Although I never met him, I can say that Chris was a great person: caring and sharing.

On several occasions, both on here and through email, he offered extensive conversation on routes and gear. And was thoughtful enough to follow up when he expected that I had returned. And that, to someone he had never met.

My condolences to his family.

I also did not know the man but we shared the same passion for South America climbing and talked several times here. My condolences to his family and friends. He'll be missed...............

Very sad, I can even belive it.
Like many SP-ers we changed some info many times and he always responded back.
Condoleances to his family.

You will never be alone.

I never met him in person but had talked to him. He was very helpful and seemed very humble and kind. My condolences to his family, friends.

Thanks to SP member rkymtn for taking the trouble to send a PM about Haliku who I only ever met in person very briefly.

I've posted this on the SP page he created for Pico de Orizaba, and felt appropriate to repeat here:

"I've just learnt that the creator of this page - Haliku (Chris Pruchnic)was killed in a mountaineering accident in November 2010.
I bumped into him briefly at the Piedra Grande Hut back in 2008 when I was returning late in the day from a traverse around the crater's rim. He and his party were all set to go up the next day, and we only had a few moments to talk. But we'd met online before, whilst I was researching how to organise my own two-man trip from the UK. He was incredibly helpful, and it was great to be able to thank him for sharing his experience and knowledge online. I'm sure many others owe him the same debt of thanks, and that this page will remain a lasting tribute to his life and love - the mountains."

Celebration of the life of Chris Pruchnic (Haliku)

The American Alpine Club is hosting a celebration of Chris Pruchnic’s life on December 9th at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, CO from 6-8pm. All who knew Chris as a friend are welcome.

The address is 710 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401.

Rest in peace Chris

rkymtn wrote:Celebration of the life of Chris Pruchnic (Haliku)

The American Alpine Club is hosting a celebration of Chris Pruchnic’s life on December 9th at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, CO from 6-8pm. All who knew Chris as a friend are welcome.

The address is 710 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401.

If anyone is heading there from the west, I'd like to carpool.
I plan on leaving Glenwood Springs about 3:30.

Descansa en paz Chris

My God... I haven't been on SP for a few months and one of the first things I see was this terrible news.

I've never met him in person, but he was extremely kind and knowledgeable in answering my questions via PM when I was planning my Orizaba trip. Looking at his trip report for Orizaba was invaluable in planning my trip, and some of his TRs have been inspirational to me.

RIP Chris.

I am so sorry to hear about this... He seemed like a really exception person.

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

RIP Chris!
Never met him, but i talk to him thru here and 14ers few times. He was very friendly guy.

I was shocked to learn today about the loss of Chris Pruchnic a little over a month ago. What incredibly nice guy. I was in the process of looking him up on Summitpost to see if he might be guiding anymore trips in S.A., esp Chimborazo when I ran into the RIP articles.

I met Chris with his brother on a training climb for Orizaba up James Peak on Feb 7, 2009. Chuck Demerest was also on James Peak that day and we all reached the top together and took a group shot. Chris gave me lots of tips and confidence in doing Orizaba self-guided (which I did a few weeks later) even though he guided the mountain. It was very helpful. We e-mailed a few times after my Orizaba trip talking about getting out together, but we never connected.

I am very saddened. My condolences to his brother, parents and other family members.

I'd like to know more about what happened beyond the brief newspaper and RMNP posts. Does anyone know more?

I've missed this thread.
It's so very sad.
He was a very nice person, and it's a loss to the world that he's gone.

My condoleances to family and friends.

I cannot believe this is true. So sad. I had sent him an email a few weeks ago. RIP is peace Chris. This is the worst news.