Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Kent Ashcraft

It is with extreme sadness that I pass this news along.

I have just learned that Kent Ashcraft, "Kashcraft" on our board, died on Thor Peak today as the result of a fall.

I remember his informative and always helpful posts on the board, and I most admire his taking his entire family safely to the top of Mt. Whitney via the Mountaineers Route when the youngest were 8 or 9!

It is so sad... his last post was less than 24 hours ago.

I have the deepest sympathy for his family and especially his wife, who supported him in all his hiking adventures.

The only consolation we have is that he died in one of his favorite locations, doing what he loved.

Edit 4/23:  A note to everyone who is not a "member" of this forum:  You are most welcome to post messages here (registration is required though); No apologies are necessary.  The Whitney community recognizes Kent as a wonderful man, and we enjoy reading your notes about him, too.

I'm just floored. His easy banter and sense of humor always made every discussion more interesting and fun. His many trips into the mountains were inspirational, and provide much late-nite reading enjoyment. I think of Kent as one of the backbone members of the site, and I will miss his contributions, and I will miss him.

Ken

my condolences to the family - this is very sad news

This is very sad. I never met him in person but always made sure to read a thread if I saw his name attached to it - always informative and I valued his opinions. My condolences as well.

That is terrible news. I did not know Kent well, but I really enjoyed hiking with him and his son Matthew a couple of years back. Both have been valuable contributors to this board for a long time. My deepest condolences to his family.

Summit photo from 1/19/06 Wedberg group hike. Kent and Matthew are at the far right. (This may be Rick Kent's picture. It was not from my camera.)

His trip reports came across with a spirit of adventure, and he was always willing to discuss routes and provide pictures in order to help someone else.

I will echo the sentiments of other before me.

I didn't know Kent at all, other than on this board, yet several times over the years he PM'ed me with information I was looking for on different trails. He obviously was a very kind man who loved the mountains.

He will be missed.

This is absolutely horrible news.
My sincere condolences to his family.

While I never met Kent, I was always inspired by his reports and his dedication to his family and to mountaineering.

I am so sorry to hear this.

I'm crushed and can't believe that I've just read this. His sense of adventure and his way of "always looking for new ways to do the usual things" got me heading in new directions on most trips. We exchanged e-mails just a few days ago regarding the "north side route" to UBSL that Rick Kent led us up a few months ago.

Deepest sympathy to the family of this really good man.

I'm glad I was pulled over and not driving when Tom just called me. Like all else, I am completely floored by this horrible news. Kent was more than just a contributor here: he was an integral part of this family. His adventures with his family inspired me many times.

My deepest condolences and prayers to his family. I will miss him.

"It is impossible to overestimate the value of wild mountains and mountain temples as places for people to grow in, recreation grounds for the soul and body" (John Muir)...

He helped others to value more the mountains and wild places... may his soul and spirit continue to live in the places that he loved so...

Oh man this is very sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

Although I never met Kent, we had crossed paths many times out on the trails. I was always impressed that he involved his sons in his many hiking adventures.

I recall last Memorial Weekend we crossed paths as he was leading a group of under-privileged kids (along with his sons) up to Lone Pine Lake after a fresh snow storm under beautiful snowy conditions. Truly a great ambassador for helping people experiences the great outdoors. RIP, Kent.

I didn't know Kent. In an effort to learn more about him I found this picture that told me all I needed to know. The caption on the picture is father and son doing what they love. He will be missed on this forum. May his family find the comfort they need at this time of loss is my sincere prayer.

Kurt Wedberg, Kent's son Matthew, Kent and Rick Kent at the first Mt. Baldy Group Climb back in 2006.

I am floored hearing this very sad news. My deepest sympathy to his family. He was an avid contributer to this board and the outdoor community. He always had great advice he freely and willingly gave. My sincere prayers for Kent and his family. The mountaineering community lost a great guy today.

Here is Kent's photo album link from his family Mountaineer's Route hike five years ago:   Family Trip up the MR to Whitney

Here is their family portrait from that album:



Amazing guy   ...amazing family   ...amazing wife!

Over the years I've come to love Kent and his family. His death is a great loss, and my heart and condolences go out to the
Ashcraft family.

It's always a tragedy for those left behind that loved him but at the risk of sounding mean which I don't mean to be I feel happy for him because obviously death is inevitable but I agree with John Muir that dying in the mountains is so much better then of some dread disease or arbitrary accident at home, I really just feel that to die doing what you love in such a beautiful place while most likely quite happy....we should all be so lucky.

Perhaps ironically enough just a couple days ago I had changed my signature to that.

I hope his family lives on climbing mountains keeping the spirit alive.

Unbelievable. It was my post he replied to. I have read many of his posts since I joined 3 years ago. All of us who are less knowledgeable of the Sierra and are here to learn will always remember his willingness to share what he knew of the region. My experiences of the Sierra, as well as many I assume, have greatly benefited from Kent's knowledge and love for the area. Thank you.

This hits so hard. It's difficult to know what to write and what not. But I might as well say that Kent asked me on Tuesday about the feasibility of this east couloir route on Thor. It's the same route four of us did a year ago, but around the right side of a big chockstone, instead of the left which we had done. I told him it would probably go, but a rope was advisable.

I exchanged several emails with Kent's wife Ilene this morning, starting with her relating the call from the CHP that he had fallen and was injured. She asked for insight on how the rescue would proceed. Then an hour and a half later to report that he had died. Barely an hour after that, she asked if I would share the funeral arrangements with this message board, when they had been decided. Of course, I will.

Ilene's messages and their timing speak volumes about the Ashcrafts, and about this board. If there ever was a doubt that we are family,....