Stimson Bullitt, 1919-2009

Quintessential Seattleite Stimson Bullitt has died at age 89.

Tributes can be found in the Seattle Times and Seattlepi.com .

If you'd like a ski connection, the company that Bullitt founded in 1972, Harbor Properties, is owner of Stevens Pass ski area.

It was truly inspiring to see Stimson climbing at Vertical World in his 80's. Also the great picture of him leading "Illusion Dweller" in Joshua Tree that was used in magazine ad. RIP

Edit to add the photo of Stimson on Illusion Dweller (someone elses link, but don't think they will mind considering the person being honored)

He led the crux of Outer Space at 73, if I'm not mistaken -- I worked for a law firm at which he occasionally spent some time. Really nice guy.

I vaguely remember that in the 1980s Stimson Bullitt hired my brother Carl to guide him up one of the peaks in North Cascades National Park that is reached from Chilliwack Lake. Normal practice is to hike across the border surreptitiously from Canada using one of several crude trails. Of course, you never tell the Customs people that you're planning to do this when you drive into Canada.

When Stim and Carl crossed the border (I'm guessing that Stim was driving) the Customs official naturally asked them where they were going and Stim, being too honest for his own good in this case, told him their plans in detail. Recognizing that Stimson Bullitt was no scofflaw, the official explained the labyrinthine procedure required to legally do what they wanted to do, which as I recall involved reporting immediately to the nearest U.S. Customs agent as soon as they crossed back into the U.S., which of course would be impossible in the middle of the North Cascades!

I don't remember how that trip turned out, but I don't think they bagged their peak--at least not that time.

I met Stimson Bullitt briefly through friends a few times but I'm sad to say I didn't know him well. He seemed like a true Renaissance man.

I'm terribly sorry to hear of Stim's passing. He was an amazingly inspiring figure at the Vertical World dating back to the early days at the old Elliot Ave. facility and continuing until fairly recently. I remember watching Stim lead the overhanging wall at the current VW at at least 85 or 86 years in age. But what I will remember most is what an extremely nice and unassuming individual he was - always a pleasant hello, always a kind word. A truly great man who never let his position in life affect adversely his humanity. This brings tears to my eyes.