Hans Saari -- Hans Saari, a ski mountaineer who has been on several North Face expeditions, died Tuesday, May 8, 2001, after taking a fall while skiing in the Gervisuiti Couloir on Mont Blac de Tacul, in Chamonix. He was 30 years old. -- Hans was becoming one of America's premiere skiers and writers. He shared many of his accomplishments with others within North Face's athlete family including Alex Lowe, Andrew McLean, Conrad Anker, Rick Armstrong, Jon Griber and Kris Erickson. In the sprint of '97, along with Alex and Andrew, he made the first descent of the 60-degree, 4-foot wide, Beckey Couloir in Montana. Hans' first expedition with The North Fce was the '98 Andes Steep Descent Expedition where he established seveal first descents on 6000 meter peaks which had up to 60-degree pitches. His segment can be seen in the film, "Altitude" by Rob DesLauriers. Other expeditions included Shishapangma in '99, Antarctic in '00 and '01 and El Scudo, Peru in '00 which was featured in Outside Magazine in June. -- Hans was able to translate his passion through writing. He wrote feature articles in Climbing, Skiing, Blue, Couloir, Powder and Rock and Ice. Although Hans was describing his mother when he wrote, "As she gazed out over the plains, her eyes struck me as fierce. They were Viking eyes that pierced the horizon, beckoning the next challenge. Jeg Skal Frem. I will succeed," he was also capturing his own intensity and enthusiasm for his passion. -- Hans was a successful skier, climber and writer. He graduated from Yale, Cum Laude. He was extremely popular in his hometown of Bozeman, Montana where his Mother, Father and younger sister live. He will be sorely missed and forever remembered. -- A memorial fund has been established by Hans' family to support the Friends of the Avalanche Center and to promote avalanche education and awareness. -- Friends of the Avalanche Center -- Attn: Hans Saari Memorial Fund -- P.O. Box 6799 -- Bozeman, MT 59771