From: Jim Long [jilong@cisco.com]

Sent: Friday, August 11, 2000 10:37 AM

To: Kinkele@Yahoo.com

Cc: Openletter@mail.kinkele.net; JohnJr@mail.kinkele.net

Subject: Scotts Cross

I managed a business trip to Seattle, and on Wednesday I went up to Mount

Vernon where Scott was killed, and attended the arraignment of his killers.

John Jr. has posted links to the arraignment on this site that were

accurate in their description of events. It was great to see the Navy

uniforms in there, an unmistakable show of support for Scott and his family

and friends.

I stopped at the Sheriffs office to get directions, and in speaking with

the deputy he was truly saddened by what happened and also very angry that

such an amazing person could be taken out of this world by "troublemakers

and scum from Anacortes" as he put it. He indicated that they have always

(the shooter and driver mainly) been problems and not very good people. I

told him that I hoped they fried and he nodded his head in silent

agreement. I also expressed my thanks to the sheriffs department for the

quick apprehension of these guys, and the continued investigation. He gave

me directions to the location, and I drove out there.

The day before I had gone to REI in Seattle to purchase some climbing

equipment to leave at Scott's Cross. I wanted to leave something for him

from all the people that he touched in the climbing world. I finally

decided to place a mountaineering ice axe with a belay/anchor system to the

Cross with some slings, carabiners, a section of rope, and a belay device.

In this way, Scott will always be "on belay" and he climbs the amazing

peaks that I am sure he on right now. I also want to get a small sign made

up that says "Climb on Scott...you are on belay" but have not had the

chance to do that yet. I will attach it to the cross.

What struck me while driving up the site was that I passed a sign that said

"Whidbey Island 11 miles". By the time I reached the spot where he was

shot, he was about 9 miles from home. I just cannot believe that. He was so

close. The Texaco station where he got coffee was a mere half mile back, on

the left side of the road. The margin of intersection where he met up with

his killers was so small, that if he had taken the time to maybe put in a

couple extra packets of sugar, the killers would have gone right by, and he

would have ended up far behind them. I just cannot get over that. It makes

it even harder to accept what happened knowing he was that close to safety,

that close to being home. That close to laying in bed and thinking about

the day, being with a good friend, up at 10,000 feet on an incredibly

beautiful mountain, in an incredibly beautiful state. He truly was leading

an amazing life.

I passed the cross going west on highway 20, and turned around just before

the bridge. Pulling up the cross was very difficult. "Scott" was plainly

visible, and somehow the harsh reality of what happened became deeper and

even more confusing. I could see in the field where his car came to rest

two fence poles that had been bent down, and a piece of the yellow "Police

Line" tape flapping in the breeze. I just sat in the truck for about 10

minutes, unable to get out, as traffic drove by, many people slowing down

to look at the cross, paying their respects. The flowers filled the base,

the Cross a bright white against the grassy shoulder, and the black letters

at the top saying "You will be missed" standing out. I could not think of a

better statement. He will be missed by many, many people. I know the next

time we go up to New Hampshire or the Adirondacks in NY, it will be strange

to not hear the banter between Scott and Pedro Espina. Pedro telling Scott:

"Come on Navy boy...you can do better than that...just pretend there is a

woman at the top of the climb"....(spoken in "Spanglish" as Scott would

call it). Scott would tease Pedro relentlessly about his accent, and the

two of them together made any climb in any conditions or any situation some

of the best I have ever had among friends.

When I walked up the Cross after finally getting out the truck, I looked

around the area. He came to rest in a field, potato field if I remember

correctly. I was thinking that if the sun was out with unlimited visibility

you could probably see Mt. Baker and the Cascades, and possibly the Olympic

Mountains on the Peninsula. The day was overcast with morning fog, as it

had been every day that week. I was hoping for sunny skies to take some

pictures for John Jr., Scott's brother. He had sent me an email asking for

pictures and negatives so he could pass them to family and friends.

I placed the axe next to the cross, and rigged the anchor system. The axe

fit right in, and as I looked at it, I realized that I had made the right

choice of how to memorialize him. Somehow, it just seemed to fit. As I

kneeled there, looking at the flowers, and looking around, there were many

things I wanted to say, but nothing would come. Other than traffic speeding

by, the day was quiet, kinda chilly without the sun.

I hope Scott is on a summit right now, or doing what he did best,

supporting people, family and friends alike. I will miss his little tips on

ice technique, but will remember the ones he gave me when we all climbed

together.

God Speed Scott.

You are on belay.

Climb on.

Jim Long

James F. Long

CCNP CCNA CCDA MCSE MCT

Project Engineer

Cisco Systems