Duane Monte was a soil scientist with the US Forest Service for 25 years. He served at Lost Rivers Ranger District, Mackay ID; Palisades RD on Targhee National Forest; and Deschutes NF Bend OR. Recreationally he was a rock climber for 18 years and did many first ascents on ice in the Idaho wilderness. He enjoyed kayaking. fishing, and yearly trips on Salmon River.

While working at Timberline Outfitter in Idaho Falls I had the opportunity to meet Duane on 8/5/1998. He reported climbing all 9 Idaho 12’ers. Many of these ascents were by difficult routes including the north face Borah Peak and 2nd ascent north ridge Mt Breitenbach, rated 5.8. He had done numerous ski descents in the Lost River Range. In the late 1980’s he skied Diamond Peak in the Lemhi Range. Further, in checking summit register notes from my second Mt Idaho visit in 1998 Duane Monte recorded putting in 3 north face ice routes on Mt Idaho between 1991-98.

Monte’s early years were spent at Menomonee Falls WI. In 1998 he married Marcy Burks and moved from the Idaho side of the Tetons to Bend OR. On Dec 10, 2001 Duane Monte, age 51, died in an ice climbing accident near Cody WY. He and his partner were roped but apparently not anchored at the time. Their dual fatality fall on the 500 foot waterfall ice formation came within 20 feet of hitting another climbing party.

Looking at the growing Idaho 12’er completion list (~350 persons) Duane Monte deserves recognition as one of the earliest finishers.