Friends of Chuck Kroger

First, I became friends with Kathy Green. She was a ranger in the valley in the mid-70s, I think working the new concept of a “mall ranger” coupled with “shuttle bus ranger.” For those of you who were lucky enough to be there, she was the tall one with curly red hair—no perms needed for her. She lived up to her last name by starting the first recycling center in the valley and, off-duty, hauling all her stuff around in a little red wagon. She broke the mold for a LE ranger and befriended most of the mall C4 bums and had us all over to her house regularly for showers and chow and heat and company.

Kathy was already involved with Chuck by that time, but they were doing the long-distance romance thing.

So finally, Chuck came to visit and we met and decided to climb a short route for fun. Some left-facing book on the Apron. However, the crack was running with water. Chuck easily led the first pitch but I could barely get off the ground. I was embarrassed but Chuck said it was a good day anyway.

Throughout the ensuing 30+ years, I’ve stayed friends with them both. Visits back and forth, mainly at their home in Puerto Penasco, then Telluride, and some at my homes. We waned in and out of seeing each other but always kept in touch.

Chuck introduced me to trail running, an endeavor he loved. In fact, it was only after dropping out of the Hardrock 100 this year (which he had completed many years) that he was diagnosed with the pancreatic cancer.

He was unconventional but in an unaffected way, just a brilliant mind—when he asked questions, he was truly inquiring—in a hard body of a man who never seemed to comb his hair. He was at ease in the outdoors as in dining at the Ahwahnee (and dressed the same for both).

Kathy and Chuck were the most generous people I’ve known, period. Hosting everyone with warmth and equanimity and concern for them. Just after he died, Kathy wrote, “Early in his illness, Chuck told me that our best asset was all of our friends …he was so right.”

Anne-Marie

Chuck and Kathy – The “Guide” Books Of Our Lives

In September of 1968 as a college freshman in northern Wisconsin, I found an early Sierra Club photo book called “On the Loose” by Terry and Renny Russell. I was entranced by the photos and their words and the quotes they used. I wanted to live my life outside and in the wild of the mountains and deserts. I wanted to explore and go on adventures. I had experienced summer camp in Colorado, various family trips to Wyoming and Colorado and the beach and various Girl Scout trips. I had not yet done any river rafting, serious back packing or much exploring of wild places.

Probably a year earlier at Stanford, when On the Loose was first published, Chuck got his copy of On the Loose. Chuck also loved the book. Chuck was already doing the hiking, long backpack trips, climbing, river running, exploring, etc. that the Russell brothers were doing and spending his time in wild places.

Flash forward to late November 1975. Chuck and I had just met at the Grand Canyon. The first night that I invited him over for dinner, the first thing he did was look at all of my books and announce that his Geology professors had written my Geology text books. Next, he asked if I had read the Monkey Wrench Gang. I replied that I had made a special trip to Flagstaff to buy the book, read it twice in row all in the same day. Then Chuck saw my copy of On the Loose and announced that it was his favorite book. I replied that it was my favorite book except for the part that Terry Russell had drowned on the Green River before the book was published. We always shared the same intellectual interests and curiosities. Chuck taught me how to live in the present, in wild places and find adventure everywhere.
December 2007 in Denver, various friends would take me to Tattered Cover Bookstore as a break from the hospital. Two weeks before Christmas, I found “Rock Me on the Water” by Renny Russell. It is Renny Russell ‘s response to losing his brother and tells the story of Renny living his life without Terry. I bought Rock Me on the Water for Chuck and I to share. Chuck went unconscious on Christmas Day before I could give it to him. I did tell him about the book.

In my current state of grabbing for every throw rope , I have combined two different cultural beliefs, Buddhism and Rudolf Steiner, and I am reading Rock Me on the Water out loud to Chuck every morning during the first 49 days after his death. I also read passages from On the Loose.

Under Buddhist belief, Chuck will be reincarnated into his next life by the 49th day. Rudolf Steiner also believed in reincarnation and advocated reading out loud to the dead to guide them and to guide you. Rudolf Steiner also believed that you could have spirituality based on science not on faith, a concept that would appeal to Chuck.

So the guidebooks to our life together, our lives before we knew each other and to my new life without Chuck are: On the Loose, The Monkey Wrench Gang and Rock Me on the Water. If you hear me early in the morning talking to myself, I am probably just reading to Chuck. Sleep outside in the wild as often as you can, hike and explore always. Always have a collection of old beater motor vehicles, odd bicycles and oar powered boats to help you find the next adventure. Have Fun and Laugh a lot. KATHY

I think of Chuck almost every day. Today Cody, Shine and I restrung the hoist he built for our house (entitled “Luci’s Grocery Grabber”) that Chuck built for a long past Ah Haa art show. After about 15 years the 1.5″ rope wore through and fell last year and Cody brought up some replacement anchor rope to do the repair. As it was designed, it doesn’t work, but it sure looks great.

Chuck’s passing reminded me even more that there cannot be a personal god as only a stupid, cruel asshole would take people like Chuck from us the way he had to leave. This does not make Chuck’s time here any less valuable or important, and I continue to feel warm and happy every time I think of all the wonder he brought me and so many others.

I love you Chuck. Take care and I hope you’re keeping the flame burning somewhere.

Barely got to know Chuck before he passed, but without a doubt one of the most influential souls/ men I’ve ever met.