Climbing
Michael Gardner, a 32-year-old professional alpine climber from Colorado, was killed on October 7 while attempting to descend the notorious North Face of Jannu East in Nepal. Gardner, known for his remarkable ascents in Alaska and the Himalayas, was on his third attempt to conquer the 24,500-foot mountain with his longtime climbing partner, Sam Hennessey.
The accident occurred during their descent, though details remain unclear. Hennessey, who survived the incident, was able to safely rappel down the mountain with the assistance of a nearby French climbing team.
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Gardner’s impressive climbing career included notable achievements such as scaling Denali’s Isis Face, Alaska’s Cassin Ridge, and the East Face of Mt. Hunter. He was sponsored by Arc’teryx, who remembered him as a “curious and loving” individual with a captivating presence.
The alpinist community mourns the loss of Gardner, who his peers described as a “legend.” Gardner’s passion for climbing was not just about personal accomplishment but also about sharing his adventures and inspiring others.
Gardner’s tragic death echoes that of his father, George Gardner, who also perished in a climbing accident on the Grand Teton in 2008. This loss profoundly impacted Michael, 16 years old at the time, shaping his perspective on mountaineering and guiding his path in life.
According to Wikipedia, Jannu is a 7,710-meter (25,300-ft) mountain in the Himalayas range in Nepal. It is also known as Mount Khumbhakharna and Phoktanglungma. It is the 32nd-highest mountain in the world. The first people to reach it were René Desmaison, Paul Keller, Robert Paragot, and Sherpa Gyalzen Mitchung in 1962.
