Climbing Mag Editor Craig Luebben, 49, was killed by falling ice on Mount Torment in Washington’s Cascades August 9, 2009.

The Fort Collins/Denver, Colo, mountain guide was climbing with Willie Benegas in preps for an Alpine Guide certification.

Willie has reportedly been airlifted from the area with injuries.

The accident happened early Sunday morning on Mount Torment in the North Cascades, near Marblemount.

Kelly Bush, the district ranger with North Cascades National Park search and rescue, said the two climbers had crossed the upper part of the Taboo Glacier, with Luebben leading. A chunk of ice fell beneath him and he fell about 40 feet into the moat, hanging from his rope and suffering massive trauma.

Luebben was still alive when Benegas was able to climb down to him, move him to a ledge and call 911 for rescue. But Luebben died before he could be rescued, said Bush, adding that neither climber did anything wrong in their ascent.

“This kind of thing is inherent in mountaineering,” she said. “These men were highly skilled, on top of their game. Some of the elite of mountain climbing.”

Luebben lived in Colorado and was a well-known climber, writer, photographer and teacher, said Simon Fryer, with Colorado Mountain School.

According to his Web site, Luebben climbed all over the world and made first ascents on rocks in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, West Virginia, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and other climbing locations. He also wrote seven books on climbing.

Craig was well liked and respected as a climber, guide, author, friend, and family man.

He will be missed by his wife Silvia and daughter Giulia Maria.

My heartfelt condolences go out to them. Craig, rest in peace.

* Craig Luebben – Home Page

Photo of Mt. Torment from SummitPost

* Source : Susan Gilmore – http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/

* Previous story  : – Tragedy in mountain

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Posted in Climbers, Rock climbing, tragedie, tragedy Tagged: accident, American Climbing editor, Climbers, Climbing Mag, Craig Luebben, Fort Collins, killed, mountaineering, photographer, Travel, Washington Cascade, Willie Benega