Obituaries for the Great Climber John Bachar

John Bachar, killed last Sunday after a fall while climbing solo on Dike Wall near his home in Mammoth Lakes, California, was without a doubt one of the most influential rock climbers of the last 40 years. “He was an artist,” says his friend and photographer Dean Fidelman. “He transcended the sport.”

The extent of John’s reputation as a climber is evidenced by news of his death and subsequent obituaries appearing in many major American newspapers as well as media and newspapers around the world. Three of the best obituaries appeared in The New York Times, parent company of About.com, The Los Angeles Times, and The Guardian in London.

This trio of articles about John Bachar, unlike so many articles in the mainstream media, get the facts right about John and the dicey sort of climbing that he did. After reading them, please post comments about John Bachar—his climbing, his life, and how he influenced you—below in the comments section.

Read John Bachar’s obituaries:
New York Times: John Bachar, Rock Climber, Dies at 51; Daredevil with Uncompromising Style
Los Angeles Times: John Bachar Dies at 52; Rock Climber Specialized in Free-Solo Ventures
The Guardian: John Bachar

Photograph: John Bachar atop a Joshua Tree cliff after another free-solo climb. Photograph courtesy Karl Baba/PeakLightImages.com (Thanks Karl for the use of your great images of John!)