Climber dies at Lovers Leap

I'm not hear to argue, i'm just trying to be respectful, so please Take your Debate Here , i created a forum for you to debate about your soloing ethics, and park closures and burning coffee.
please take it somewhere else.

J. Thompson wrote: It needs to be pointed out.....the OP should have kept his opinion to himself. If this was to be a discussion concerning the accident and it's victim, than the OP should not have been scolding Free soloists. You don't get to share yours and then expect others not to share there's. Although I'd argue that he did expect it. josh

Point taken, I apologize for viewing my opinion in this particular forum. I will take the blame for this thread and I do sincerely apologize for that. If any of you have issue with me or my opinions please feel free to take this offline and you can send me an email directly to tim@climbtherock.net. It was not my intent to start a huge debate over the ethics of soloing or to judge soloists, just to share my experience. Thank you all for the kind words you have said and likewise for the people who are passionate about debating this. But I do agree with Monty in saying this is probably the wrong place to debate this and I will take the blame for starting this.

Thanks

Tim

His name is Barry Bremstellar and was a dear friend of mine. He climbed much more when he was younger especially aiding in the desert, having a third ascent of a tower after Layton Kor. His personality and antics are unforgettable. Once climbing Electric Aunt Jemmima in Eldorado canyon Barry took the lead for the crux. This was one of the first times I had climbed with Barry and to put it lightly I was not impressed. Barry hooked carabiners to carabiners, slung loose blocks and shook through every tough move. I broke my ankle on this climb some years earlier completely tearing my foot off in the fall. When Barry was in the same spot I was when I fell he was shaking violently, totally run out. I couldn't even watch! He went for a nut and ended up dropping every one of them. The nuts flew though the sky like rain. Somehow he had one nut left in his hand, the one that fit. He lowered off after sinking the nut. I could go on for hours about the way he was, showing up with mismatching socks, starting conversations with total strangers, using empty booze flasks for water bottles, falling into every creek we ever crossed. I have the last video of him expressing some of his political views when we were ice climbing. vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?… He was going through a troubling time in his life and I'm happy he died doing something he loved.

Very sorry to hear about your friend.

Mike, thanks for sharing that. I am so sorry that you lost a dear friend. He sounds like a hell of a guy. I am happy to know he had people in his life, like you, who think so highly of him.

Bobby

Mike Carrington wrote:His name is Barry Bremstellar and was a dear friend of mine. He climbed much more when he was younger especially aiding in the desert, having a third ascent of a tower after Layton Kor. His personality and antics are unforgettable. Once climbing Electric Aunt Jemmima in Eldorado canyon Barry took the lead for the crux. This was one of the first times I had climbed with Barry and to put it lightly I was not impressed. Barry hooked carabiners to carabiners, slung loose blocks and shook through every tough move. I broke my ankle on this climb some years earlier completely tearing my foot off in the fall. When Barry was in the same spot I was when I fell he was shaking violently, totally run out. I couldn't even watch! He went for a nut and ended up dropping every one of them. The nuts flew though the sky like rain. Somehow he had one nut left in his hand, the one that fit. He lowered off after sinking the nut. I could go on for hours about the way he was, showing up with mismatching socks, starting conversations with total strangers, using empty booze flasks for water bottles, falling into every creek we ever crossed. I have the last video of him expressing some of his political views when we were ice climbing. vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?… He was going through a troubling time in his life and I'm happy he died doing something he loved.

Mike once again thanks for taking the time to talk earlier. I appreciate you informing me more of Barry. Like I said if the family or any of his friends wants to talk to me you can give them my info. Once again my condolences to you and his family and friends!

Thanks again

Tim

Damn, this sucks. I climbed with Barry in the past but had not seen him in a few years. RIP.

Mike, that video really hits home. I have known a few people over the years whom he reminds me, real characters. Those types always make life more interesting don't they?

Very sad.

Tim, good on you for bringing closure to those who knew him.

I had lost touch with Barry over the years but I have many images of him (35mm slides or JPEG files scanned from slides) on various routes. These date from the mid '90s. If anyone knows if his friends or family would like to have access to these, please, have them post a reply here or email me at david@raguides.com and I will transmit them somehow. Thanks for help with this.

Mike Carrington wrote:I have the last video of him expressing some of his political views when we were ice climbing. vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?… He was going through a troubling time in his life and I'm happy he died doing something he loved.

The person we're talking about is the one that's sitting down, right? Not the guy that's standing and doing most of the talking?

Because the other guy is familiar to me.

--Marc

Marc H wrote: The person we're talking about is the one that's sitting down, right? Not the guy that's standing and doing most of the talking? Because the other guy is familiar to me. --Marc

Yes, Barry is the one sitting down.

So sorry to hear the news. Barry was a good friend of mine although we had drifted apart the last few years. I remember meeting him thrue a mutual friends in the early 90s, said he was wanting to learn how to ice climb. I suggested that we go up the next day and do a climb in the park called Hallets chimney...

He showed up at my house a hour late, due to a wild party, we drove up from the Springs and hiked to the base of the climb. Thats when he realized he had forgot his harness and belay device. I let with a bowline/rope, using a hip belay. He followed and hung on every pitch, which was a bit painful with his 200 lb bodyweight versus my 150 at the time. None the less, I was laughing so hard it didnt matter. Between his outrageous Texas redneck humor, political conspiracy theorys, and his take on relationships(unorthodox to say the least) I couldnt help but love the guy...

Rest in Peace Barry ,I'll drink a bottle of the best Tequila I can find.

erik, was brady the wild fellow that came up to vedauwoo with you, me, and dean that one weekend? if i remember right, he left his shoes (aces i think, or some other boreals), and someone in our group was going to hold onto them for him. guess that was 2 or 3 years ago?

I think so. I remember that trip because Barry and I brought Steak, beer, and Alaskan King Crab legs for dinner. Everybody else seemed to have ramen and oatmeal. Fun Times!

ah yes, the surf and turf weekend! you guys were pretty popular (and very generous to share!).

I found Barry's Obit on the web. Figured I'd share it with you guys.

legacy.com/obituaries/houst…

Thanks

Tim

I finally got all the images I have of Barry scanned in and posted to a website. They can be viewed at s783photobucket.com/yy115/d…. I hope those of you who climbed with Barry enjoy seeing some of his exploits from the mid '90s.