Andy Knapp, the long time head buyer of hardgoods at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, passed away at home on June 22, 2009. He had been fighting kidney cancer for six years.
Midwest Mountaineering said that Knapp biked to work every day, in every weather condition, until a February 2009 hospital stay during which Knapps body rejected a full bone marrow transplant. Said the retailer, “He logged more human powered miles on his bicycle, kayaks, canoes, and feet than anyone we know, more than 156,000 miles!”
According to the retailer, included in those miles was a “bicycle trip to Alaska and back in 1967, a 500-mile backpacking journey through the Brooks Range in 1972 and a 30-day circumnavigation of Lake Superior in 1996, (which was) the first without resupply. He paddled across Lake Superior from north to south. He climbed Mt. McKinley, made first ascents in the St.Elias Mountains and summitted 21,000 foot peaks in Nepal. Andy bicycled in 34 states and 12 other countries…” Knapp was named the Minnesota Adventurer and Explorer of the Year at Midwest Mountaineering in 2008.
The staff at Midwest also noted that Knapp worked for over 34 years in the outdoor equipment industry as a retail buyer. He served on the boards of several industry trade associations and volunteer advocacy groups, including serving as president of the Minnesota Rovers Outdoor Club and the Lake Superior Water Trail Association. He wrote two books and numerous magazine columns.
“As buyer of camping, canoeing and kayaking products at Midwest Mountaineering for many years, Knapp literally launched the sport of sea kayaking in the Midwest and established Midwest Mountaineering as the premier source for sea kayaks,” the outdoor retailer said.
After being diagnosed with potentially terminal kidney cancer in 2003, Knapp survived two major surgeries, a bout with radiation and a series of potent drugs, all the while still bicycling and paddling. He bicycled to Alaska again in 2008.
After news of his passing, friends and colleagues flocked to leave comments on Knapps personal blog, Distant Horizons, which he started in order to document his battle with cancer.
“Hurricane” Bob Aldrich wrote, “If I were a king, I would re-christen Andy as Mighty Andy. For mighty he was! Those of us who had the pleasure to work with this irascible and kind man are the better for it. In a world where hardly anyone can hear their own voice to follow it, Andy stood out as someone who was completely true to himself, who knew what he wanted and was smart and tenacious enough to accomplish the goals he set out for himself.”
Erik Thompson remembered, “It is hard to think of Andy without thinking of the fine people at Midwest Mountaineering. Through their efforts they allowed Andy the freedom to pursue his treatments, time to recover from surgery, and support in every way they could provide.”
Donations for the benefit of Knapp's family can be sent to the Andy Knapp Memorial Fund, c/o Midwest Mountaineering, 309 Cedar Ave So., Minneapolis, MN 55454.
Friends and colleagues are invited to join Knapps family for a “Celebration of Life Party in Memory of Andy Knapp” on Friday, July 17 at 5:00 p.m. at Minneapolis Cedar Cultural Center. Included in the events will be slide shows, speakers, dancing, food and beverages.
