Professional Climber Michael Gardner Dead at 32 in Nepal

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Michael Gardner—a nonrecreational alpine-climber who scaled mountains successful Denali, Alaska and Nepal—died from a autumn portion descending Nepal's Jannu East upland connected Oct. 7. He was 32. 

By Leah Degrazia Oct 10, 2024 2:52 AMTags

In Memoriam: Fallen Sports Stars of 2024

An adept mountaineer has died successful a tragic incident.

Michael Radner—a nonrecreational alpine-climber who ascended Denali's Isis Face, arsenic good arsenic Alaska's Cassin Ridge and the East Face of Mt. Hunter—died successful a autumn portion trekking up the Jannu East upland successful Nepal connected Oct. 7 with his longtime climbing spouse Sam Hennessey, according to Arc'teryx, a climbing cogwheel marque that sponsored him. 

The details of his passing—which occurred during his 3rd effort descending the North Face of the implicit 24,500-foot mountain—have yet to beryllium shared, but the institution said connected societal media that Sam was "reported safe." 

"We knew Mike arsenic everyone’s favourite person. He was funny and loving," Arc'teryx shared successful an Oct. 8 Instagram post. "He had a grin and mode astir him that drew you in. He loved sharing cognition and genuinely engaging successful quality interaction."

Describing the 32-year-old arsenic a "skateboarder, skier, climber, enthusiastic skijorer, writer and upland guide," the connection continued, "He refused to beryllium boxed successful by immoderate statement and pursued thing that intrigued him."

Michael wasn't the archetypal successful his household to suffer his beingness successful a unsafe climb. His father, George Gardner, besides died from a autumn portion soloing the Grand Teton successful 2008. As Arc'teryx explained, "He mislaid his begetter successful a climbing mishap erstwhile helium was 16, a infinitesimal that reset the mode helium viewed the mountains and guided his trajectory ever since."

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"The pursuit was ne'er 'about him' - his passionateness was to stock his missions and objectives arsenic if to say, 'see what a bully clip we had?' and invitation you to measurement into the imagination with him," the connection continued. "His motivations were pure; to propulsion the boundaries of sport, and bash it with ethics, benignant and homage to those who came before."

Emphasizing that it would "take pages and pages to database Mike’s accomplishments," Arc'teryx added that Michael was a "legend" and a "person that volition permission a lasting interaction connected us, and undoubtedly, connected our community."

Michael is survived by his mother, Colleen Gardner, and sister, Megan Gardner.

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