An outpouring of condolences on social media for Ken Anderson

There has been an outpouring of condolences for Ken Anderson on social media following reports that a climber took a fatal fall from the Stawamus Chief on Aug. 4.

Police and the coroner did not release the name of the 33-year-old man who fell, but on Aug. 9, Rock and Ice Magazine, a climbing publication, identified Anderson as the person in the accident.

“I have no words, I’m utterly speechless,” said one poster on social media. “I keep thinking about all the times we had together and all of our stupid jokes. You were truly [an] amazing soul.”

The magazine reports that Anderson was partway up a route on the Stawamus Chief when a handhold broke, causing the fall.

It occurred on a segment of a route called Parallel Passages, the publication said.

According to Rock and Ice, Anderson didn’t place protective gear in the previous section, as it was easy climbing and Anderson climbed at a very high level.

“Ken was such a positive spirit—humble and stoked,” his partner, Gisely Ferraz, told Rock and Ice.

 

 

 

 

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Ken was a friend, a guide and a mentor to so many in our community. He was an inspiration and his passion for climbing was contagious. We are so grateful to have had the chance to know him. This is a tragic loss for the Squamish community and the climbing community as a whole. We are holding space for his family, friends as they process this difficult event. We are also beholden to all of the hard work and efforts of the climbers who were near by as well as the entire Squamish Search and Rescue team who coordinated the rescue from the air and from the ground. Your energy and commitment have not gone unnoticed. Next Wednesday Ground Up will be hosting a session with Jody Radtke, of In Nature counselling, to help those in our community who are looking to understand how to hold space and how to process the grief of trauma and tragedy. All are welcome, no daypass or membership required for this session. More information can be found on our Facebook page. Photo by @teacozydp

A post shared by Ground Up Climbing Centre (@climbgroundup) on Aug 9, 2019 at 2:15pm PDT

Squamish’s Ground Up Climbing Centre also had kind words about Anderson.

“Ken was a friend, a guide and a mentor to so many in our community. He was an inspiration and his passion for climbing was contagious. We are so grateful to have had the chance to know him,” reads a statement from the gym posted to social media.

“This is a tragic loss for the Squamish community and the climbing community as a whole.”