This is very sad news. I only got to meet Jim once, on a weeklong caving trip in "The Bob" Marshall Wilderness in Montana a few years ago, and I've never forgotten what a great guy he is. I don't think I've ever met a nicer person. I have a fond memory of how he hiked me into the ground, at nearly twice my age, on the last day of the trip when the two of us took off to look for entrances above a resurgence and covered about 20 miles together. Afterward, my feet were so swollen I couldn't get them back into my shoes. (Needless to say, his feet were fine.) I wish I could remember what he said about that, but I just remember that it was both funny AND gracious.
Ed > For those interested (and there will be at least a couple), I pass this along. > John > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: michael mceachern > Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 7:51 AM > Subject: FW: Jim's Final Journey > > To NRMG Members: > > Jim Chester, Montana's premier caver, died on Saturday, July 31. I am > passing along this email for our grotto president (Mike is in the Bob > Marshall on a caving trip). Some of you might want to attend the memorial > service on Monday. > > Nancy Boice > Sec/ NRMG > > Subject: Fw: Jim's Final Journey > Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 05:21:23 -0500 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > > From: Susan Conrad <[email protected]> > Sent: Mon Aug 02 20:12:59 2010 > Subject: Jim's Final Journey > > "There is a spiritual presence which can aptly cushion our every fall, > bringing comfort and subtle meaning to our lives. However, we'll not feel > this gentle comfort unless we attune ourselves to the others in our company. > It's within another's soul that we sense the beacon of light which > illuminates the way we're traveling." > — author unknown > > Jim Chester was a beacon of light for me, undoubtedly. He guided me, inspired > me, and kept many of you informed during my personal journey up the Inside > Passage of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska earlier this summer. > > An email seems so stark, so impersonal, even soul-less for something of this > nature but I know of no other way to inform all the friends and loved ones > whose lives he touched immeasurably. After a 4 week struggle in the aftermath > of quadruple bypass surgery complicated by renal failure, Jim Chester passed > away at his Eureka, Montana home on July 30th. He experienced 66 years of > living life to the absolute fullest. His life philosophy was to follow his > curiosity and see where it led him. It led him to many special places; to the > oceans deep, to the mountains high, to the depths of caverns and the love of > life and discovery and exploration. It also led him to many special people - > all of you. > > Many of you never had the opportunity to meet this brilliant, compassionate, > incredibly rare man but did come to know him through his eloquent words as he > kept you posted on my journey up the Inside Passage. He was with me every > stroke of the way, and brought you all along for the ride. And what a thrill > it was - Jim's final adventure with me, with all of us. In the end, he > confidently and proudly confronted his health issues, well aware that his own > personal "medical Cape Caution" as he referred to it, loomed on the horizon > with much at stake. > > I was the last one to see and speak with Jim, the day before he died. He > talked about the day he would be able to cave, hike, ski and kayak again... > We reminiscenced and I assured him he would one day be doing those physical > activities which he loved so much again - soon. I was, unfortunately, wrong. > The adventure is over but the adventurer will never be forgotten. > > Jim had an impressive list of accomplishments in his life. Here is a brief > synopsis: > Jim’s passion was cave exploration, specifically of the alpine wilderness > cave systems of Montana. He was a Fellow of The Explorers Club and The > National Speleological Society. The NSS has recognized Jim's achievements > with their highest award for exploration. He served on the Board of Directors > of The Alpine Karst Foundation and was a member of The U.S. Cave Exploration > Committee of the NSS. He was past editor of Alpine Karst, and author (ghost) > of the latest edition of the Boy Scouts of America Orienteering Merit Badge > Booklet. He was the chapters editor for The Explorers Log. He kayaked nearly > 2000 ocean miles; dived thermal features in Yellowstone National Park; > rappelled into a 240 foot well in a European medieval castle and discovered a > new species of amphipod in a Glacier National Park Cave. Jim has carried The > Explorers Club Flag twice, once in 2007 and once in 2009. Jim was the > recipient of The 2005 Vancouver Award of The Pacific Northwest Chapter and > was the 2010 Explorers Club Citation of Merit Awardee for outstanding service > to the Explorers Club as the Chapters Editor of The Explorers Log and for his > extraordinary contributions to the field of cave exploration. > > Jim’s wishes were to be cremated. A reception honoring his life will be held > at the Rexford Bench day use area on Lake Koocanusa, in Rexford, Montana on > Monday, August 9 at 3 p.m. All are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers > donations may be made to the Explorers Club Youth Expedition Scholarship Fund > in care of Maura Glikas, The Explorers Club, 46 E. 70th St., New York, NY > 10021. > > With Deep Regrets and Best Regards, > Susan > 406.249.8086 > > P.S. The location for the reception may change and if so I will be sure to > let everyone know. > >
