Post by jonsdigs on Nov 9, 2006 16:25:41 GMT -5
Caver remembered for love of outdoors
by Lindsay Nash, LNASH@CITIZEN-TIMES.com
published November 9, 2006 12:15 am
credit: Special to the Citizen-Times
William “W.C.” Austin was well known in the outdoors community as a caver, rock climber, backpacker and lover of the outdoors. He died Saturday, Oct. 28.
MARION — With his big burly beard and boisterous voice, William Cubbage “W.C.” Austin had a personality that wasn’t easily forgotten.
Austin was known for his love of spelunking through the caves and spiraling down the cliffs of Western North Carolina. An avid outdoorsman, Austin, 51, of Marion, died unexpectedly Oct. 28 after a heart attack.
On Sunday, his family and fellow cavers and climbers gathered to remember their friend, father and husband as they spread his ashes among the cliffs where he felt most at home.
“In his everyday life, he was a regular old burly-looking mountain man,” his son William, 26, said. “But get him out on a hike, and he opened up and become a completely different person. He was the happiest and most open and free-spirited when out in the woods or out on a rock face or in a cave.”
Austin was a member of the Flittermouse Grotto, an area caving club where he was known as the “gear head” and the go-to guy for help.
“He was constantly trying to find new techniques, new equipment,” said Ray Morgan, 49, who first introduced him to the caving club about 15 years ago. “He was a gear head. The guys at Black Dome (Mountain Sports) probably knew him as well as anyone.”
His love for the outdoors brought him closer to his family, his son Cole, 24, said.
“When I was younger, we didn’t get along too well,” Cole Austin said. “But once we got into rock climbing and caving, it really helped me and him and my brother bond. It was really nice to spend the last eight years of his life with him. It makes up for some of the lost time in my childhood.”
One of the caver’s favorite things to do every year was to go to the annual caving convention known by cavers as “OTR” or Old Timers Reunion.
“He looked forward to it every year,” Cole Austin said. “From the day he’d left the convention, he’d be waiting for the next year. He spent all year buying gear so he could show it off the next year.”
Austin’s death came as a shock to his family, the caving and rock climbing community. But they will always have their memories that can make them laugh — like the times he annoyed instructors with loud questions and comments in his quest for more knowledge.
“He was very outgoing, loud and boisterous,” said fellow caver Scott McCrea. “Some people describe him as a hippy, but I think of him more as a giant teddy bear. He had one of those personalities that you meet him once and you’ll never forget him.”
Article
by Lindsay Nash, LNASH@CITIZEN-TIMES.com
published November 9, 2006 12:15 am
credit: Special to the Citizen-Times
William “W.C.” Austin was well known in the outdoors community as a caver, rock climber, backpacker and lover of the outdoors. He died Saturday, Oct. 28.
MARION — With his big burly beard and boisterous voice, William Cubbage “W.C.” Austin had a personality that wasn’t easily forgotten.
Austin was known for his love of spelunking through the caves and spiraling down the cliffs of Western North Carolina. An avid outdoorsman, Austin, 51, of Marion, died unexpectedly Oct. 28 after a heart attack.
On Sunday, his family and fellow cavers and climbers gathered to remember their friend, father and husband as they spread his ashes among the cliffs where he felt most at home.
“In his everyday life, he was a regular old burly-looking mountain man,” his son William, 26, said. “But get him out on a hike, and he opened up and become a completely different person. He was the happiest and most open and free-spirited when out in the woods or out on a rock face or in a cave.”
Austin was a member of the Flittermouse Grotto, an area caving club where he was known as the “gear head” and the go-to guy for help.
“He was constantly trying to find new techniques, new equipment,” said Ray Morgan, 49, who first introduced him to the caving club about 15 years ago. “He was a gear head. The guys at Black Dome (Mountain Sports) probably knew him as well as anyone.”
His love for the outdoors brought him closer to his family, his son Cole, 24, said.
“When I was younger, we didn’t get along too well,” Cole Austin said. “But once we got into rock climbing and caving, it really helped me and him and my brother bond. It was really nice to spend the last eight years of his life with him. It makes up for some of the lost time in my childhood.”
One of the caver’s favorite things to do every year was to go to the annual caving convention known by cavers as “OTR” or Old Timers Reunion.
“He looked forward to it every year,” Cole Austin said. “From the day he’d left the convention, he’d be waiting for the next year. He spent all year buying gear so he could show it off the next year.”
Austin’s death came as a shock to his family, the caving and rock climbing community. But they will always have their memories that can make them laugh — like the times he annoyed instructors with loud questions and comments in his quest for more knowledge.
“He was very outgoing, loud and boisterous,” said fellow caver Scott McCrea. “Some people describe him as a hippy, but I think of him more as a giant teddy bear. He had one of those personalities that you meet him once and you’ll never forget him.”
Article