Joe Puryear Dies While Climbing Labuche Kang in Tibet

by Amy Judd | November 1, 2010 at 01:48 pm

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Joe Puryear, a Top Climber, Died Last Week While Climbing a Mountain in Tibet

Joe Puryear, known for his climbing abilities and his thrill-seeking ways, died after a cornice appears to have collapsed while climbing a Himalayan mountain in Tibet.

According to the Seattle Times, Puryear fell about 1,500 feet to his death when he was making his way up the 24,170 foot mountain that most people have not even heard of.

"He was an explorer," said Mike Gauthier, former lead climbing ranger at Rainier who climbed with Puryear on Alaska's Mount McKinley in 1995. "His idea of the dream was to be out in the most remote areas climbing new things."

Many fellow climbers remembered Puryear for his passion and ability to stay calm under pressure. Climber Mark Westman who climbed Mount Rainier in 1994 with Puryear told the Times:

"We got to about 1,000 feet below the summit, and the winds brought us to our knees," Westman said. The men backed off, but after seeing Puryear's calm under pressure, Westman made plans to return to Rainier with Puryear.

They then worked together as rangers at Mount Rainier, Puryear even met his wife at McKinley and married her on the Pika Glacier in Little Switzerland.

Puryear's climbing partner on the Tibet expedition, David Gottlieb, was not yet roped to him after they had just emerged from their shelter after a storm that lasted a few days. When Gottlieb went looking for Puryear he found tracks leading to a broken ledge and Puryear about 1,500 below.