Whadda way to die.

And what a life.

I remember reading about his 3rd Atlantic crossing. Just wow. Glad he made it to the top. My condolences to his family.

Wow, that’s just amazing. So, I do have to wonder if they brought his body down or left it up there.

He’s an example of someone living their best life. I remember this guy. I’d love to read a book or even see a documentary about him. I love stories of people living their dreams. Wally13 is doing that very thing this summer. He had 2 knee replacements a year ago and did that deter him from planning to paddle the entire Mississippi River from its source to the Gulf ? Heck no! He’s an example to us like the Polish man to get out there because life is short!

Mocha: "Wow, that’s just amazing. So, I do have to wonder if they brought his body down or left it up there."

As I remember, part of the mythos of Kilimanjaro is that a leopard was found at or near the top. This guy was a big cat too and in a perfect world, they'd leave him up there with his cousin.

BTW, I've paddled the big river a couple times if Wally wants to tap my knowledge.

Remarkable life, remarkable death...

Miss Molly,
Mentioned by Hemingway in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." "No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude."
Actually a frozen leopard was discovered in 1926 by a guy named Richard Reusch. Up at 18,000 ft. There is a picture kicking around on the interwebs.
If you haven't, you might want to look into the writings of H.W. Tilman, the British mountaineer and deepwater sailor. (The Eight Sailing/Mountain Exploration Books). Another one cut from the same mold as our late Polish friend.

Thanks for sharing. Watched a film about Teddy Roosevelt this weekend. He died at a young 60 years of age - no nursing home for him either. He too paddled and portaged. . . . And explored.

HistoryDoc: " Miss Molly,
Mentioned by Hemingway in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." "No one has explained what the leopard was seeking at that altitude."
Actually a frozen leopard was discovered in 1926 by a guy named Richard Reusch. Up at 18,000 ft. There is a picture kicking around on the interwebs.
If you haven't, you might want to look into the writings of H.W. Tilman, the British mountaineer and deepwater sailor. (The Eight Sailing/Mountain Exploration Books). Another one cut from the same mold as our late Polish friend."

Thanks, Doc!

RunningFox, two other cool things about TDR is that he rose from frailty as a child and he was also one of the smartest presidents, as estimated by IQ.

RunningFox: "Thanks for sharing. Watched a film about Teddy Roosevelt this weekend. He died at a young 60 years of age - no nursing home for him either. He too paddled and portaged. . . . And explored.
"

Teddy's trip down the River of Doubt may have contributed to his shorter than expected lifespan. Read that book if you want to get an idea of how close that trip came to doing him in.

Waiting to here cause of death? Altitude sickness (cerebral or pulmonary edema) or heart attack? He really had the mental state to be able to do those long voyages across the oceans. Not sure I would be up for that. I have found out sea sickness is no fun. Saw a really sick looking guy coming down Kilimanjaro the day before I walked to the top in February 2020.

I’d imagine you never look at an ocean the same after you’ve paddled across it.

Duckman: "I’d imagine you never look at an ocean the same after you’ve paddled across it."

Good observation. After seeing photos of his "kayak," I'll never look at paddling the same way too. It weighed nearly a ton.