Kurt Roberts MacLeod Blair, Age 56 of Durango, Colorado died December 1, 2024 in a climbing accident in New Zealand. Kurt was born Feb 11, 1968, in Great Lakes, Illinois.
He is survived by his two sons, Dylan and Galen Blair, sister Katrina Blair, and mother, Pat Blair.
Mountains played a central theme in Kurt’s life. His grandfather, Robert W. Blair Sr., and father, Robert W. Blair Jr., both have significant first ascents in their name, and Kurt followed eagerly in their footsteps, climbing peaks all around the American west and across the globe. In his last seven years he earned his International Federation of Mountain Guides certification, which is held by fewer than two hundred guides in America. He was living his dream of international guiding when he passed. Kurt was regarded by his guiding colleagues as being imminently knowledgeable and skilled, as well as being the most enthusiastic mountain spirit they had encountered. He loved his work and his fellow guides.
Kurt grew up in Durango, Colorado, studied at Reed College and the Colorado School of Mines, and worked in Information Technology until 2015 before beginning his guiding career.
Helping others was in his spirit, and friends and family remember his many acts of kindness and generosity. He sent gifts to his friends’ children, let people live with him in time of transition, and generously offered hours of mentorship to his fellow guide aspirants. He made every effort to spend time with his mother and sons, and was a pillar of strength and source of love for his family.
A celebration of life is planned for him on Jan. 11 2025, at the Durango Rec Center, 3-5 pm. He was a bright light in his guiding community and family, and will be missed very much by all.
The Durango Herald published a nice article about Kurt on December 4. A link to that article is here: https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/durango-alpinist-kurt-blair-presumed-dead-on-new-zealand-peak/