John Duran was a Southwest Legend with First Ascents on Three Continents

Every January, we share a tribute to members of our community who we lost last year. Some were legends, others were pillars of their community, all were climbers. Read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2025 here.

John Duran, 63, April 19

On Thanksgiving Day in 2004, Durango climber Rush Linhart was fasting, so he decided to skip his usual festivities and go bouldering. He was working a project on the Legacy of the Kid Boulder at Durango’s Sailing Hawks and didn’t expect to run into anyone on the holiday.