Ski Mountaineer Kip Garre and his girlfriend Allison Kreutzen were killed April 26 in an avalanche at about 11,000 feet while climbing the Split Couloir, a steep gulley on Split Mountain in Californias eastern Sierra Mountains.


Garre, 38, was a sponsored athlete of K2 and Mountain Hardwear, whose adventures had taken him to Nepal, Antarctica, Kahsmir and Peru in recent years. He considered giving up ski mountaineering last year after witnessing an avalanche kill his close friend Arne Backstrom in Peru, according a brief eulogy released last week by Mountain Hardwear.


Mountain Hardwear said it is working to create a tribute to Kip that will reflect the passion and impact he had on the sport and the company.