Marilyn Koolstra

So she took emergency leave from work.

So she took emergency leave from work.

He was there, he was alone, he was clearly distressed, and I went to be with him.

He was there, he was alone, he was clearly distressed, and I went to be with him.

They met in Christchurch, then traveled to the small seaside town of Akaroa, where they quietly marked Eric's 61st birthday. It was a stark contrast to the big party a year prior. Eric showed Marilyn photos he had taken during his Cascade saddle hike with their new DSLR camera.

They met in Christchurch, then traveled to the small seaside town of Akaroa, where they quietly marked Eric's 61st birthday. It was a stark contrast to the big party a year prior. Eric showed Marilyn photos he had taken during his Cascade saddle hike with their new DSLR camera.

One showed his red backpack at the top of the saddle, looking across the Matuketuki River Valley toward a fog-shrouded Mount Aspiring. The picture seemed ominous in retrospect. Eric couldn't stop thinking about what might have happened if he had accepted Alan's invitation. Maybe his friend would still be alive.

One showed his red backpack at the top of the saddle, looking across the Matuketuki River Valley toward a fog-shrouded Mount Aspiring. The picture seemed ominous in retrospect. Eric couldn't stop thinking about what might have happened if he had accepted Alan's invitation. Maybe his friend would still be alive.

There were many debriefings over that and processing everything that had happened.

There were many debriefings over that and processing everything that had happened.

He kept expecting a call from Alan's wife, letting him know if and when she intended to hold a memorial service back in Australia.

He kept expecting a call from Alan's wife, letting him know if and when she intended to hold a memorial service back in Australia.

But he hadn't heard and that distressed him even more and he couldn't understand why.

But he hadn't heard and that distressed him even more and he couldn't understand why.

Marilyn finally called home and learned Alan's celebration of life was happening the next day. She and Eric rushed to the airport. The printed program for that service included two photos of Alan. Eric had taken them both during their trek in Patagonia.

Marilyn finally called home and learned Alan's celebration of life was happening the next day. She and Eric rushed to the airport. The printed program for that service included two photos of Alan. Eric had taken them both during their trek in Patagonia.

The program also included a quote from famed New Zealander and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, was the first man known to have summited Mount Everest. You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things. To compete, you can be just an ordinary chap sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.

The program also included a quote from famed New Zealander and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, was the first man known to have summited Mount Everest. You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things. To compete, you can be just an ordinary chap sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.

To Marilyn, Alan's death highlighted the inherent dangers of mountain travel. She thought it might be an inflection point for Eric, where he paused to question the wisdom of going alone. But he rationalized it. Telling her what happened to Alan couldn't happen to him. He was a trekker, not a mountaineer. He avoided ice.

To Marilyn, Alan's death highlighted the inherent dangers of mountain travel. She thought it might be an inflection point for Eric, where he paused to question the wisdom of going alone. But he rationalized it. Telling her what happened to Alan couldn't happen to him. He was a trekker, not a mountaineer. He avoided ice.