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| A Tribute to a Friend..... Ed Miller tragically passed away on Monday August 7th, 2006 while on the Ptarmigan Traverse with 2 friends. He passed away doing what he oved so much. We will miss you Ed, you were a good friend and full of ife and passion. Keep sharing your love of the outdoors with others. Links:  "Ed Miller's Traveling Summit Register Memorial" Photos of Ed from the Hiking Community Seattle PI Article - June 22, 2007 Seattle PI Article - August 10, 2006 Ed Millers Fototime Website - A comprehensive collection from a very talented scenic photographer Randy's Photo Tribute NWHikers.net Forum - Main Topic NWHikers.net Forum - Memorial Service NWHikers.net Forum - Tribute Scramble Memorial Service Photos - by Scott Harder
Tom Davenport from www.nwhikers.net summed it up quite well: "It is with a very heavy heart that I inform those of you who knew Ed of a tragic accident that took his life yesterday morning while on the Ptarmigan Traverse. Words cannot express how I feel as I write this, as I know many of you will feel reading this terrible news. Ed, his friend Gerard, and myself were approaching the south ridge of Mt. Formidable when a large boulder came loose and caused Ed to lose his balance and fall. I was a few feet away from Ed when the accident occurred and cannot say with certainty what caused the boulder to come loose, but I believe he may have tried to use it as a hand hold. I do not know what else to say, other than if Ed had not fallen, it is possible one of us that followed might have met a similar fate, and I may well owe him my life. If I have any solace, it is knowing that Ed took every opportunity he had to live his life and passion to the fullest. I feel fortunate to have shared so many incredible trips with such a great guy, and to have lived the rest of his adventures vicariously through his many inspiring pictures and trip reports. I feel I should say more about Ed and what a truly wonderful, caring, down to earth, and humble individual he was, but I am at a loss for words right now. Please keep his family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the two of us who were with him yesterday. Ed, I will miss you dearly, and will never forget the times and wonderful memories we shared in the mountains. " - Tom Davenport Dayhike Mike I think this site loved Ed as much as Ed loved the site. He had a true talent for taking beautiful, moody, atmospheric photos and just kept getting better and better each time he went out and I know that I'm not the only one that will miss seeing his photos in the trip reports section. I feel privileged to have been able to hike with him and it was a true joy to see him really get into the outdoors... He was absolutely fearless and ready to take on the world...rock climbing, ice climbing, glaciers and crevasses...the guy was always ready for another challenge. I think what I'll miss most was his quiet, humble, and sometimes shy way about things. He was the most genuine man I've ever known. He was kind, honest, generous, and ready to help no matter what the situation. And his energy...man, with his strength / stamina and can-do personality, he was absolutely unstoppable. I'm really going to miss him. Randy Ed was a great person, probably the most humble and patient person I've ever met. He also had an immense love for the mountains and just getting out there and living which is one reason I always looked forward to getting out with him. I remember on several occaisions him telling me during the morning drive to the trailhead that he did't sleep a wink because he was so excited for the trip. I always thought that was pretty cool. On our last trip together up Jumbo Mountain I severely sprained my ankle early in the descent. I will always hold a special bond towards Ed for helping to get me down in one piece. If it wasn't for his patience and help I probably would have had to have been carted off the mountain, or I would have injured myself even more trying to do everything on my own. I wanted to hurry off the mountain and get down, but Ed made sure we walked the easiest line and constantly made sure I wasn't doing anything that would cause me greater injury. I will always have the utmost respect for him as a climbing parter, but most of all because of the great human being that he was. Perhaps in a few days I'll write more, but like Tom, I'm really at a loss for words right now. Beave I only had the great fortune to climb with Ed a couple times. The "Calvin and Hobbes" (which to me was quite fitting for his adventurous and fun-loving personalitly) avatar appearing under my trip reports meant I was doing something right photographically or otherwise. I hold great respects for people like Ed, and I always smiled on the inside when he took interest in my sometimes random mountain wanderings. I second everything said; He was just