TRC will host a memorial service for Eric Metcalf this Sunday, July 15th. Our doors will open at 9:30 AM and the service will begin at 10. This is open to the public, and all of the TRC community is welcome to attend.

www.facebook.com/events/319044821518082/?refid=52&_ft_=qid.5>>>

Has it been confirmed that he belayed off of the end of his ropes?

I never knew him, but deeply sorry for all. Watch yourself and your partners out there, climb safe!

No. It is still being investigated. I can tell you that if the descriptions of where he fell from and how far are correct, it is very unlikely that he rapped off the ends of the rope. It is pure speculation, but it seems much more likely that he only clipped one strand of the rope through the device and started rappelling. If he was using the Sentinel Buttress rap station, rappelling off the ends of the rope would not cause one to fall to the ground. You'd fall 10 ft to a large ledge. The description states he fell from the top. So either he was not clipped into the anchor and fell, the anchor failed (it is a two bolt anchor with rings so not likely), or he was improperly attached during the rappel. The article states that he began his rappel and then fell, so I'd guess it was the latter option.

The visitation is Saturday evening from 6-8 at Brown-Wynne funeral home in Cary

The funeral is Sunday from 10-12 at the Triangle Rock Club in Morrisville

Eric Metcalf died on July 8, 2012, while rock climbing on Moore’s Wall at Hanging Rock State Park in Stokes County, NC, at age 19. He is survived by his loving parents, Kim Berthiaume and William James Metcalf III; brother, Steven; his grandparents, Tom and Rose Marie Berthiaume and William James and Karen Metcalf, Jr., all of Cary; his aunts and uncles, Dave and Trish Duplay of NJ, Terry and Lisa Larson of Cary and John Metcalf of Cary; his cousins, Christopher and Elizabeth Duplay and Megan and Emily Larson; and his great aunt and uncle, Tony and Ann Liotti of Cary.

Born in New Orleans on January 7, 1993, Eric was a lifelong resident of Cary. He graduated from Cary High School in 2011 with high honors and was a National AP Scholar Award recipient, earning 5s on every one of the 9 AP courses he took while in high school. Eric received a Distinguished Scholarship from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where he was chosen as one of 300 remarkably talented entering freshman invited to be a part of Honors Carolina, the University’s premier academic program for undergraduate students. He was studying mathematics in pursuit of his Bachelor of Science degree with a goal of becoming a high school math teacher because he deeply desired to pass on his love for learning to other students.

Eric’s extraordinary journey of life is measured by the vast array of accomplishments he achieved. From an early age he challenged himself to soar to heights others could only imagine. He obtained his black belt in Tae Kwan Do while in middle school; and earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 212 in high school. He loved classical music and blared radio station 89.7 in his car like other teens blared rock songs. He performed with the Triangle Youth Philharmonic on viola and studied piano with a goal of mastering all of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. He was most passionate about rock climbing, and became expert through countless hours practicing at Triangle Rock Club. Most weekends for the past few years he travelled to the North Carolina mountains with his rock climbing friends to challenge his skills and be one with nature, which he loved. He scaled Mount Elbert in the Rockies and conquered the Grand Teton summit – all before graduating high school.


All of Eric’s accomplishments pale in comparison to the type of person he was. With strength of character, he was kind, gentle, laid back, well-rounded and driven. His thirst for knowledge inspired him toward a broad range of interests, never settling on the easy route. In high school, he studied Ancient Roman Civilization and Advanced Latin; tutored fellow classmates in math; and researched topics until he was satisfied he understood their true meanings. While at UNC, he held a student position with the Lineberger Cancer Center and was excited this summer to be working as an intern at SAS in Cary.

Eric lived his life to the fullest, savoring each moment with integrity and clarity. A scholar, artist, athlete, and beautiful young man, Eric will be missed by all those whose lives he touched in his short 19 years.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM Saturday, July 14, 2012 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC. Memorial service will take place at 9:30 AM Sunday, July 15, 2012 at Triangle Rock Club, 102 Pheasant Wood Court, Morrisville, NC. All who attend are asked to bring a note or photo depicting a memory of what Eric meant to them for the family to collect and treasure. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be directed to WCPE classical radio station online at theclassicalstation.org or by mail at PO Box 897, Wake Forest, NC 27588.

Read more here: www.newsobserver.com/2012/07/12/2193406/eric-metcalf.html#st>>>

Many people have climbed mountains. Or played Bach on piano. Or earned a black belt in Taekwondo, edited 200 Wikipedia articles, become an Eagle Scout, studied five years of Latin, scored a near perfect SAT in one try or been admitted to an honors math program at a top-tier college.

Few have done them all. Eric Metcalf did each before he turned 20.

It was all the time he had. Sunday evening, the 19-year-old Cary native fell to his death in a rock climbing accident at Moore’s wall in Hanging Rock State Park, about 20 miles north of Winston-Salem. But as family members spoke of lost potential and a life tragically cut short, they all said he did more living in his limited time than most.

“Everything he touched turned to gold,” Steven, his brother said.

Rock climbing was a particular passion for a young man with many. He was an experienced climber and had won competitions at UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a sophomore honors student and math major. His athleticism blew away William Metcalf, who counts climbing Mount Elbert – the second tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S. – and the Grand Teton among his fondest memories with his son.

Eric Metcalf had climbed on Moore’s Wall many times, but Sunday around 7:30 p.m., he fell trying to rappel down it.

“It was what he loved to do. He told me numerous times, if he were to ever go out, he’d want it to be doing what he loved,” said Steven Metcalf, a graduate of Indiana University.

The brothers had planned a trip to drive from Cary to California this summer, where Steven would be attending graduate school, and then spend time exploring Yosemite National Park. Instead, their father drove to Bloomington Sunday night to personally break the news Monday morning.

