by Craig Roberts
I first encountered Rob in the summer of 2021. As I sought to build my skills in the mountains I found The Ski Guide Manual. Through this thoughtful guide Rob explained frameworks with a style that made the technical accessible. He drew you in for both the uphill and the down.
Later that year I put a face to the name as I watched him present a keynote for the Northwest Snow and Avalanche Workshop. He shared how he had gone full send into the work of Nobel prize winning behavioral economists like Kahnemann and Tversky. He did the heavy lifting of making these complex findings applicable to decisions I would make with my team in avalanche terrain.
Later that week I emerged from Cripple Creek backcountry into a steady Seattle rain. Passing me on the sidewalk someone suddenly called out, "Hey Skimo!!". I looked up to a seemingly familiar face. "Weren't you the keynote speaker at NSAW?", I asked. "That was me!", Rob replied. We chatted, exchanged numbers and planned to do a dawn patrol up on the pass.
From then on I began to know another side of Rob. Beyond the expert on snow and rock sharing his wisdom, he was an incredibly humble, engaging and caring person. It didn't matter who you were, when you were with Rob all his attention was on you. How are you doing? What have you been finding exciting lately? What have you been struggling with? How can I help?
Several months after meeting Rob I contracted long covid and my goals of advancing in the mountains slowly slipped away. We couldn't tour together so Rob suggested coffee, lunch, or an easy walk. Whether he was at a lodge deep in BC, on his way back from the arctic circle or guiding in the Alps- he was always reaching out to check in on you and make time to see you. The last message I received shortly before he passed was an email with no message, just the subject line: "must hang soon! i'm home!".
His interest in you extended beyond the topic you might be working on together. When Rob and Rebecca were over for dinner he saw a book on the shelf I helped co-author. A technical guide for improving online learning, "Mind if I borrow it to read?", Rob said unphased. He wanted to learn more about you irrelevant of the topic. If you were into, Rob wanted to hear all about it.
Despite my health challenges Rob encouraged me to move forward with my Avalanche Pro 1 certification. He took time to go on short tours and demonstrate the technical competencies I'd need to master. After passing he looked for ways that I could help instruct his avalanche courses- even though I would be able to keep up on the tours. He gave me a ride for the 5 hour trip down to Bend for the International Snow Science Meeting. "Did you catch Pascal's talk?", "What did you think of the implications?" He'd invite me out to dinner and make glowing introductions to his friends and colleagues across the avalanche community - "..maybe you two could work together on something."
Rob's caring for you as a friend extended to all those looking to venture into the mountains. When I added Rob to our backcountry group chat, he was always chiming in to help. Requests for advice, a conditions report, even organizing an early season beacon practice at a park in West Seattle. He cared deeply about the experience of those he was teaching. This led him to break from broader trends and launch a new model for season-long avalanche certification courses.
All of us who experienced Rob's kindness will miss him dearly for years to come. His memory continues to live on through us. Every time we help a fellow backcountry traveler, text a friend to catch up or show kindness to someone in need - they experience Rob's love through each of us.