I remember this night like it were yesterday. I had met you 18 days earlier when I moved into that tiny 2 bedroom house with Randall and one other barely 20 year old dude. In our introductory phone conversations you failed to mention that 2 of your college buddies would be couch surfing with us for the next 1-6 weeks and potentially some others come spring break. I failed to mention that I was almost 10 years older than you but I didn’t think it mattered because the “prospective roommate” pro and con spreadsheet you made had a note beside my name in the pros column that read something along the lines of “ Cool. Skis. Is a girl”.
We immediately bonded over our love of skiing and desire to pursue something that didn’t fall directly into the categories of “things to do with my expensive University degree”, trying to explain that to our parents and then of course skiing the tonnes of snow we received those first 18 days we were in Jackson Hole.
This photo was taken day 18 in your goal to ski 100 straight days that winter to which you were on the verge of convincing me to partake in. All 6 of us had returned home to our tiny 2 bedroom house exhausted from yet another day of pow hunting and you were adamant we all rally for a night lap in the pass together. I remember the look on your face trying to convince me, knowing if I was in, together we could get everyone on board and we did.
The 6 of us hiked up Teton Pass in uncomfortably cold and windy conditions. With a few sips of Baileys and Fireball in us the terrible weather was a thing of the past and we all dropped in on some epic pow turns.
I only got 4 turns before blowing out my knee. When I called down the 5 of you rallied to get me back to the car and home in one piece. This would be my last day “real” day of skiing for the year. I use quotations because despite my season ending injury you still wanted me to get out, enjoy the mountains, have fun and be happy.
So, you forced me out touring and when I couldn’t ski down, you tied your poles to my pack and skied me down yourself like your parents do when you’re a kid. You shared your adventures with me and you empathized with me on the days I was so sad I couldn’t be out there with you. I felt better knowing that we would get another chance, another season to ski all those fun lines and cool places we talked about.
You accomplished your 100 days in a row on some shitty rainy day in March. When you came home we high hived put on a movie and you took a nap on the couch while I cleaned up the many coffee cups you never seemed capable of bringing back to the kitchen, no matter how many times you went in there looking for a snack.
That winter we had more people move in, move out, visit, couch surf, floor surf and use our place as storage than that house could accommodate and that I could have ever imagined being comfortable with, but it didn’t matter because we laughed, we had fun, we met great friends, created amazing memories and it was the best living experience I have ever had. It was hard to leave Jackson Hole that Spring because I knew it would never be the same and it never was.
We would stay in touch however and your love of climbing would bring you to my neck of the woods every summer after our life in Jackson. You took it upon yourself to share your passion of climbing with me and taught me the ropes. While you practically lifted me to the top up my first climb because I was so gripped and in the inappropriate footwear, I would later watch you graciously climb the same thing with no effort or rope needed.
The last time we spoke was this summer. You called to catch up, fill me in on life, let me know you were doing well, all your goals and plans. You and your family were going to meet up with me in Mexico over Christmas after you got back from Patagonia with Randall. You were happy on the phone like you always are and I couldn’t wait to see you again.
A week ago Randall messaged me to tell me you two were on your way down South and finished by telling me “Caleb sends his love!” I replied “I loved you guys be safe down there!”
The next message I would receive is that there was an accident and you are gone.
My heart aches for you and your family, for Randall for your friends, for all the people that had the pleasure of knowing you and all those that never will. Caleb you were an incredible person a talented, smart, kind and funny soul and I’m so, so sad that you have been taken from us. It hurts that you’re gone and that all our future plans together are gone with you, but I am thankful for time that we shared, the memories I do have with you, your smile and your laugh that are still with me and always will be.
Rest in peace my dear friend, you will be forever with us and forever missed.
