Barry Corbet(1936-2004)
- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Barry Corbet was a pioneer climber and extreme skier. He was a member of the Mount Everest Expedition in 1963. As a young man, Barry built a life that revolved around adventure in the mountains. Barry was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and later moved to the United States to attend Dartmouth College. After dropping out of school several times, Barry eventually moved west and settled in Jackson Hole, WY.
As a mountaineer, Barry charted routes around the world and in his backyard, Grand Teton National Park. He made a first ascent of the south ridge of Baxter's Pinnacle, which has become one of the most popular climbing routes in the park. For nearly 10 years, Barry worked as an Exum mountain guide in the Tetons and, with partners Jake Breitenbach and Dick Pitman, ran the Outhaus, selling climbing gear. He and his wife also ran the Alphorn Lodge and Barry taught skiing at the Snow King and Jackson Hole Ski Area.
In 1963, Barry was a member of the first American team to summit Everest, although Barry gave up his place at the top to other teammates, assuming he would have the opportunity to try again in the future. . Barry's business partner, Breitenbach, died during the expedition. However, Barry would not have the chance to summit Everest in the future. In 1968, just months after getting a permit to start a new guiding service in Teton NP, he had a helicopter crash while shooting a ski movie near Aspen, CO. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Corbet made a miraculous transition to a new life in a wheelchair. He went on to Kayak and co-produced over 100 films. He became editor of New Mobility Magazine, a publication covering disability culture and lifestyle. He has written numerous articles and publications, including Options: Spinal Cord Injury and the Future.
Barry Corbet died of natural causes at his home in Golden, CO, he was 68 years old. He is survived by his ex-wife Mary Moore, his brother Burke, three children and four grandchildren. Corbet was best known in Jackson Hole for Corbet's Couloir, a 10,450-foot-high double-diamond ski run on Rendezvous Peak. A race that will continue to test skiers and snowboarders around the world.
As a mountaineer, Barry charted routes around the world and in his backyard, Grand Teton National Park. He made a first ascent of the south ridge of Baxter's Pinnacle, which has become one of the most popular climbing routes in the park. For nearly 10 years, Barry worked as an Exum mountain guide in the Tetons and, with partners Jake Breitenbach and Dick Pitman, ran the Outhaus, selling climbing gear. He and his wife also ran the Alphorn Lodge and Barry taught skiing at the Snow King and Jackson Hole Ski Area.
In 1963, Barry was a member of the first American team to summit Everest, although Barry gave up his place at the top to other teammates, assuming he would have the opportunity to try again in the future. . Barry's business partner, Breitenbach, died during the expedition. However, Barry would not have the chance to summit Everest in the future. In 1968, just months after getting a permit to start a new guiding service in Teton NP, he had a helicopter crash while shooting a ski movie near Aspen, CO. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Corbet made a miraculous transition to a new life in a wheelchair. He went on to Kayak and co-produced over 100 films. He became editor of New Mobility Magazine, a publication covering disability culture and lifestyle. He has written numerous articles and publications, including Options: Spinal Cord Injury and the Future.
Barry Corbet died of natural causes at his home in Golden, CO, he was 68 years old. He is survived by his ex-wife Mary Moore, his brother Burke, three children and four grandchildren. Corbet was best known in Jackson Hole for Corbet's Couloir, a 10,450-foot-high double-diamond ski run on Rendezvous Peak. A race that will continue to test skiers and snowboarders around the world.