Mike Bohorquez: The last climb

Update June 9 2011:

After a week of delays, I finally got to call Mike's mom. She is having a great hard time dealing with the release of Mike's body and personal effects. The consulate, ambassadors and state dept from both Columbia and the United States are all involved. The FBI is refusing to investigate the seemingly suspicious turn of Mike's demise. All told, Mike will be cremated in Columbia unless we can get his body back state-side asap.

I have no news of services or any other information.

I told Mike's mom that I would look into my personal political connections here in Canada to see if we can't get things moving faster and more efficiently. Obviously, Mike is not the top priority for anyone down there, less Alain Denis who has been a godsend to us for the past few weeks.

I urge everyone to call your senator and ask him to put pressure in any way they can so we can start to get things moving.

After my conversation with Mike's mom, all I want to do is fly to Bogota get shit done myself.

Update May 27 2011:

Here is the latest update. I figured I would put it on top, I guess its easier for everyone.

So Alain has been updating me over the past few days. Mike was found in his hotel room late Sunday morning after the staff was not able to reach him for check out. The circumstances surrounding his death are still under examination, but it seems it was of natural causes. I will miss Mike, but I do not think this is a sad way to go. Mike always lived, spoke and acted like a rock star, and today, he gets to go out like one. Passing on in a hotel room in Bogota, Columbia seems like the perfect way for Mike to go, if there is such a thing. I encourage people to post comments about mike, fun facts we might not all already know, anecdotes and even Obituaries if you feel like it. I think Mike would have wanted us to give him credit. He always gave credit where it was due, and I think we should do the same for him. I will update this again over the next few days, as word comes through. I am sure his family will hold services once his body is released from the investigation, so I will give you that info as well, when I have it.

Party on Mike.

May 25th 2011:

As you all may have heard the rumours over the past few days, becomes reality for us today. Alain Denis, on assignment in Columbia, confirmed the passing of my best friend and climbing partner, Mike Bohorquez.

The details as of right now are very limited, but so far, we know that after a couple days of climbing and shooting pictures with Alain in Suesca, Columbia, Mike left the party on Saturday, May 21st to go see a Football match in Bogota. A few days later his mother got a phone call from the Canadian Embassy in Columbia notifying that Mike had passed away sometime on Sunday May 22nd.

In respect to any other details, I will refrain from any rumours or unspecific facts for the time being.

I will try and update this information as much as I can as I get word from the south.

Mike will be greatly missed. He was my best friend, confidant, brother and belayer star.

If you have any comments please feel free to leave them, but please refrain from any details in public. If you have such information, please email them to me so they can be verified, and that way, we can respect the family and memory of Mike.

On a worse note, and a worse day of all.

Ulric

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