Monika Johnson missing near alpental....

I wish I knew her.
So sad. My thoughts go out to her family and her friends.
May there be endless powder and blue skies wherever she is now.

Like many of you my reaction to Monika’s plight affected me more profoundly than I ever expected it to.

Exactly, Ron. I only knew of Monika through many of my ski partners and friends. Reading their past posts or hers, and now this, made me aware of and deeply touched by her spirit, warmth, and serious kick-ass-ness. She was an inspiration to me. As a woman back country skier, she was admirable.

My heart aches for her family and friends and those involved in the search.

May the snow be light.
May her memory remain a blessing.

I so wish I had but I never got the opportunity to meet Monika. I admired, and gained inspiration from, her great accomplishments simply through reading about them. I have consistently been in awe viewing the trips she (and those of you who skied so often with her) would take. Simply knowing the level of endurance, drive, focus, camaraderie, and desire those endeavors required has pushed me harder to see what I am capable of. And in that respect backcountry skiing is a metaphor for accepting other challenges in life. Without her even knowing it I believe she had this influence on many of us. In this way she was truly rare and special. I can't imagine the loss her family, and those of you close to her, must be feeling. My deepest thoughts and sympathies go out to you. Hopefully someday some comfort can be gained from appreciating a life so richly lived.

Joseph Campbell has a saying. "Follow your bliss". That is, to find something that makes you happy and pursue it. To all of us who find our "bliss" in the mountain environment, people like Monika and Bob Wiebe will have forever left a trail for us to follow...

Thank you all.  Our family has been touched by the outpouring of love and grief for Monika.  Thank you for your support in the grief of her loss to us here on earth. Erik

Thank you all for your wonderful remembrances for Monika.
She never boasted of her achievements or abilities, but I know she
loved her backcountry experiences and her many friends associated with
them.  Kudos to you all and thanks for caring - "auntie" Ginger."

Monika was one of our senior (not old) instructors in the Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue class.  We saw her grow from student to a very competent and talented instructor.  She will be missed tremendously.  When the class begins again this year in April with our field trip in May her absence will be felt by all of us who have worked so closely with her over the years.  

Monika loved the mountains and also the simpler things in life.  Each year at the end of our Glacier class Darryl has an instructor appreciation pizza feed.  I always make "homemade" chocolate chip cookies for a treat.  Every year about 2 days prior to the pizza feed I would get this great e-mail from Monika.
"Dearest Jeanette, are you bringing your cookies to the meeting?
Love Monika"

My heart is heavy, I'll miss Monika.  My deepest sympathy to her family and many friends.