Walter Bonatti Dies aged 81

© Smiler Cuthbertson
One of the legends of world climbing, Walter Bonatti, has died on Tuesday 13th September in Rome aged 81.

Bonatti was destined for stardom from an early age. By 19 he had already made significant ascents and new routes in the Bregaglia and Dolomites, and shot to relative fame with the third ascent of the West Face of the Aiguille Noire de Peuterey and a very early repeat of the Walker Spur on the Grandes Jorasses.

Read a full obituary by Lindsay Griffin on the BMC web site


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14 Sep, 2011
“For me, the value of a climb is the sum of three inseparable elements, all equally important: aesthetics, history, and ethics."
14 Sep, 2011
Sad news. A total legend. Time is definitely taking that greatest generation of 20th century climbers from us.
14 Sep, 2011
RIP Another legend
14 Sep, 2011
The greatest of them all. Sad news. I am not one given to hero worship, but the one time I met him I was just completely in awe.
14 Sep, 2011
just finished reading his account of the disaster on Central Pillar , Mont Blanc RIP
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