She tried Diamonds and Rain maybe a dozen times in two hours in the raging summer sun. There was no telling her to slow down. She was a joy to go to the Winds with, she simultaneously power screamed and laughed her way up Black Elk. We got lost, dehydrated and rained on but her demeanor never changed.
I try to carry that same fire she had anytime I’m out of my comfort zone, I hope everyone that knew her does too.

One of the most stoked and rad people I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. Heard her powerscreaming on Iron Horse in Index before actually meeting her, and spent the summer there and in Squamish hanging out, romping around, slotting nuts, and climbing hard. There were so many more big routes and linkups that I wanted to do with her, and so much more to learn. I was lucky enough to spend a few days with her in Joshua Tree working Equinox before she left for Patagonia - she almost sent, and was so psyched at her new highpoint rather than being frustrated or disappointed. This is something I'm trying to harness (not always successfully), as well as her belief that "there's no such thing as Type 2 fun." Many serious routes on her ticklist that I'm excited to project, maybe a passive ascent for bonus points ;)

Love you Cassy, Nut Sluts forever.

...and also love you Jonah.

Everybody tell your friends you love them!

I met Cassy in September 2020 at Mt Charleston. I fled the smoke of California for an adventure with clearer skies. We were both climbing at Robber's Roost and bonded over our home state of Wisconsin. She invited us to camp with her and her climbing partner (fellow Wisconsinite) and we had such a fun weekend. She had yet to even get to CA and Yosemite at that point. I was psyched to give her advice on finding MP partners and any info she needed regarding Yosemite. I'm always psyched to meet and support other women who are pushing their limits (wherever those limits are) and Cassy's goals were clearly high. She accomplished so much in that short amount of time since I had met her. Such a loss. I hope others are inspired by her, I am.

I met Cassy briefly in the Bugs last summer after she climbed the BC. Infectious psych and humility, killer smile, and a steady, wise presence. She was the type of person you wanted to rope up with after a brief conversation.  Feel for her community and her loss. 

I climbed with Cassy in Red Rock, Las Vegas and she once rope-gunned me up Cloud Tower.

I was so impressed with her climbing style, positive, stoked attitude, and her intelligence. What a lovely human being she was! Kind, strong, bold climber, and really smart.

On our hike back from Cloud Tower we chatted about pursuing epic adventures and climbing in Patagonia. I told her that I was heading down to Chalten soon and her eyes totally lit up! Cassy wasn’t just a really strong climber, she was a true adventurer. I’ll never forget her! 

Not my pics, screenshots from IG.

I met Cassy at Desert Rock Sports. I have never met anyone so eternally stoked. Such a humble happy badass. I knew instantly that I wanted to get to know her better and that she was someone who I wanted to keep in contact with no matter what.

She would always come in fresh off some epic adventure that I would ask her all about and her plans for the next. We would chat a ton. In the end she couldn't think of anything she needed besides tape.

I really miss you Cass.

I met Cassy in Red Rock last fall. Although our time together was brief, her infectious smile and positive attitude made her hard to forget. That, and the fact that she was late to pick me up from the trailhead because she got pulled over for having an expired license plate tag and then again a few miles later for speeding to make up the time she lost from the first highway patrol encounter! She taught me about trying hard and being unafraid to tackle hard problems (like that dang flaring chimney pitch she convinced me to lead, and then proceeded to follow like it was a walk in the park). I had never met anyone like her before, and likely never will, but I am beyond happy that our paths crossed because I think about her anytime I'm feeling scared on a climb, or nervous about a challenging pitch, or if ever find myself not wearing a smile while spending a day out in the mountains. We talked about our goals and ambitions for the coming winter. We made plans to meet up in Jtree and work on projects with eachother. We will do all of those thing, just not until I've finished my time on this orbiting stone we both called our home.

These are beautiful stories to hear from all the homies. Jonie and Bobs, big smooches for y'all.

Met Cassie for the first time in the valley spring of 2020; didn't get to know her well as I was chuffing pretty hard personally lol. But re-met her again in EPC winter of 2021-22 in the wildest way.

Jonah and I were playing chess at Posada when a friend ran in, "does anyone have a first aid kit?" I was like, "ofc" (I drove my rig down there and had my life with me). We head outside, and said person starts talking about a girl who just took a 100ft tumble down timewave.... what? Might need more than a first aid kit. We rush over to Cassie, whos sitting half in her tent with the biggest freakin smile on her face. "Hey, I'm Simon; I think we've met before? Are you ok?" I'm no EMT, but know the basics. She was completely unscathed except for some small cuts/bruises and a slashed open hand (and I think a rolled ankle?) I bust out into the campground looking for anyone who's an EMT or WOOFR cert, and found a buddy, Walter. I pull him over, and he helps get her cleaned up.

Apparently, Ben (chime in, you know better than I do) and Cassie were rapping the route after Cassie onsighted (baddie....) when they skipped a rap station accidentally and decided to downclimb to the next one (maybe only 20-30ft away) above the p8 ledge. A hold broke and Cassie took a 100+ tumble down some lower angle through cactus and yuccas. TG this was a larger ledge, or she could have biffed it off the ledge and gone another 800ft. LITERALLY unscathed and unphased, they addressed the injuries and rapped the last 8 pitches to the ground, and hobbled back to camp.

As this would be a life changing event for anyone else, Cassie was genuinely upset she had to take some time off and couldn't climb the next day. "Just built diffy" as Jonah would say. She was determined and passionate. Fierce, smart, emotionally intelligent, and motivated. I'm glad I was able to spend time with her in her recovery and for a few more weeks in Index the following summer. Love ya Cass; make some more carcoochie boards for the homies in the sky.

Here's Cassie, stoked with how the homemade flan came out :)

I only met Cass the summer of 2022. Some of my first interactions with her included: she had set out an amazing paella dish for friends in the Squamish parking lot (she whipped that up living out of a Honda element, extra kudos), the first route we ever climbed together she decided to lead only on nuts just for fun, she was remarkably kind and consistently gave me invitations to hangout when I was shy, and more memories... After Squamish we went to climb Mighty Mouse in the Sea to Sky and in the Bugaboos together. 

I didn't have near enough time with Cassy as I wanted, but I am so thankful for what time I did have with that girl. We had some epic adventures in such a short period of time. For me, it felt like we had this sense of trust between us- that we were both there doing something we cared deeply about so we would try hard, and had trust with each other to be strong and capable enough for whatever situation we were in. I have no doubt if something happened to me she would have done anything to help me, and I would have the same for her.

I could go on about how amazing Cassy was, anyone who knew her could. Any time I am scared now a days, I think of how brave Cassy was; when I feel tired, I think of how strong she would have been; any time I am someone's climbing partner, I try and think of the way Cassy was. I wish I could give her a hug.