Este artículo incluye multiples reseñas sobre José Luis Pereyra por varios autores:

Por Iván Calderón “Crispín”:

Hablar de José Luis es, definitivamente, hablar del escalador más prominente de Venezuela. Graduado en matemática pura mención Summa Cum Laude y profesor de la Universidad de Utah, José Luis fue el pionero de la escalada moderna en Venezuela. Participó en muchos de los primeros ascensos tanto en La Guairita como en los Tepuyes. Su motivación, constancia y humildad lo convirtieron en modelo a seguir para muchos escaladores que tuvimos la dicha de compartir cordada con él. La última etapa de su vida la vivió en Estados Unidos donde se convirtió en un escalador ícono de ese país, batiendo récords de velocidad de muchas rutas en El Capitán y abriendo vías como No Way José con una dificultad de 5.13+, esta ruta es considerada entre las fisuras más duras de Estados Unidos, la cual ha tenido muy pocas repeticiones hasta el sol de hoy. Escaladores de renombre como Dean Potter, Leo Houlding y Timmy O’Neill lo consideran un gurú y maestro, fueron sus seguidores mientras vivió. José Luis Pereyra muere en el 2003 mientras escalaba una de las rutas más expuestas de Potrero Chico en México. Dejó un legado invaluable tanto a quienes tuvimos la suerte de conocerlo, como a las nuevas generaciones de escaladores.

Por Dean Potter and Timmy O'Neill:

How do you bring someone long gone, back to life, and what are the physical and emotional artifacts that allow you to personify him?

José Pereyra, one of Venezuela’s most accomplished rock climbers, fell to his death in El Potrero Chico, Mexico in 2003.

Perhaps by recalling his stooped walk and stylish sunglasses that framed thoughtful dark eyes, below a disarming balding head or by evoking his philosophical discourse and the resonant playful laugh, emanating from oversized lips, that punctuated such mystifying views into the unknown. Or maybe it’s the memories of his deeds and thoughts that transform what was into what remains.

José was a mystic and the first of the Yosemite Valley Stone Monkeys to utilize spirituality as an essential part of the ascent. His gentle soul informed us to be in the moment, not only by recognizing need and crisis but also by acting to relieve it. He was a man of few physical possessions, dressed in creases, and on a path of perpetual discovery. As one of climbing’s deepest thinkers, he pursued mathematics and enlightenment with the same gusto that he set world record speed climbs on El Capitan and established some of the hardest lines on Utah’s desert sandstone walls.

For José the physics of the outer world were a bridge to the intimate inner journey. The magnetism of infinitesimal particles being as curious and informative as the bonds that brought us all to such heights and risk. He would talk at length and unprovoked, of mysterious connections, whether in the shade of a towering pine or under the glorious lights of the Milky Way, and continued long past our abilities to comprehend. He seemed to already exist in the future, as if to prepare us for his early departure. He extolled the importance of our embracing failure with the same readiness we celebrated our successes. A band of strivers, constantly battling the crux, as José the flow merchant, offered the freedom that resulted from letting go of expectations.

He danced to techno music with joyous abandon utilizing another language with which to shout to the world, “don’t rob yourself of the now.” The ground and a stick became his tableau. After scratching a representation of the inseparable nature of life and death into the dust, he’d erase it with a bare foot and prepare the next of many lessons; Professor Dirt was always in session. On the map of life he did not confuse “you are here” as “this is you,” and told us of how the continuums of good and bad were indicators to help you navigate. He was our transcendent elder, gravity’s ambassador and he led the way with truth, humility and an intellectual capacity that rivaled his physical feats.

The first of us to disappear, ahead of the curve even in death, I am sure he would want his absence to illuminate our presence and further dare us to have no fear and live as wildly as possible, now.

Otras Referencias:

Post extraido de Supertopo (Leer acá)

Post sobre la muerte de JLP. Vale la pena leer los comentarios que incluyen hasta historias de su vida y datos super divertidos. Entre los comentantes estan otras leyendas mundiales de la escalada como: Amon McNeilly, Leo Houlding, Steph Davis, Chris McNamara y muchos mas.

José Luis Pereyra Hablando en el Camp 4 Memorial en 2002:

Archivo de Fotos de José Luis Pereyra - Universidad de New Mexico:

https://math.unm.edu/~crisp/PICTURES/JOSE/jose.html

Artículos Escritos por José Luis Pereyra:

Solitario (Revista Espacios Libres):

Los Tepuyeros (Leer acá)

Otros articulos relacionados a José luis pereyra:

1. The Tree of Life por Tim O’Neill

2. Closer to the Edge por Leo Houlding (Incluye historias con José en Yosemite)