a genuinely cool guy and I looked forward to future trips in the mountains with him. It is greatly disheartening that I will never again have that chance, and that I did not more eagerly pursue it while he was still with us. Thank you Ed, for both the trips we shared, and for touching so many peoples lives. As I continue to climb peaks and reach for the heavens, perhaps we can meet halfway and continue to enjoy these mountains together. Tom I remember when Mike and I first started hiking with Ed. He was pretty rough around the edges in terms of backcountry skills. That changed over the years. Ed immersed himself in knowledge and training and by our Berdeen trip last year he was teaching us a thing or two. Not that we really knew all that much to begin with, grin, but he thought so. On the Ptarmigan Traverse I knew I would be relying on Ed's knowledge and experience. I was really proud of him, and admired what he had accomplished in such a short time. On the second day of the Ptarmigan, enroute to the red ledges, Ed discovered he did not have his ice axe. Not wanting to slow us down, he dropped his pack and ran back toward Kool Aid Lake searching in vain for his axe in the hot sun. An hour later I saw him in my binoculars returning from Kool Aid Lake carrying something in his hands. I was relieved that he had found his axe. Knowing he would be exhausted from the heat and lack of water, I went down to offer to carry his pack up the red ledges, only to find he was carrying a trekking pole someone offered him. He stated he could not find his axe in the sea of talus and was going to bail on the trip. He would not risk it. I settled him down and told him we would both go back to find his axe. We would find it. I knew how much this trip meant to him. After looking a little more carefully where we had last filtered up, Ed was never so happy to find his axe. In hindsight, I wish we had never found it, but at the time it made me happy to return a fraction of the kindness and patience Ed extended to so many... Derek Wayne First of all....thank-you Tom for everything, my heart and love go out too you. My name is Derek, i was a close friend of Edward. I'm sorry too meet you all like this. Words cannot express how i feel right now, i guess numb. i remember many years ago Ed and I were done at Mytle Edwards part for the 4th of July when he got a phone call from "Dayhike Mike" who wanted what else...but too hike, we had plans and i remember him turning too me like a kid in a candy store.....looking for my reaction, i just smiled and told him to go....and off he went, so very happy. I want you all too know that he loved this site and you nice people on it. This tribute is stunning. Ed and I spent many hours running around with our camereas....he really excelled, he was a great man. His son does know about NWHIKERS, and i will be sure to have him check this all out...it will mean alot too him. i could go on for hours, but as you could imagine...i'm a wreck right now. I WANT TOO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR LIVES WITH EDWARD...IT MEANT ALOT TOO HIM...AND TOO ME TOO. Perhaps i'll post some more later. Please spread lots of love too both Tom and Oren, I know Oren well and he could use lots of love right about now. AGAIN...I CANNOT SAY THANKS ENGOUGH....GOD BLESS YOU ALL I LOVE YOU Polarbear I only knew Ed from seeing him at one or two socials. He gave me an extra 100 Hikes in the ALW book that he had brought to one of the socials. I gave that book to an visiting Australian coworker who wanted to explore the Cascades. I'm sure other such small gestures rippled for miles as well. What a tragedy. I'm sure Ed is with us in spirit and in some way will still be with us in our future travels. What beautiful pictures... David & Karen A few words in a post cannot possibly convey how saddened we are to hear of the loss of Ed. Although we did not know him, we knew of him through the board - he was one of our own - a member of the nwhikers family. Through his posts we got a sense that he was a truly good person and a terrific photographer; enthusiastic about life and of course he shared that passion for the outdoors which connects us all. I know there is nothing we could possibly say that will change anything, but perhaps hearing all these kind words from the rest of the 'family' will in some small way alleviate the sorrow, to know that we all care. Our thoughts are with Ed's family and friends and everyone that he has inspired on this forum. Our sincerest condolences. Quark Here are a few sentiments Ed shared with me privately. The guy couldn't spell worth a damn, and he always apologized profusely about it, but I'm very very thankful he kept on sending me messages. ." if I did not get out I would be a raving luatic. It is what gets me through the week.... It is what keeps me sane. I am very passionalte about being out. You might say it is my life...