“He was my best friend,” Steven said.

Eric’s parents called him inquisitive and a voracious learner. Asked why he bothered with the Wikipedia articles, he told his family: “Because they were wrong.”

He picked up things, often from his brother – Steven’s degree and graduate school revolves around playing classical music on double bass – and ran with them. Eric earned his black belt in middle school. He started playing piano late, around eighth grade according to his father. His brother said he was “obsessive compulsive” about Sebastian Bach, and a youtube video of him playing Liszt’s “Dreams of Love” has more than 120,000 hits.

“He hated it, he thought it didn’t show how good a player he was. Everyone who heard it was blown away,” his father said.

Kim Berthiaume, his mother, was devastated at the loss.

“He was extraordinary, he was phenomenal. He was a beautiful son,” she said. “The world will be at a loss, because I think he had so, so much more to offer.”

Read more here: www.newsobserver.com/2012/07/10/2191242/accomplished-unc-stu>>>

Eric was my son. He and I climbed Mt. Elbert and the Grand Teton just a few years ago. I was a climbing instructor at Philmont many years ago. We discussed safety practices and issues constantly, especially knotting the end of the rapelling rope. The rope he was on was the one I purchased for him in Jackson, Wyoming after summiting the Grand with Exum. I bought him his first rack this past Christmas rather than pay UNC-CH tuition because I would have rather he be safe than educated. Thank you all for your comments and advice. We are all grieving in shocked disbelief. Please hug your children. Children who climb, hug your paretns. Teach and drill them about climbing safety if they decide to pursue this sport. It is heartbreaking on so many levels. He was such a fine young man with remarkable capacity and future potential. Look at "wjmetcalf" on Youtube to see the Grand summit, and also recordings of Bach's rendition of the Goldberg Variations. He was a Bach fanatic in addition to being a climber. Thanks to you all for your thoughts, advice, ideas and prayers.

I've only been to Moore's a few times, and I've visited other areas more often. However, I don't think that I have yet to visit a place that I enjoyed more than Moore's. It has an ambience of adventure that none of the other climbing areas in the Piedmont region of North Carolina can touch.

Other climbers that have been there will certainly attest to this. Because of this, I have a sort of anonymous kinship and respect for climbers that go to Moore's specifically for the type of climbing and adventure it has to offer. Your son was one of these climbers.

Even without being a young, adventurous and skilled climber, which commands some notoriety in and of itself, your son sounds like he excelled in any endeavor in which he chose to engage.

I am very sorry for your loss, and offer my deepest condolences to you and your family, Mr. Metcalf. Thank you for posting details about your son. I enjoyed reading them.

Such a tragedy. Folks please check and double check each other.
So sorry for your loss.

My sincere condolences to Eric's family and friends for this tragic loss.

Thank you for posting under such difficult circumstances Mr Metcalf. I'm deeply saddened by your loss and my thoughts are with you today. Your son was obviously an amazing young man.

From reading about this young man, all I can say is "WOW..what an incredible person!" I never knew Eric but still feel deeply for the family and friends loss. My deepest condolences to all that were close to him and Mr Metcalf, you can be incredibly proud of who Eric was and the job you and your family did by raising him right....I only hope I can be as amazing of a parent with my young daughter. My thoughts and energies go out to the family that somehow they can find peace in this trying and difficult time. Thanks for sharing with the climbing community, I know its not easy right now.

Post deleted per request.

I confess I know nothing about climbing. I had to google the belay device to sign up for an acct. However, I did know Eric. His Mom, Kim, is one of my dearest friends in NC. Our children grew up as next door neighbors, more like cousins, for 9 years. We are all heartbroken and bereft at his loss.

To Eric's climbing partner who wrote of that horrible day, please know that Kim is particularly concerned about your (and your other climbing partners') emotional welfare. After the visitation, she told me you expressed sorrow that you couldn't save Eric even though you did all you could.

Kim said she cannot bear to have another young life marred by Eric's accident and asked that you get help if you're having any difficulty with sleeplessness, confusion, depression, anxiety, etc. as these events are traumatizing. I am not sure where you live, but Hospice of Wake County has licensed grief counselors who provide free counseling to bereaved individuals of all ages. If you're not local, google to see if there's a hospice near you.

Even though Eric died doing what he loved, it's unspeakable to have to reconcile a loss so profound. One day, may we all find peace. Until then, a non-climbing, fellow griever and Mom beseeches you to take extra care.

I spoke with Eric's father regarding the accident before I posted the partners' account. His father ask me direct questions about what I knew about the accident. In view of that, I figured that the family was ready to face these issues. Eric was a number of my climbing community, we held his memorial service at our gym, and I am truly sorry for any hardship my post caused.

This information was made available only where I expected climbers would see it. My hopes were that this might change the mindset of a careless climber -- that is not meant to reflect on Eric or his partners, but the crow's nest is an area where many of us walk around unroped, thinking it nearly impossible that we might fall off -- and that the chance that this might save another climber's life.

For our community, this information contributes to closure and healing. We find it hard to stop speculation on accidents without knowing why they happened and how to prevent them from happening again. And the ceasing of haphazard speculation and documentation of cause wards off possible access issues, a very real issue in our world.

All that said, I again apologize for any pain my post caused. It was meant only for climbers, to heal our wounds and to stave off new ones.

Hi Scott Gilliam,

No worries. Your post is how climbers learn. Like pilots, doctors and submarine captains, figuring out what what went wrong helps "the practice" so it does not happen again. Climbing is no different. Despite how painful it was to read, it's also important for every climber to see what can go wrong. Don't beat yourself up, Scott. You did fine. Thank you for posting.