Chris Walker was tragically killed on the descent from Buachaille Etive Mor along with his client Robert Pritchard on the 24th February.  This event sadly robbed the mountaineering community and the Alpine Club of a larger than life character, who casually shared his passion for the mountains with anybody who joined him on the hill.   I was lucky enough to share many ascents with Chris both here in the UK and in Europe, witnessing his passion for the mountains at first hand.  Chris' personal and professional climbing resulted in trips to Nepal, Pakistan, India, Tibet, Russia and South America including ascents of Ama Dablam 6856m, Baruntse 7220m and Aconcagua 6962m to name a few.   Despite such an impressive list of ascents one of Chris' most prized achievements was witnessing an armed raid on Halfords in Bury, most of which was spent with a gun held to his head.  The ensuing and well practised tale took on epic proportions which entertained many folk on cold bivouacs and chilly base camps.  Shortly after this Chris decided to become a Mountaineering Instructor and lived in Llanberis, Aviemore, Keswick along with transient winters in Fort William.  He became a Mountain Instructor Certificate (MIC) holder in 2009.

James Thacker