PATRICK DAVID CHAMAY

1937-1968

Patrick D. Chamay became ill while on a climb of Mount Rainier and died at 13,000 feet on Liberty Ridge. Symptoms indicated his illness was pulmonary edema.

Born in France, Pat lived most of his life in the United States. He was a graduate of Carnegie Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He joined the Boeing Company in 1962 and was introduced to climbing in the Washington Cascades. He became an enthusiastic climber who lived mountaineering. He began serious climbing in 1964 as a member of A1 Randall’s 1964 Mount McKinley Expedition. On a 1965 expedition into the Yukon Territory, he made several first ascents. He was an avid rock climber and became one of the most accomplished in the Northwest.

Though his climbing career was short, he climbed with such intensity that he accomplished an amazing number of climbs in a few years. Few men in this world of daily cares die pursuing something they love. Pat died in the mountains, which was his world; and on Mount Rainier, which he did love.

Charles M. Crenshaw