Watch Film Remembering Hayden Kennedy

Watch this short film that remembers Hayden Kennedy’s life and climbs. Kennedy was a leading climber when he took his own life earlier this season after his partner Inge Perkins died in an avalanche.

Andrew Bisharat recently wrote on Evening Sends in a letter to Kennedy, “You made the decision to end your life with the same fierce conviction with which you lived—always with such dedication and forthright intention. You were never afraid to do what you believed was right. I’ve never met anyone with as much integrity as you.” Read the letter here.

On Nov. 4, friends and family of Kennedy travelled to Carbondale for a memorial for Kennedy. The Kennedy family released a statement Sunday afternoon sending their thanks and gratitude for the well-wishes in the past month.

“On behalf of Hayden’s entire family, we would like to thank the community of Carbondale along with the wider climbing community across the world, who have shown us so much love and support over the last few weeks.

“The loss of our beloved Hayden — our son, cousin, nephew and friend — has been a great sorrow for us all,” his parents, Julie and Michael Kennedy, said in an email to The Aspen Times.

“Coming together at sunset last evening, under the beautiful backdrop of Mount Sopris, gave us a moment to celebrate Hayden’s life and his love for his friends and family, pursuits and passions.

“As a family, we very much intend to honor his spirit and legacy through the creation of The Hayden Fund, a fund that will support the fight for the preservation of public lands, a cause Hayden cared for deeply.”