From: Eric Herrmann
Date: 21 May 2006
Friends - I am in as much shock as all of you in regards to this terrible tragedy. When I heard about Larry's tragic fall I had to step back & shake my head in disbelief...not Larry...this couldn't be true, but it very sadly was. There are very few people that came close to Larry in terms of being cautious & safe in every step he took....not only did he preach it, he practiced it as well. Equally there are a small segment of the group that was as technically expereienced as he was. With these ideas in mind it makes us all realize how powerful the mountains are & how much respect we need to take with us on every trip into them. We are always at risk, even the best of us....the loss of Larry is a tragic example of this. This should not keep us from venturing into them, for Larry would not want us to do that. We know that Larry was acting in the way that he always preached, but sometimes, even with the best of actions, things beyond our control happen. This is the most sad example of that :^( There are so many fun & enjoyable experiences that I had w/ Larry, but I want to reflect on one of his characteristics that made him so special to us all...and thus Larry. Besides his laugh, that none of us will ever forget!!! I think we will all remember Larry as the one who would step up to the plate to take on those tasks that no one else wanted do do...the non fun administrative stuff. Yet Larry did it, as well as everything else w/ gusto & a smile on his face!!! His enthusiasm was always contageous. He could make the most mundane tasks enjoyable. One of the most experienced Mountaineers I know, Larry would not even hesitate at coming down to the level of a neophyte student that was having problems in one aspect of the sport & give that student the patience of a mother hen. Just less than 2 weeks ago on the snow practical Larry was in the group next to ours & he noticed one of our students having difficulties w/ the one the back ice ax arrest. Larry jumped right in and worked to help that student. In fact just the day before the tragedy he took a student up Pilchuck to help him w/ his ice ax skills....Larry carried his committment to the Mountaineers way beyond what we call volunteerism!! For the last 10 years I have been in the club, Larry has been involved in more committees, lectures, and field trips that I count....every time I turned around Larry was a part of it. I will truely miss his presence in the team teaching we shared for several years in the nav course. We will truely miss our cherished "family member". As a small tribute to our friend, the students & instructors of the scramble practical this year each took a stone that Neil & I got from the Pilchuck in front of Larry & Sandra's home & wrote their personal message on them & carried them to the summits of Denny, Guye, Kendall, and Snoqualamie. The next time you are there look for these rememberances. I would love to see the theme of this years banquet be a tribute to our friend. I am sure many others would feel the same way. My deepest feelings of loss go out to Sandra, who has lost more than all of us combined. My deepest condolences go out to you Sandra. Eric