The Passing of a Great Neighbor

Harry's death from natural causes on July 6, 2010 came as a complete shock to me. I had just visited with him the week before. Although he indicated he was experiencing diabetes- relatedproblems, Harry said it was under control. He was in good spirits and told me he was looking forward to our November Indian Cove Navigation Noodles, one of his favorites.

Harry was an extraordinarily gifted wilderness navigator and greatly enjoyed the outdoors. Long before his involvement in the Sierra Club, Harry served as the station scientific leader at Hallet Station, Antarctica from 1962-63. The harsh Antarctic weather provided Harry with abundant winter mountaineering experience. I remember Harry's last WTC Snow Camp in 2006 where he used a bivy sack rather than a tent during one of the coldest snow camps on record: -16 degrees--which was balmy weather for Harry.

In recognition for his Antarctic service as an aurora scientist and station scientific leader at Hallett Station, 1962-63, the United States Board of Geographic Names officially named a glacier after him.

An accomplished mountaineer who would often venture into the High Sierra byhimself. In 2008, Harry gave me most of his mountaineering books. Included among them was his personally annotated copy of Roper's The Climber's Guide to the High Sierra. According to his notes, Mt. Muir was Harry's 19th (and possibly last) SPS peak and was climbed on August 2, 1987. Other notable peaks that Harry climbed included Mt. Whitney (14,494), Black Kaweah (13,765), Mt. Agassiz (13,891), Mt. Wallace (13,377), and Mt. Haeckel (13,435).

Harry will best be remembered for his service as Navigation Chair for the Leadership Training Committee from 1991 to 2008. In this capacity, he led over 100 navigation checkoffs. Although Harry could be cantankerous at times, he was a progressive voice in helping prospective leaders obtain their ratings. The sheer number of navigation checkoffs he organized is a testament to his commitment in developing new Sierra Club leaders.

When I joined the navigation team in 2005, Harry made me feel welcome, as I know he did for many others. He allowed me to do my first checkoff of a candidate in January 2006, the month after I passed the E-level checkoff and before I have even completed my I-provisionals.

Harry was open to new ideas and new people. He was always trying to improve the navigation program. His last major endeavor was to launch a GPS class which he offered on five occasions.

Harry's contributions to the Chapter were not limited to his duties as navigation chair, however. He was instrumental in the formation of the Wilderness Travel Course He was Orange County area's first Area Chair and participated in WTC's growth in many ways, including delivering the clothing/equipment lecture for many years, and helping WLA as an Assistant Group Leader for several groups.

He served as a member of the Chapter ExComm and, with Virgil Shields, developed the 'Places We've Saved' navigation noodle at Mojave National Preserve.

At the 2009 Chapter Banquet, Harry was presented with the highest Chapter outings award, the Chester Versteeg Outings Plaque.

None of us are likely to visit the Freimanis Glacier in Antarctica. However, every Indian Cove Navigation Noodle uses Peak 3177 for bearings. This prominent feature is also used by the Wilderness Travel Course for navigation instruction. We may not be able to get the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to officially name this peak after Harry. However, the Sierra Club can remember Harry by call this peak 'Freimanis Peak' and referencing it in our navigation materials.

Harry's legacy is more than a place name on a map. His lasting legacy is all of the Chapter leaders he helped certify and the talented group of navigation examiners he assembled. I know that all of us will try to pass on to the next generation the skills that he taught us.

A memorial service will be planned for Harry in the Fall.