Alden Frick Megrew, 1910-1987

Publication Year: 1988.

ALDEN FRICK MEGREW 1910–1987

Alden Frick Megrew, retired chairman of the Fine Arts Department of the University of Colorado, died at his home in Boulder on September 17, 1987. A life-long mountaineer and 57-year member of the American Alpine Club, Megrew was especially active in the Canadian Rockies. In the late 1920s he shared a number of first ascents in that area with other Club members, including J.M. Thorington, O.E. Cromwell and Dyson Duncan. In 1928 he made the first winter ascent on skis of Mount Washington via Tuckerman Ravine. He spent the summer of 1929 in Switzerland, where he participated in the ascent of the Weisshorn and a “triple traverse” of the Matterhorn. His appetite for the mountain experience, technical debate and expedition news remained keen throughout his life, and long after his active climbing days were over. His enthusiasm for the sport was infectuous. He was particularly interested in the development of younger climbers, upon whom he always urged membership in the American Alpine Club. He leaves Rue French Megrew, his wife of 50 years, a daughter and two grandsons.

Robert H.S. French