Joe Puryear

Joseph Nicholi Puryear (1973 – October 27, 2010) was an American mountain climber and photographer. Puryear was known for his first ascents on unclimbed mountains in the Himalayas with climbing partner David Gottlieb, where he climbed Kang Nachugo, Takargo and Jobo Rinjang. Puryear died while climbing Labuche Kang (7367m) in Tibet.

Early life Puryear was born in 1973 to Gail and Shirley Puryear and was raised on their winery in Yakima Valley, Washington. In his youth, he took up carpentry, winemaking and farm work, and developed an interest in mountain climbing after his parents took him to Mount Adams when he was fifteen. He attended the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in mathematics.

Mountaineering Beginning in 1996,

Using his own photographs and graphic design, and based on 30 ascents and a decade's worth of climbing in the region, Puryear wrote a guidebook to the Alaska Range, which was published by SuperTopo in 2006. Raindog Arête, Qionglai Mountains. The Angry Wife (5,020 m), first peak ascent, IV 5.10c October 2005. Lara Shan (5,700m), Qionglai Mountains, Sichuan, China. American Standard (65 degree ice, 1060m). Joe Puryear, Chad Kellogg and Jay Janousek made the first ascent of this peak on April 18, 2007. Peak 5965m in the Genyen Massif, Shaluli Shan, Sichuan Province, China. Jay Janousek, Michelle Puryear, Peter Inglis, Julie Hodson and Joe Puryear made the first documented ascent of this peak in honor of in honor of Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff on October 22, 2007. Kang Nachuago, Rolwaling Himalaya. Joe Puryear and David Gottlieb made the first ascent of this peak on October 17, 2008. Jobo Rinjang, Lunag massif, Khumbu Region, Nepal. First ascent by Joseph Puryear and David Gottlieb on April 22, 2009. Dragkar-Go /Takargo, Rolwaling valley, Nepal. Joseph Puryear and David Gottlieb made the first ascent (6771 meters) via its East Face on March 12, 2010.