[I've been taking too much time off work to get out]...but remember I am alive today and there are no guarantiees for tommorow. " He and I were to hike daytrips around MRNP after his surgery. The PT was his last hurrah before then; he said it was all about getting out, and even if the trip failed for one reason or another, as long as he was out, he'd be happy. He said he was so excited about the trip he couldn't sleep the few nights before the trip. That ol' Ed ruined my last day on the job. It's supposed to be a day of being squired out to lunch, of fooling around, laughing, leaving real early. But I canceled out on the lunch, and took the long way to the bank to do a company errand. I went by the library to see if I could find a book Ed recommended to me not long ago. He said he thought the humor in it is "right up [my] alley." Must be an excellent book indeed; the library copy was gone, and 25 holds were on it as well. Because I spent so much time wandering downtown, the things I needed to do made me stay at work til 4:00 - hardly "last day" hours. I'll go to a bookstore tonight & buy the book. I'd like to read it this weekend. Ed's Brother (Rick) I want to thank everyone for such kind words in remembrance of Ed. As I struggle to deal with losing him it is so comforting to know that he had touched so many in the ways that he did. I can feel the sincerity, that you truly knew him, his nature. Tom and Gerard (sorry for the spelling?), my special thanks and thoughts to you for your kind and supportive words. My heart goes out to you for what you must be going through. I am so thankful though that he was not alone and you have helped me tremendously as I try to accept the reality that he is gone. A memorial service will be held, but has not yet been determined exactly where and when. All who would like to come and pay final respects are welcomed. I will work with Tom and perhaps on this site communicate that info once it is known. Again, thank you all so very much for your powerful words. Ed was a truly special man and will be missed. Rubberhands Not sure what to say... I met Ed last year in a glacier course and finally got to do some climbing with him this year on Baker and Sahale. Ed's love for the mountains inspires me... the kind of inspiration that gets me out of bed at 2:00am on a Saturday morning before a climb... or taking a few extra minutes on the trail to stop and absorb the beauty of our incredible surroundings. May his way of life live on for ever. Climb on Ed. Cody Yesterday I received a call from Gerard. I was excited to hear how this trip was and eagerly awaited a positive response. My heart fell to my stomach when he said, "It didn't go well at all, Ed is gone." I met Ed in a climbing course this year that prepared me for my first summit up Rainier (via DC). I didn't buy a camera until the end of the course in July and would anticipate Ed's breathtaking photographs every Monday. I received my 2 year degree on 6/16/06 and went out with Ed, Scott, Brent and others on an attempt up Sahale. I was fortunate enough to be his tent partner, and he was unfortunate enough to be mine. He said he only had to open the tent once to air out my chili mac gas. We came together as a team to tend one of our climbers that took a scary spill. Ed was up and ready to summit should part of our group decide to stay. His motivation was inspiring, but his commitment to group unity prevailed and he later returned to free solo it as Scott mentioned earlier. I pray for the progress of his spirit as he ascends towards the Most High Pinnacle of Glory in the Celestial Paradise he has entered. He left us to soon, and we will miss him terribly. God bless his family , Gerard, Tom and all Ed's most sincere friends who are deeply affected by this tragedy. Jeff R The mountains will never be the same after this tragic loss. I am honored to have know such a great person and to be able to climb with him. I will always remember Ed for his immense heart, caring soul, and love for the mountains. My condolences are with his friends and family. Slugman I had a change of plans during my weekend out, and I headed up to the Cascade pass trail head Monday evening for a dayhike on Tuesday, completely unplanned when I left home. I see a man, looking totally exhausted, come walking up to my car, and he says "Slugman? I thought that was you". It was Tom, and he told me the awful news. I didn't know what to say, was just in shock, so I babbled some of the comforting words and statements that seemed appropriate at the time. I did what the TV moms I've always seen do, I offered Tom and Girard some comfort food, in this case chocolate-dipped macaroons. I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't believe they were even able to stand up, after the emotional shock they had been through and the physical exertion they went through that day. They are stronger people than I