ANDREW DAVID TYSON

1968 - 2015

ANDREW DAVID TYSON 1968-2015

Andrew David Tyson, 46, died on April 10, 2015 when the small plane carrying Andy, two coworkers and the pilot crashed in central Idaho. They had been researching a solar and hydroelectric project for Creative Energies, a company that Andy co-founded, at a remote ranch.
Andy was born on October 15, 1968 to Henrietta and David Tyson of Mercersburg, PA. He attended high school at The Mercersburg Academy and college at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. His love of the outdoors was stimulated by family summer trips, the outdoor "Trek" program at Mercersburg, and the outdoor club at Wittenberg. He arranged while at Wittenberg to earn credit toward graduation via a semester course at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) based in Lander, WY. He worked at the Kite Loft in Ocean City, MD during the summer. After graduating from Wittenberg in 1991 his adventures included a sail across the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Portugal as crew for the boat's owner - his employer at the Kite Loft - and a trip to Australia to work in a kite store. Then Andy returned to NOLS and became an instructor. In the years which followed Andy worked in various capacities with NOLS, Alpine Ascents International, Exum Mountain Guides, and Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions. While at NOLS, Andy met his beloved wife Molly Loomis Tyson. They were married in 2006 and settled in an energetic community in the Teton Valley, ID.
While working for the guiding companies and through their own initiatives Andy and Molly would face the challenges of mountains around the world: Chile, Argentina, Antarctica, New Zealand, India , Tibet, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Kyrgystan, Oman, and, of course, various regions of North America. Most notable was their 2013 expedition led by Andy which accomplished the first ascent ever of Gamlang Razi (Mt. Gamlang) in the northern tip of Myanmar (Burma). The following spring found Andy at the base camp of Mt. Everest on the morning of the tragic avalanche which took the lives of 16 men of the Sherpa tribe of Nepal. Andy was involved in the rescue efforts of that day. Andy authored two books known in the climbing community: Glacier Mountaineering with illustrator Mike Clelland and Climbing Self Rescue co-authored with Molly who is a journalist as well as an outdoor educator and publishes under the name Molly Loomis.
In 2001, Andy and a fellow NOLS instructor became enthusiastic about the need for clean energy sources. They began Creative Energies operating out of Lander, WY and were soon joined by a third partner, also from NOLS. Over the years they have designed and installed solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric systems to meet energy needs. Their company now has grown with offices in the Teton Valley, ID and Salt Lake City, UT as well as Lander, WY. In addition to his climbing expeditions and work with the company, Andy found time to serve on the board of the Charture Institute, serve with the Idaho Clean Energy Association, chair the Solar Task Force for The Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance, as well as serve with several organizations in the Teton Valley. In January of this year Andy and Molly traveled to Nepal as volunteer instructors at the Khumbu Climbing School.
Andy is survived by his wife, Molly; his parents, Henrietta and David; and his sister and her husband, Laura and Tom Ransom. He is also survived by a loving community of co-workers, fellow climbers, and friends who considered him family. He had many opportunities during his life and happily took advantage of them.
A celebration of Andy's life will be held May 2 in Idaho.
Those wishing to remember Andy with a gift may contribute to the Andy Tyson Memorial Fund which is managed by the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, PO Box 1523, 175 N Main Street, Driggs, ID 83422. Information is also available at <www.cftetonvalley.org>.