Baraboo, Wisconsin — The outdoor recreation community is mourning the loss of a respected climbing instructor who died while teaching a safety course at one of Wisconsin’s most popular climbing destinations.
Audrie Pelosi, 30, was killed in what has been described as a “tragic climbing accident” at Devil’s Lake State Park on May 30, according to her obituary.
Tragedy Occurred During Safety Course
According to friends and colleagues, Pelosi was teaching a course focused on climbing gear safety when the accident occurred.
Jeff Vogtschaller, a friend and colleague of Pelosi, told local media that she had been leading instruction related to climbing equipment at the time of the incident.
He said Pelosi had briefly moved away from the group to prepare additional equipment before something went wrong.
“She just moved a few yards away to set up a whole new bunch of equipment a few yards away and that’s the last anyone saw of Audrie. No one really knows what happened.”
Authorities have not publicly released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Community Pays Tribute to Beloved Instructor
The loss has deeply affected the climbing and outdoor recreation communities throughout Wisconsin and beyond.
Pelosi worked with Apex Adventure Alliance and was closely connected to the climbing community through her husband, Jimmy Robinson, who manages Wildside Action Sports, a climbing equipment store.
In the days following her death, community members left flowers and tributes outside the business. Vogtschaller described the outpouring of support as overwhelming.
“Some of them are from florists and some of them are from people who went in their garden and picked,” he said while describing the flowers left in her memory.
The tributes reflected the impact Pelosi had on fellow climbers, students and friends throughout the region.
Outdoor Organizations Express Condolences
Several outdoor organizations also released statements honoring Pelosi’s life and contributions. Friends of Devils Lake State Park shared a message expressing shock over the tragedy.
“We are shocked and saddened, and we are sending our deepest condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and climbing community,” the organization wrote.
“We thank her for all she brought to the Baraboo community.”
Many community members remembered Pelosi not only for her climbing skills but also for her kindness, generosity and enthusiasm for outdoor adventure.
Fundraiser Draws Massive Support
Following her death, a GoFundMe campaign was created to assist Robinson with funeral expenses and related costs. The fundraiser quickly surpassed its original goal of $5,000, raising more than $23,000 within days.
The campaign described Pelosi and Robinson as a couple whose love for adventure brought them together after meeting at a snowboarding event.
“Everyone who knows them knows that they were made for each other – I have never met a more rad couple,” the fundraiser states.
One story shared in the fundraiser highlighted Pelosi’s generous personality.
“In my last conversation with Audrie, she joked about selling her handmade bike chain link earrings to anyone who wanted them for ‘free.99.’ It was such a simple statement made in passing, but it perfectly encapsulated who she was as a person.”
Remembered for a Life of Adventure
Pelosi’s obituary paints a picture of a woman passionate about exploration, outdoor sports and helping others.
It states she lived a life filled with “adventure, connection, and purpose, always seeking the next mountain to climb, trail to ride, or snow-covered slope to explore.”
She was also remembered as “a lover not a fighter, a climber not a whiner, one tough adventure chick.”
Rather than sending flowers, Pelosi’s family has encouraged supporters to donate to charitable organizations she cared about, including animal welfare, mental health and environmental causes.
A Celebration of Life is expected to be announced in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota at a later date.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking loss for the climbing community? Share your condolences and memories respectfully in the comments below.
