Andy Martin, April 21, 2015, RIP

Three weeks or so ago, about half way down Whistler, I gave Andy Martin a handshake goodbye, then Andy gave my wife a quick hug and skied off to the lift for another run, as we skied down to return to Seattle. We had no idea that would be our last run with him.

We met Andy in 2005 on a trip to the Bernese Oberland, then skied with him in the Selkirk’s, Crystal, Alpental, Mt. Adams, and many ski tours around Snoqualmie Pass and Mt. Rainier.

Andy’s “day trips” were usually epic: Favorites with Andy were a tour up to Steamboat Prow, with a very direct route through the trees to the snowline, including Andy tagging Mt. Ruth on the way, and a great ski down through perfect corn.

My all-time favorite day trip with Andy started as a simple trip to Camp Muir, then Andy suggested we add on a little extra – we boot packed 800’ or so above Muir towards Gibraltar Rocks, then skied the down to Muir snowfield to the Nisqually Chutes, and finished at the Nisqually Bridge for a 6,700’ descent. Of course it was Andy who volunteered to hitchhike back to the car at Paradise.

Andy was an awesome guy. He is greatly missed.

The times I skied with Andy, it seemed he rarely shied away from skiing off the top of a mountain vs. ditching the skis and booting the final few feet. 

Here he skied off the very top of Mt Hood when the rest of us left the skis on that narrow entrance on top of the West Crater route.  I could hardly watch as Andy skied and side-slipped those 50 yards or so! 

You can see the joy on Andy's face!

I know it's been a while now, but just the other day I was talking to Silas about meeting this really good skier and nice guy a few weeks ago in early April at Whistler - Andy Martin. He got a shocked look and told me he'd heard he had just passed away. So sorry for his friends and family. I'm sure he'll be missed. I was looking forward to getting to know him.

Brian

I do not know Andy, but much respect to him and his passion,
and I'll ski off volcano summits in his name.