In loving memory of Ben Shelkey

My son, friend and climbing partner Ben Shelkey died in a skiing accident at Mount Bachelor on March 17, 2025. Ben was an extraordinary skier who became entrapped in a tree well and despite the vigorous efforts of fellow skiers and ski patrol could not be revived. Ben lived to climb and ski and many of you may have met him on your travels, or you may have seen his sky blue sprinter van as he traveled the west. He lived his life joyfully and to the fullest and for that I am grateful.  

He would have turned 35 on Wednesday April 23rd. If you happen to be climbing that day - or can make time to do so - please send a route in his honor. His to-do list has over 500 routes he was looking forward to exploring.  

 I miss him so much and my heart is broken, but i will climb on.

I'm so sorry for your loss Jo. Thank you for sharing.
May you find peace.

So sorry for your loss. Very sad. Amazing that you have to strength to carry on climbing. RIP Ben.

My heart is with you. So so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing. 

Jo,

I climbed and skied with Ben a few times, after having met him shortly after he moved to Bellingham. He was genuine, friendly, kind and generous, and I always enjoyed bumping into him in Index.

Jo your family is in my thoughts.

I am late to this post. I met you and Ben in the gunks this past fall. Ben had visited me later in Vegas. He was one of the most inspiring people I had met in my life. I had texted him recently when I stopped in Washington and hadn’t heard from him. I had feared the worst and searched his name to find this post.  

I want you to know that he was an amazing person and I will miss him dearly. His smile and laugh will be a lasting memory for me. Truly one of the most happy people I have ever met. 

I met Ben in Index and he was such a kind soul. Whenever I introduce myself around the area I always just go with Ben - no last name - and hope whoever I'm talking to assumes I'm one of the other Bens. There are several of us around and I like to imagine that we're just a singular Ben who shows up on different days in various forms, big, small and in between. Shelkey was one of the best.

Anyway, he was a good dude and will be missed dearly.

I met Ben 4 years ago country dancing at the Little Red Hen in August. He was my climbing mentor and the most wonderful person. Today I climbed Devil’s Tower in Wyoming in honor of our friendanniversary with my helmet and 3rd hand from him. He lives on in so many ways and the pain of loosing him way to soon never goes away. Go send some climbs for him and try hard.

I just read this today, and had no idea. I am so sorry for your loss.

I met Ben when he was lead rope soloing at the Cobrazone in the Uintas in Utah, I think in 2022. He is still in my phone as "Ben cobrazone." We climbed in Utah while he was in town, and then met up in Oregon to climb outside Portland, my hometown. I remember my parents had tried to hike with us to the crag, but they were freaking out about some minimal exposure. They ended up bailing, and Ben gave my mother a piggyback ride back down the trail, as she was really struggling and fearful with the all boulders and roots on the approach. She thought he was such a kind tall gentleman who "saved my life." Later Ben and I climbed a bunch at Index, where we were both dirtbagging one summer. I remember one morning he woke me up in my tent and I was grumpy about it. He wanted to show me a sweet climb before it got into the sun. It was GM Route, and he let me led the whole thing, it was amazing! I'll always remember when he showed me the magical "full Via", and the hidden climbing treasures I didn't know existed in Index. I think one of the last times we hung out, it was raining at Trout Creek, and we watched the classic "Doctor Zhivago," in his van, which I had never seen. He always had great movie recommendations. 

I remember he talked about taking you (his mother) climbing back East, and how fun and special that was for him. Ben was such a kind hearted sweet person, and I am lucky to have known him. You are in my thoughts.