Guestbook
Andrea Litchfield 2006-02-16 19:00:29
I spent just two days last summer with Aidan - she taught my friends and I to lead on gear and never even once made fun of me for being such a sport climber. She showed not the slightest bit of unease when I nearly made an irretrievable placement with her orange cam but simply laughed and focused her energy on finding a solution.
Her laughter and spunk were infectious and her climbing was unbelievably fluid and beautiful. Because she was such a gifted teacher, I had thought of her often while on the wall. What would Aidan have said about this placement? These anchors?
In this way I will be carrying her with me whenever I venture into the mountains and I have no doubt that she will be part of what inspires my climbing and adventuring for years to come.
Godspeed Aidan. You will be celebrated and missed in nearly equal measure.
Charmaine Deeley 2006-02-17 16:34:45
I was only young when I met Aidan up in Goomburra when she came over to Australia with her family. But I remember her beauty and lovely personality..so much that the name Aidan stuck with me that I ended up naming my son Aiden. People have often ask me where I got the name and I tell them about Aidan from Canada. I am very sorry for the loss of your beautiful Aidan. But she will never be forgotten. I will be telling my son all about her. God Bless
Timbo Stevenson 2006-02-17 18:17:42
Aidan
Thank you;
For coming to Australia
For climbing with the UQ club
For teaching me
For letting me teach you
Thank you for sprinting all the way up the Medlow Bath boulder access track
And calling the Ambos when I fell off the cliff and broke my back
Thank you for being so magnetic that I flew around the world to find you
Thank you for nearly squishing me with a hug,
When I turned up unexpectedly at the climbing gym
Thank you for asking me with a smirk “where are you staying tonight?”
Thank you for saying that I wouldn’t be staying at the Downtown YHA
But instead taking me to your warm home and loving family
Who promptly took me in as the poor weary traveller I was
Thank you for showing me a bit of your country
Hiking in pine forests and snow
Skiing on skins and sandals
Bouldering over Vancouver harbour
Climbing in the Octopus’ Garden and
The base of the Chief
Glacier and moraine hiking
And a beautiful sari shop
Thank you for that moment over lunch when skiing
When you pointed out the absolute monochrome silence surrounding us
How that snowy moment is burnt into my memory
Thank you for pulling the job advertisement off the wall at the climbing gym
And stating matter-of-factly that I could do it, and that I will get it
You were right
Thank you.
Those three months of teaching climbing around Whistler I owe to you
Thank you for being so many wonderful things in my life
Thank you for inspiring me to do so much
Thank you for being the source
Of endless positivity
Thank you for your smile
And Aidan
Thank you for still being with me
With much love
Timbo
