CORY HALL
'THE' CORY HALL
1989-2014
James
Both Max and I were good buddies and climbing partners with Cory Hall. We had the fortune to climb with him in India, Patagonia, the Canadian rockies, & new brunswick.
What was outstanding about Cory was his spirit. He had extremely high motovation, coupled with a bold, daring, visonary climbing style. His confidence and psych was infectious. When you climbed with Cory he believed in you, and encouraged and inspired you to do better. Cory always had the energy to try something that would stretch him, and then normally enough left for a party afterwards.
I'm left with so many happy memories and stories from our adventures in South America and India, and am saddened when I think of all the future adventures we had planned. Me and Cory both really wanted to climb in Pakistan, and the three of us would have surely teamed up sooner or later. Max and I want to continue to adventure in the spirit of Cory, and do an expediton to honour our good friend's memory.
Max
It is hard to be part of the New Brunswick climbing community and not have heard about Cory Hall. Cory started climbing in 2007 and not long after was on-sighting 5.12 and leading WI5 ice routes. He set a standard for hard ground up routes in New Brunswick and for strong traditional ethics.
Cory had a confidence about him that lead to many solo ascents of numerous alpine classics in the Canadian Rockies and the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. I had the privilege to meet and climb with Cory in Patagonia in 2012. We had heard of each other through being part of the same community but had never climbed together.
Our first objective together was the Cerro Torres Ragni route. We had success and built a strong relation over those 4 days. A week later we went to climb Cerro Fitz Roy with James. Unfortunately Cory had some ankle issues and headed back to Chalten. James and I went on the climb Fitz. After summitting together and developing a strong friendship in Patagonia, Cory and I stayed in touch and often talked about climbing in the great mountain ranges of the world along with James, our mutual friend and solid climbing partner.
In the summer of 2013 Cory and I roped up again for a rare ascent of the North Ridge of Mt Alberta. Again, we were successful. A few days later Cory was off to India to climb with James in the little explored Indian Karakorum. They climbed 2 new routes and the first ascent of Jungdung Kangri and were nominated for the Piolet D’Or for there efforts.
After their trip to India, Cory came back to Canada to start his Pan American motorcycle trip. His objective was to bike from Edmonton, Alberta to Southern Patagonia, climbing along the way. During his trip he climbed his first 5.13 rock route.
During a quick 2 weeks for a Christmas holiday in NB with family and friends we climbed some new hard ice routes on the Fundy Coast and he also expressed that Columbia’s El Cocuy was the Andes best keep secret. Cory consistently inspired me to be a better all around climber and push my limits.