The Welcome & Skiing Consultant

When Ann and I moved to Salt Lake in 2006, Craig and Renae were the only people we knew.  A few years prior we’d met them very briefly at a mutual friend’s wedding and Craig and I had subsequently exchanged emails about skiing in South America.  The picture above is one Craig sent that was mixed in with several others documenting various lines to ski from a trip he and Renae had taken the year prior.  I have no idea what Craig was talking about here but I can only imagine he was describing something in only the way Craig could.

With only a minimal introduction and handful of emails, Craig was amazingly welcoming, warm, and genuine.  He didn’t need to do this.  Often when people are established in a place or experts, little effort is made to welcome those who are not.   Craig always had genuine interest in you and your plans.  He’d also provide enthusiastic advice about almost any topic.  It was through Craig that we eventually met many other people here and these friendships are an enduring legacy of Craig and something for which I will always be grateful.

This picture is of one of my first tours in the Wasatch with Craig.  It’s not a good picture at all but here Craig is sharing information about a route with a total stranger.  Two things stand out about it to me.  First, the guy Craig is talking to is smiling.  It was hard not to smile while around Craig, but he also had a way of explaining things that didn’t make you feel like a newbie.  Second, Craig was using his hands and arms to explain how the route worked.  This was often part of how Craig would enthusiastically explain just about any topic.   The other memory from this tour was how tiring it was too keep up with Craig.  I recall being happy to see the car as I felt close to exploding.

Thank you Craig.  You will be missed.

Andy Paradis