Mt Whitney Webcam
Mt Williamson Webcam
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 155 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Wayne Pyle passing
#27257 08/26/12 01:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
I received word last evening that Wayne Pyle passed away on Friday (Aug 24, 2012). Upon asking whether I should post a note here, his son Mike wrote:

We would appreciate that a great deal. He definitely had a great affinity to Mt. Whitney and enjoyed the forums as well...living vicariously through everyone's adventures.

Wayne's major quest in the Sierra was to be able to identify all the peaks visible from any other mountain peak. He created detailed charts showing the precise direction and vertical angle of all the peaks visible from another. Along this line, he tried to identify the record distance one could see another peak from the top of Mt Whitney. (The record is written up somewhere in the forum.)

More specific to Mt Whitney hikers is his often used map image of the 97 switchbacks, which he meticulously counted and plotted on a map. When we established the Whitney webcams, Wayne was instrumental in identifying all the points and peaks visible in the webcam view.

Wayne moved to the east coast, but he kept in contact with our community. When the origin of the name of the Ebersbacher Ledges came up, Wayne did some research, and located Dale and Frances Ebersbacher, and even posted pictures from their first climb where Dale discovered the route on the ledges. Since Dale and Frances were living in Florida, he contacted them and they visited, and took the picture here:


Wayne's caption for this picture:
Quote:
Wayne Pyle, Dale Ebersbacher and Frances Ebersbacher--in the Ebersbacher's RV when they passed through Charlotte, North Carolina on the night of October 16, 2007. Frances was climbing with Dale when he discovered what would be commonly known as the Ebersbacher Ledges on Mount Whitney's Mountaineer's Route.


I never met Wayne, but over the years we emailed and worked together on Sierra-related projects, and he became a respected friend. I will miss him, and his passing is a loss to our community. Rest in Peace, Wayne. Thanks so much for all your help throughout the years.

Edit: This notice is also on the WPSMB site.   (Link)

Re: Wayne Pyle passing
Steve C #27260 08/26/12 04:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 582
Offline
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 582
Steve, this is sad news indeed. Please pass on my deepest condelences to the family.

I will update the Memorial Hike in October to include Wayne, as well.

Best,
L


Facebook

Flickr Pics

Think outside the Zone.
Re: Wayne Pyle passing
MooseTracks #27262 08/26/12 04:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 6
H
Offline
H
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 6
I appreciate the resourcefulness of Wayne.

it seems fitting for me to quote from the mountaineering literature, as I am apt to do, but this one for Wayne. May he rest in peace:


we realized again the uncertainty of all human endeavor and the relative permanence of the mountain
Robert Bates, in Houston and Bates
K2 the Savage Mountain pages, 255

Re: Wayne Pyle passing
Harvey Lankford #27263 08/26/12 05:25 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 1
Offline
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 1
In popular folklore, deaths come in threes. We've lost AsABat, then Neil, now Wayne. As far as I know, Armstrong never climbed Whitney, but he did establish a trailhead which none of us can hope to visit. RIP all three special people.

As NA asked, on the 31st. there will be a full moon. Just go outside and wink at it.


Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Wayne Pyle passing
wagga #27279 08/27/12 05:48 AM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572
Offline
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572
Neil may not have climbed it, but I was at Trail Camp the night he was at Tranquility. As my girlfriend at the time said: probably the only two people on the continent watching it directly, rather than the broadcast.



Wherever you go, there you are.
SPOTMe!
Re: Wayne Pyle passing
saltydog #27285 08/27/12 08:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 286
B
Offline
B
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 286
When I was trying to figure out the peaks of the San Gabriels as seen from my office, Wayne sent me a spreadsheet with precise data to help me out. I have never met him, but he reached out to help someone he never knew. What a great guy. We will miss him.

Brent N.

Re: Wayne Pyle passing
Steve C #27292 08/27/12 01:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
S
Offline
S
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
Condolences to his family and friends for this loss.

Re: Wayne Pyle passing
sierragator #27320 08/28/12 09:39 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
S
Steve C Offline OP
OP Offline
S
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,505
Likes: 103
Several pictures from Richard P, on a 2004 hike with Bob R and Wayne:


Bob R and Wayne Pyle on Thor Peak




Wayne climbing


Re: Wayne Pyle passing
Steve C #27321 08/28/12 10:44 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 161
C
Offline
C
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 161
Louis Wayne Pyle II September 28 1946- August 25 2012

I was curious to learn more about Wayne so I googled Wayne Pyle Charlotte, NC. The 3rd item down has info about the life and death of Wayne and some of you might enjoy learning more just as I did.

65 is way to early to pass on but what a life Wayne lived in those 65 years.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4
(Release build 20200307)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.4.33 Page Time: 0.035s Queries: 32 (0.030s) Memory: 0.6128 MB (Peak: 0.6937 MB) Data Comp: Off Server Time: 2024-03-28 20:08:03 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS