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A tragic incident has claimed the life of a skilled mountaineer. Professional alpine climber Michael Radner, who scaled Alaska's Cassin Ridge, Denali's Isis Face, and the East Face of Mount Hunter, died on October 7 in a fall while hiking up Nepal's Jannu East mountain with his longtime climbing partner Sam Hennessey, according to Arc'teryx, a climbing gear brand that sponsored him.
Sam passed away during his third attempt to descend the North Face of the over 24,500-foot mountain; the specifics of his death are still unknown, but the company posted on social media that Sam was "reported safe."
"Everyone knew that Mike was their favorite person. In an Instagram post from October 8, Arc'teryx said, "He was inquisitive and affectionate." He possessed a charming smile and demeanor that captivated you. He cherished imparting knowledge and having genuine conversations with people."
The message proceeded to characterize the thirty-two-year-old as a "skateboarder, skier, climber, enthusiastic skijorer, writer, and mountain guide," adding that "he refused to be boxed in by any label and pursued anything that intrigued him."
It wasn't the first time in Michael's family that a perilous climb claimed his life. In 2008, George Gardner, his father, also passed away after falling while hiking the Grand Canyon by himself. According to Arc'teryx, "He lost his father in a climbing accident when he was 16, a moment that reset the way he viewed the mountains and guided his trajectory ever since."
"The pursuit was never 'about'him'—his passion was to share his missions and objectives as if to say, 'See what a good time we had?' and invite you to step into the dream with him," the message went on to say. "His motivations were pure: to push the boundaries of sport and do it with ethics, style, and homage to those who came before."
Stressing that it would "take pages and pages to list Mike’s accomplishments," Arc'teryx added that Michael was a "legend" and a "person that will leave a lasting impact on us, and undoubtedly, on our community."
