“Piton Ron” Was a Daring Desert Pioneer. He Also Boldly Built Community.
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.
Ron Olevsky, 71, July 23
One of the desert Southwest’s most colorful and pioneering climbers, Ron Olevsky died of natural causes on July 23, 2025, in St. George, Utah. He was 71.
Born in New York City to a violinist father and an art historian mother, Olevsky developed refined tastes that belied his rugged image. After discovering the sandstone of southern Utah, he made the St. George area his home and life’s work, leaving behind a legacy of bold first ascents and unforgettable stories.
His mark on Zion National Park includes Touchstone Wall (5.10- C2), Spaceshot (5.7 C2), Sunlight Buttress (5.11c), and Prodigal Sun (5.8 C2)—routes that helped define an era of big-wall free and aid climbing. In nearby Snow Canyon, he added Pygmy Alien (5.8), Leopard Skin (5.7), 1000 Pints of Lite (5.7), and the audacious Babes in Thailand (5.10a). He also claimed the first ascent of Pervertical Sanctuary (5.11a) on Longs Peak, Colorado.
Jason Hurst, owner of The Desert Rat in St. George and a friend, remembers him vividly: “If you were a climber in southern Utah in the ’80s and ’90s, there’s a good chance you had an encounter with Ron that you might always remember, fondly or otherwise…”
Despite his gruff nature, friends describe Olevsky as loyal and generous. “He had a great eye for classic lines,” said Hurst. “He may have been a cantankerous soul, but he was a loyal friend and generous with his time and resources. His place in the colorful tapestry of climbing history is secure.”
Known for his rope-solo exploits—often with a revolver at his side—Olevsky embodied the fierce independence of early desert climbing. He was equally known for his humor and creativity. Allen Sanderson, a founding member of Access Fund, recalled Olevsky’s wit: “During those early days, Ron brought humor to our constant battles over climbing access. He had shirts made for the committee as a little inside joke about our struggles, and we proudly wore them.”
Adventurous, fiercely independent, and loyal to friends, Ron Olevsky will be remembered as a climber who defined the spirit of exploration in southwestern Utah, leaving behind a legacy of daring climbs and stories that will endure in the community he helped shape.
Read the full tribute to Climbers We Lost in 2025 here.
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