Bailee Mulholland

Bailee Mulholland passed away on July 9th, 2023 while free soloing the Blitzen Ridge on Mount Yipslon, a 4,121 meter peak located in Rock Mountain National Park, Colorado

Bailee was a dear friend of mine, and being the sister of my nephew's longtime girlfriend, practically family. This one hits home for us here in Boulder. Bailee grew up in Boulder, Colorado. She graduated from Boulder High School, and went on to graduate from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Computer Science. She excelled in her professional life as a Software Engineer, Yoga Instructor and probably more that I don't know about. She was very socially connected to our community here - friends with everyone it seemed, young to old, and everyone in between. Her family are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met, and she loved her family dogs infinitely.

Growing up at the base of the Rockies, Bailee excelled at Mountain Running. She was an elite Moutain Runner, clocking more miles and vertical feet than I could ever possibly comprehend - a Satan's Minion to the core. I think it was a natural progression that led her to more technical terrain. She free soloed often in the Flatirons, combining technical routes without a rope, and substantial distance running. 

Bailee was a blossoming rock climber. She approached rock climbing with the same insatiable appetite she had for mountain running and free soloing moderate routes. I was glad to show her the most I could, and she soaked up every experience I had the luxury of sharing with her like a sponge, always eager to improve, challenge herself, and learn more about the craft. I have fond memories of climbing Eldorado Canyon classics with her such as Outer Space, Bastille Crack, Long John Wall, Hand Crack Direct, and many others. As time went on, and her skills as a climber progressed she sent me a message one day, "Hey! Want to go climbing tomorrow???". I responded with my usual emoji of Fire. "What do you want to do?" she snapped back. I then responded, "what inspires you?". Seconds later, I see, "The Naked Edge!?!?!?". I knew this would be a pretty big bite to chew on for Bailee's level of climbing, but didn't hesitate to tell her, "Let's Fuckin Go!". She may not have possessed the crack technique and overall climbing endurance to not have to fight her way up parts of it, but that didn't matter in the slightest. I knew she would claw her way up certain sections if she had to, and most importantly I knew that this climb met so much to her as it does to so many. It was a crisp Spring morning in Boulder, April 3, 2022. I fired up the F-350, and headed South on Brodway to Bailee's place on Table Mesa. She had one of her usual amazing baked goods ready to share, and snack on for the 15 minute drive to the canyon. She threw her pack in the bed and climbed up into the cab, her tiny legs dangling from the edge of the seat as we made our way south to Eldorado Springs that morning. The psych was especially high, her smile was ear to ear with anticipation. We simul climbed up to the base of the first proper pitch of the Edge, a steep and pumpy 5.11 finger crack. Happy to be the first ones on route, we felt confident going into the business with nothing but rock and sky above us. I asked Bailee, "you cool if we link the first two pitches", and she said "of course!". A quick fist bump, and exchange of cams, and I was off. As I belayed her up, and now out of sight, I was expecting the rope to go tight at any moment, especially near the top of the 5.11 fingers section where the jams get thin, and lack of good foot work can tax your forearms easily, but nothing. She flashed the finger crack, no big deal. Then she came around the arrete into the steep, and thin 5.10 section that can be tricky if you're not careful. Of course, she glided through it without hesitating. She turned the corner, climbing through the cryptic thin moves with ease. I pulled out my camera, and said "smile". 

https://youtu.be/YRm3ley1qzk

After the 5.9 pitch, came the Bombay Chimney, a tricky 5.11 pitch that starts off with easy but no-fall moves to a bomber .75 placement. Moving into good but small crimps, you clip a pin, back it up if you want, and then stem and crimp your way to the Bombay Chimney where you can wedge yourself inside of it with your back on the stone and feet pasted on a polished rail. From here you traverse a roof with solid but airy moves to the next belay station. These moves are tricky, and always keep you on your toes. I opted to stop at the belay to get the classic photo of Bailey in the Bombay Chimney. Afterall, you only get to climb the Naked Edge for the first time one time! I took out my camera, and made some pictures:

