Our own ExcitableBoy is just back from the hospital, and has it really tough at the moment. He's been dealing with a systemic fungal infection for a few years now and it has completely incapacitated him. While he's sleeping, and temporarily free of pain, maybe we can send some well wishes his way from our corner of the alpine web world.
The first time I climbed with ExcitableBoy was on Orbit, on Snow Creek Wall in the Washington Cascades. I'd never been on an alpine 5.8, and was intimidated to get to climb with him, with trips to Alaska and winter attempts on Johannesburg under his belt. He taught me so much in that one day, but what always shines through with him is his smile, his joking around and that he notices little things about what you are doing or thinking, and has the exact right words handy to give you confidence.
Lately he's given back to us with articles like Alpinism 101, and always had good advice for people on the forums here. Sadly I didn't get to climb with him in 9 years, but here are some pictures from that time:
On the North Ridge of Forbidden Peak, a 20 hour extravaganza car to car, done with much laughter and good feelings:
Approaching Chair Peak's North Face, here he is introducing me to winter climbing in the Cascades:
Here he is on top of Chair Peak, indicating how he feels in the mountains:
My thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife R.. He's been told there isn't a cure for this kind of infection, but I don't see any harm in us putting in some thoughts that way. Doctors don't know everything.
Thanks,
--Michael
He has said a lot of nice things to me and posted a great article on Alpinism:
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