UKC

French Legend Patrick Edlinger Passes Away

© Photo by: Gérard Kosicki
Patrick Edlinger on the cover of Vertical Magazine 5, solo in Joshua Tree  © Photo by: Gérard Kosicki
Patrick Edlinger on the cover of Vertical Magazine 5, solo in Joshua Tree
© Photo by: Gérard Kosicki
Iconic French climber Patrick Edlinger has died aged 52. The French sport climbing pioneer passed away on Friday the 16th of November.

Edlinger was well known not only for his hard sport onsights in the early 80's, but also for his audacious solo ascents of technical and hard routes such as Orange Mécanique, an 8a at Cimai, and multiple solos in the huge Verdon Gorge.

He went on to climb routes at the very limit of difficulty in the late 80's.

A full obituary is scheduled for publication on UKClimbing later this week.

You can read Planet Mountain's 2005 article on Patrick here: Planet Mountain and another news piece from them with an interesting video here: News with Video.

Below is a video of Patrick in action in the Verdon:


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20 Nov, 2012
Not good news. RIP! I couldnt see any soloing in the video, blind?
20 Nov, 2012
Very sad indeed. The man was a legend. Got me into climbing when my dad bought me the book of Opera Vertical in '84. Cheers A.-
20 Nov, 2012
Thanks for the inspiration Patrick. Nice vid of Edlinger soloing Debilof barefoot here: http://www.climbing.com/news/patrick-edlinger-reported-dead/
20 Nov, 2012
Love the bit where he casually stops to chalk one of his feet!
22 Nov, 2012
According to the German magazine Alpin's website he died after falling down his stairs at home and suffering a brain hemorrhage. He managed to drag himself to his bath where his body was found. Tragic to die so early and especially in such circumstances.
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