After a top-rope whip and some laughs, Bailee quickly dispacthed the exit moves that lead to the penultimate belay station of our climb that day. I grabbed the rack and took off on the challenging but memorized 5.11 moves that lead to hand jams and lie backing, then onto easier climbing until you reach the summit of the the Naked Edge. I made a belay out of rope and yelled to Bailee, and tugged three times hard on the rope, letting her know that she was on belay. I just imagined how challenging it must have felt for her, but how she relished it. I remember my first time up the Naked Edge with my buddy Scott Bennet, and how gripped I was between the climbing and wanting to put on a good performance for Scott who I looked up to for so long as a climber and Alpinist. I felt the rope come out of tension and then I knew Bailee was in for a fight. Out of sight, and alone on the end of the rope with steep, bouldery 5.11 moves in probably the most exposed postition in all of Eldorado Canyon. Slowly but surely the rope glided through the gri-gri between pauses of tension. By now I knew she must be in the hand crack and lie back section. Once you know it, it feels solid, but it can test the unaccustomed crack climber at the start with it's thin and steep 5.10 handjams. I heard some grunts of determination, and after a few tugs and hangs the rope started to glide smoothly through the gri-gri again. I pulled out my camera, and made some pictures:

The elation of the near summit is tangible! I hear gasps of breath, quite surprising really, given Bailee's elite level of cardio but I guess the stone is its own game afterall.

She's nearly at the belay, and I again think to myself, you only get to climb the Naked Edge for the first time one time. So I took out my camera once more, and made a picture:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Wv59ai1cIPk?feature=share

Thanks, Bailee for every moment we had. We miss you. Big love to the family and community!

-Tim

p.s. I also made tribute post on instagram for those who are intrested. My handle is @timjwatts1

Rest in peace, climber.

She was a lovely human and a talented trail runner. Her gluten-free baked goods were incredible. Going to miss her terribly.

Thanks Tim for this wonderful memory 

Thanks, Tim. You captured some classic Bailee moments, and her exuberance, and irrepressible smile that made her win over so many friends, in her many circles. She was, and will always be, unforgettable.

Thank you for sharing this adventure, Tim.  What a classic Bailee story.  I remember how stoked she was on climbing the Naked Edge- it must have felt amazing to give her that experience    

Thanks for sharing your story Tim!  I climbed with Bailee a few times on routes at Plotinus in Boulder Canyon where she easily sent Lucky Strikes.  She was a strong climber and it was amazing to see how fast she progressed in the few years I knew her.  Always a big smile and a positive attitude.  I will miss seeing her in Boulder and at the BRC!

I enjoyed her yoga instruction and positive attitude. Her classes were a bright spot in my week. Bailee will be missed. My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Working and climbing with Bailee was such a pleasure. She just had a way of making everyone around her happier. I’m devastated at the loss of my friend, but know that she’ll be remembered for her ceaseless love and positivity.

Very sad to hear that a friendly face in the tapestery of Boulder won't be seen again. So young!

Just here to learn her name and hear her stories. After all, this is what makes us a community. RIP Bailee, I'm glad she was doing what she loved.

So sorry for your loss and for all of her family and friends. 

When we moved into Boulder in 2007, Bailee and her family lived across the street from us.  She and her sister Liana put together a welcome package for us including goodies & information about the neighborhood and community.  What a lovely family and I can only imagine their heartbreak in losing Bailee.  She was a free spirit with a beautiful soul who lived life 100% and shone love on everyone.  Bailee, you soar above the mountains you loved today.

Bailee was one of the first people I met when I moved to Colorado. We worked at the same company and I didn’t realize what an incredible athlete she was until I got to know her better.

We’d see each other at the gym quite a lot and occasionally hang out with our mutual friend. I went climbing in Boulder Canyon with her and that friend a few weeks ago. Afterwards we all went to my house to eat Indian food and play video games. It was such a pleasant day - just the 3 of us sharing some quality time together.

I remember thinking that I was excited to get to know Bailee even better. Her authenticity and kindness were infectious. It is such a shame to lose this incredible woman. I extend my deepest sympathies to her family. Whenever I climb, I will always climb for Bailee.

We met through mutual friends and you left an impression of kind silly and adventurous. I'm sad I won't get to know you better, though I hope we can carry your infectious spirit with us. Rest in peace Bailee

I remember the first impression Bailee made on me was on a retreat in Montana.  She was the yoga instructor for the retreat, and for three days she hiked alongside us, grunting and grumbling and commiserating like the rest of us.  In hindsight, I can see she was sandbagging.

But on the last day, she let loose. As we trudged up a canyon deep in the Bitterroots she took off, running up the canyon twice as far as we planned to hike, turning around and running back to the cars, then running back up to meet us before we reached the apex of our hike.

I will never forget the smile on her face as she effortlessly flew down the trail past us. That smile was infectious 

Her comment on Strava that day: “For some reason group hiking always makes me want to run more…”

Inspired, I went home the next day and ran for the first time since an accident years ago.

