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Chris Baxter Passes

oberon

2-Mar-2010
8:59:42 PM

Very sad news indeed. Condolences to his family and friends.

Yonnie

2-Mar-2010
10:56:50 PM

I've known Chris all my life. My family will miss him.

One of the funny memories that I was thinking about today was the time not so many years ago when Dad, Chris and I went to Mitre Rock. I think Chris was having treatment at the time and was supposed to be taking it easy. We walked around the back of Mitre and saw a line that Chris was sure hadn't been done. I lead it and Chris was so proud. He thought it was probably an 18 and a bold line. Dad rang me on the Monday to say that Chris sheepishly called; having consulted his guide it seemed that the route had been put up in the early 70's by none other than Stone and Baxter (or was it Baxter and Stone?) and it was grade 14!

RIP Chris
Jen


Rupert

3-Mar-2010
12:57:11 AM

Sad to hear this.


Paulie

3-Mar-2010
7:53:44 AM

Very sad news indeed, I never met the man but growing up with Wild and Rock it feels like I do. He has made some signifcant contributions to Australian climbing and the outdoor recreation fields and will be sorely missed. Sincere condolences to family and friends.


Sabu

3-Mar-2010
8:51:51 AM

My condolences, this is very sad news. No doubt his mark on Australian climbing will be around for a very long time.

dusty

3-Mar-2010
9:04:23 AM

Bugger. Baxter goes to the big crag in the sky. Maybe more like a big gramps in the sky - he'd love that. Hope the guidebook editors and publishers up there will move over for him - they'll need to. A legend in his own lifetime and that was just how he wanted it. When I came to live in Oz in 1981, my lifeline was climbing. Outside work I knew three names - all climbers and Chris was one - and contactable courtesy of his contributions to Mountain magazine. I called. He was about to publish the very first Wild and up to his ears. But he took time to point me in all the right directions to jump start me into the Vic climbing scene. I'll never forget that - and a ton more things after. Condolences to his family and his many friends.


IdratherbeclimbingM9

3-Mar-2010
2:12:41 PM

I received the following email from Rock Magazine...

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chris Baxter OAM, founder of Wild Publications and tireless promoter of Australia’s wild places.

After a protracted battle with various forms of cancer over the last decade he finally succumbed to leukemia on Sunday 28 February. He is survived by his beloved wife Sue.

Chris published the first issue of Rock in 1978 and the first Wild in 1981. Both were formed through Chris’ huge passion for the outdoors and the fact that they have gone on to be the longest running outdoor adventure magazines in Australia is testament to this drive. When not running the magazines Chris spent most of his spare time in the bush or overseas. Not only was he a keen walker, but he was also a prolific climber, putting up thousands of new routes.

The funeral will take place at St Jude's Church in Carlton at 11.00 am on Thursday 4 March.

A full obituary will follow in the forthcoming issues of Wild and Rock. Personal tributes can be left at The Age online.

_{Post edit: The email contained the picture 'from original source' as following in ajf post below.}


ajfclark

3-Mar-2010
2:27:22 PM

Can probably get away with just including the original image rather than mirroring it on chockstone...


cliffhanger

4-Mar-2010
6:31:46 PM

It's with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of one of the giants in the Australian Climbing Industry this week. Chris was a great friend and supporter to me and the staff of Cliffhanger over the last 16 years especially in the early days when I was setting up.

Until recently he was still managing a weekly, and then monthly, climb in the gym. He wasn't pushing new grades, but he was doing what he enjoyed, climbing.

I'll miss your regular climbs and chats and am bitterly disappointed that I wasn't able to get to the marvellous celebration of your life today. RIP Chris.

Tim and crew

ironcurtain

4-Mar-2010
10:45:39 PM

A shock to me...I was blessed/cursed to work for CB at Mild and Crock and despite the blasts from behind the desk of the Managing Editor I learnt much from this man...a unique blend of pleasure and pain. I now have some sense of what it takes to fulfil a passion to the nth degree thanks to CB. Rest well. You deserve it. SC

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