With each passing day, it’s becoming even more clear how influential a highly-regarded Squamish climber was.
A star from the climbing world is expressing his condolences to the family of Marc-André Leclerc.
“Super sad to hear about the passing of young Canadian alpinist Marc-André Leclerc,” wrote Alex Honnold in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
Honnold is best known for his free solo — that is, rope-free — climbs of big walls like El Capitan in Yosemite.
“Marc was a huge inspiration to me personally despite being such a young alpinist — he embodied the perfect blend of talent, psyche and humility. A true climber’s climber who had a deep love of adventuring in the mountains.”
Leclerc and his climbing partner Ryan Johnson have been presumed dead since failing to return from a climb in the Alaskan Mendenhall Ice Field.
They were dropped off by a chartered helicopter on March 4 near the Mendenhall Towers.
“I couldn’t believe that he felt comfortable in such enormous mountains,” Honnold continued. “But it seemed like he was just out having a good time.”
“My sincere condolences to family and loved ones,” he said. “Marc was a gem.”