My family and I met Bailee about a decade ago when our German exchange student lived with us to go to Boulder High School. Both were very good musicians – the two of them were in orchestra together and became fast friends. Because she lived so close and we carpooled to school with her, Bailee spent lots of time at our house and both our sons considered her like a sister. She was the same age as our youngest son.

Our oldest son - who was inspired by his grandfather to be a runner - co-founded a non-profit in his last year of college called the “Running Road Trip”. As a child, he began running the Bolder Boulder with his grandfather and they shared a love for the sport. Our son was a foreign exchange student in Spain when his grandfather died in Boulder from dementia. Running Road Trip was established to raise money for Alzheimer's, with a small team of four runners driving to each of the 48 continental states and doing a popular run there to raise awareness and money for research.

Bailee and our son ran track together in high school, so when he and his co-founder were recruiting the other team members who would travel with them to each state, Bailee was invited to join. She was the youngest member of the two-man, two-woman team of four runners; she had not spent long periods away from home, so had concerns about being away for so long and what issues might arise at various stops on the trip.

She mustered her courage and joined the team, completing the journey and her runs in just under two months. It was a transformative experience for all of them, and they raised significant money for the Cure Alzheimers Fund, the research organization with which they aligned.

Over the next few years, Bailee became more engaged in running and completed several ultra-distance runs of 50 to 100 miles. She became an avid hiker, camper, backpacker and climber, taking on more and more difficult climbs and traveling to new places to experience the sport. At the same time, she completed five years at CU Boulder, proudly graduating with her Computer Science degree.

After CU, she went to work as a software developer while continuing to pursue her passions of great food (she was an amazing baker and chef), great climbs, great friends and yoga. On Sunday, July 9th, she lost her life on a challenging free-solo climb at Rocky Mountain National Park.

It seems more than unreal to imagine not seeing Bailee from time to time as we have over the past decade. She always had a cheery smile, infectious laugh and often, delicious treats she’d made to share with us. She was a woman of tremendous courage, ambition and accomplishments, but without ego, bravado or self-indulgence. She loved her family and her dogs more than anything, and her friends after that. She shared her love freely and always was curious to hear how we were doing before answering our questions about what she was up to.

We last saw her several weeks ago, when she was running 10 laps of the Sanitas Mountain loop for a Strava challenge. She set the record for gender and age, completing around 30 miles cumulatively and ascending more than 12,500 feet of altitude. Running past us (her second time!), she graciously apologized for not having time to stop and talk to us on the trail. That’s who she was.

Bailee, we love you so much, and you will always be a part of our family and our memories.

Thank you to everyone who's posted their memories of Bailee. I met her just before she went on her Running Road Trip but I never knew the story of how that developed and how Bailee got involved. George, thanks for posting that! I knew Bailee primarily as a trailrunner, and I enjoyed following her exploits as a climber and a baker and a yoga teacher. Her instagram feed was my favorite. It was around 2016 (don't quote me on the year, but it was just before her Running Road Trip!) we met at group runs for both the Salomon Run Club Boulder and the Rocky Mountain Runners almost simultaneously -- I can't remember which was first. I thought she was a bright light from the very beginning. Every run was more fun and full of joy when she was there, compared to when she wasn't. I got to go with her to the Bear 100 in 2018 where she finished her first one-hundred-mile race, then out to the Grand Canyon for some trailrunning later in the year. We ran up Mount Morrison one year and in 2020 did a nice traverse from North Star Peak to Wheeler Peak in Summit County. We didn't quite make Wheeler because of rain and lightning and I remember Bailee was the one who pulled the plug when the weather got threatening. The right decision. The last two years I didn't see her as much because she was throwing all her energy into climbing. I appreciate all the climbers posting their memories of her climbing exploits. Just this year, though, it seemed to me that Bailee was returning a bit to trailrunning, when she did the 10-lap Sanitas Suicides with RMR in Strava-record time, and then went to Canada in June for the Minotaur Skyrace where she finished 8th. Thanks George Deriso for posting all the details! She was an inspiring mountain athlete who I respected. She seized opportunities and wrung the most out of them with a ferocity that I loved. Since she was younger than most of us, the more experienced people were always teaching her new things, but let's admit it -- she was always teaching them things in exchange. She was a role model of a ferocious person. I always got the sense when she and I were on a run that I was doing one of the most fun things possible, because otherwise why would Bailee be doing it? I last saw her on a sunny day this spring when I was going down through Chautauqua from a Green Mountain run and Bailee was coming the other way. She asked me if there was still much snow on top, and she continued on. She had so much left to do. I had hoped to see her some more. I will miss her.