am. I was undecided if I should do my little dayhike up to Cascade pass the next day under the circumstances. I ended up going, and enjoyed the hike a lot despite the blackflies which were some of the worst I've experienced, but somehow getting bitten by flies seemed way down the list of things I should be worrying about right then. I spent five hours at the pass (no flies), about half of that thinking about Ed, about his obvious passion for the mountains and for his friends, about life and death in general, about God, about the courage and strength of Tom and Girard, about Ed's family, all while surrounded by the kinds of places Ed loved. I said some prayers for Ed, and for Tom and Girard, and Ed's family, and just prayed in general. I felt very lucky to be alive, and the truth is we are all lucky to be alive, to be born in the first place, and to have survived life's challenges so far at least. Ed was a person who took on life's challenges, and the fact that one challenge claimed him does not diminish the triumphs he achieved, the most important being the fact that he was so loved and admired by all who knew him. I didn't know him except through the website, but reading the link somebody posted of Edd's posts a few pages back, I couldn't find one uncharitable thing he had ever written to or about anybody. Ed, you were a gentleman, and I will miss you. Naturealbeing LIFE is SACRED Each day we are nurtured by our Mother the Earth and Father Sky fills our lungs with the Breath of Life. Our gift to each other is to share ourselves in the greatest good that we can. I believe Ed Miller knew this and practiced it most every day of his Life. The testimonies given by those that knew him tell me so. Ed lived an intentional life, nothing was taken for granted and he exploited all of the beauty that surrounded him to nurture his soul. His restlessness before trips was much the same as a child waiting for Christmas day presents; he couldn’t wait to be in the magic of the wilderness. I am one of the unfortunate ones who did not have the pleasure of spending time with Ed in the great outdoors. We had PM’ed each other earlier in the year and talked about a trip to Morningstar. Time went by to fast and it did not happen, Whitehorse, Fortress, and Chiwawa were other trips I missed out on. I read somewhere that Ed lived in the present with much passion, I to share these qualities and try to live my life without regrets. Unfortunately this is one time in my Life that I will have to live regretting not having met Ed in person and sharing with him his great passion of Life and the great outdoors. Tom, I remember our PM’s last week and when I invited you to come along with me to retrieve the NWHTSR, your response was I’m heading out with Ed and some others for a Ptarmigan Traverse trip. I believe I wished you a great time and to be safe (or something of that nature). My Heartaches when I think of what you and Girard must to have had endured during this tragedy. There are truly no words that I know of that can convey the sense of loss for all the people who have shared their lives with Ed. I believe that each and everyone has a special Heartfelt story/stories that is fully embedded in their Hearts of this great man and will always be a source of their sacred connection with Ed. For all family members and friends of Ed Miller I offer my most deeply Heartfelt condolences, may you find yourselves surrounded in Love and Light. It is at this time that I would like to dedicate the future placings of the NWHTSR in honor of Ed Miller. When I first started the NWHTSR it was because of people like Ed. It was and still is a way for people with a passion of mountaineering to share their stories and to celebrate their connectedness with each other. I believe Ed exercised this belief also. I remember when he had gone up to McClellan Butte on 10/16/05 and retrieved the NWHTSR and then placed it on Hibox on 10/22/05 and there it stayed all winter long. He felt bad that he had stranded it, but when Justus S. grabbed it on 6/12/06 and put it into play again he was really excited that it was on the move again. What I’m really saying here, is that I feel honored to dedicate all future placings of the NWHTSR in honor of a great man who embodied the passion of mountaineering to it’s fullest. This is my way to keep the Spirit and the teachings that Ed shared with us, alive. We have the opportunity to take with us the memories of Ed on each journey that we take the NWHTSR on. Right now I have the NWHTSR in my possession and welcome anyone who feels the desire to make the maiden trip (in honor of Ed Miller) to let me know via e mail/PM/or here on this thread. Location and time to be determined based upon all involved. More here: NWHikers.net Forum - Main Topic NWHikers.net Forum - Memorial Service NWHikers.net Forum - Tribute Scramble
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