He worked in a local climbing store, which is where I met him. I often asked him his opinion on certain gear, etc. He wasn't really a friend of mine but I knew him and I really respected him for what he did.
One of his colleagues is a friend of mine and I remember asking him last week how they were doing on Denali. The day before he left I even asked him about what crampons to hire...
I've read a lot of mountaineering stories filled with death and tragedy, and I hear about climbers who didn't make it back, and it's always a very abstract thing. There's always risk involved, and if you have bad luck, well then that's that. But when it strikes this close to home, it's completely different. When he left, I considered the fact that maybe he wouldn't be coming back, but when I heard the news I was (am) much more upset than I thought I would be.
I try to find some solace in the idea that he died doing what he liked most, but still.
Here's a translation of the article in Dutch on Mount Coach's website:
"This morning, at around 04.30 I received a phone call from Alaska bearing horrible news. After a fall in the Japanese Couloir on the Cassin Ridge on Denali, Joris Van Reeth suffered a severe head injury and died.
With the help of two Japanese climbers, his partner Sam was brought down safely to the base of the mountain. They also managed to retrieve Joris' body. At the moment, they are waiting for a clear weather window so the chopper can come and pick them up. Hopefully this won't take long anymore.
More details on the cause of the accident are rare and unnecessary at the moment. Our thoughts are with his girlfriend, parents, family and friend. For Sam this will be one of the longest and loneliest nights of his life.
There is a line of contact with Sam, the local rangers and the consulate."
http://mountcoach.com/
Rest in Peace Joris...
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