Narrative

Sometime in the days after March 5 2018, Ryan Johnson and his partner, the brilliant Marc Andre Leclerc, lost their lives after completing the stunning first ascent of the north face of the Main Tower in The Mendenhall’s, just outside of Juneau, Alaska.

The route, which was a dream line of Ryan’s, epitomized what he looked for in alpinism: Elements of the unknown, physical and mental challenges, as well as an aesthetic, direct and pure line. One can only imagine what it must have felt like for Ryan to be on that summit after what had surely been one his best experiences in the mountains.

Although I had never met Ryan, we’d corresponded in the months before his passing, and had planned on sitting down for an interview this April. So in a way of honoring Ryan, I decided to talk with some of his best friends and partners, to talk about their memories, experiences, and the ups and downs they shared in and out of the mountains.

Music

• Hard Times / Evan Phillips / Unreleased (2018)

• Silhouettes / Evan Phillips / Silhouettes (2015)

• The Search / Evan Phillips / Unreleased (2017)

• Something To Believe In / Evan Phillips / Unreleased (2018)

• Pick Yourself Up / Evan Phillips / Lonely Mountain (2017)

• Guess I Was Just Young / Evan Phillips / Silhouettes (2015)

• Her Glorious Morning / Evan Phillips / Goodnight My Dearest Stranger (2012)

• Hard Times / Evan Phillips / Unreleased (2018)

Links

GoFundMe

Sponsors

Alaska Rock Gym

Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzaria

The Hoarding Marmot