Professional Climber Michael Gardner Dead at 32 in Nepal

An expert mountaineer has died in a tragic incident.

Michael Radner—a professional alpine-climber who ascended Denali's Isis Face, as well as Alaska's Cassin Ridge and the East Face of Mt. Hunter—died in a fall while trekking up the Jannu East mountain in Nepal on Oct. 7 with his longtime climbing partner Sam Hennessey, according to Arc'teryx, a climbing gear brand that sponsored him. 

The details of his passing—which occurred during his third attempt descending the North Face of the over 24,500-foot mountain—have yet to be shared, but the company said on social media that Sam was "reported safe." 

"We knew Mike as everyone’s favourite person. He was curious and loving," Arc'teryx shared in an Oct. 8 Instagram post. "He had a smile and way about him that drew you in. He loved sharing knowledge and truly engaging in human interaction."

Describing the 32-year-old as a "skateboarder, skier, climber, enthusiastic skijorer, writer and mountain guide," the message continued, "He refused to be boxed in by any label and pursued anything that intrigued him."

Michael wasn't the first in his family to lose his life in a dangerous climb. His father, George Gardner, also died from a fall while soloing the Grand Teton in 2008. As Arc'teryx explained, "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 continued. "His motivations were pure; to push the boundaries of sport, and do it with ethics, style and homage to those who came before."

Emphasizing 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."

Michael is survived by his mother, Colleen Gardner, and sister, Megan Gardner.

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