Seattle climber, teacher always had time for her pupils

Friends say Emily Failla was the kind of woman who was used to pushing her athletic abilities to the limit — and then waking up the next morning and doing it again.

Now friends and family are mourning the death of the 24-year-old teacher, whose kindness and love of life "lit up the room," said her friend Vance Felton.

Failla died Sunday after she fell 800 feet while trying to descend Condor Buttress near Leavenworth, a Chelan County sheriff's spokesman said. Rescue personnel weren't able to retrieve Failla's body until Monday because of time constraints and difficult terrain. Failla, Felton, and another friend were on a weekend camping trip in Icicle Canyon, Felton said. On Sunday, Felton went off hiking on his own while Failla and the third friend climbed up Condor Buttress.

Failla's climbing partner, a college friend who did not want to be identified for privacy reasons, said that while Failla was an experienced climber, neither of the two had much experience on longer climbs with multiple "pitches," or stages. Failla was headed down the mountain when she apparently rappelled off the end of her rope.

"She ran out of rope, and didn't realize it," said the friend. "There was no safety knot to catch the end of the rope in her belay device."

Friends described Failla as an accomplished athlete who always made extra time for the children she taught. Failla was a fourth-grade teacher at Madison Elementary School in Everett.

Before she left for her climbing trip, Failla was writing letters to each child in her class from the recently ended school year, said Felton, who met Failla through the church they both attended, University Presbyterian in Seattle.

"That's just Emily — so thoughtful," said Felton. "When a kid had to transfer out [of her school], she'd make them cookies or brownies."

Failla moved to Seattle last year, after graduating from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

She had a "gut feeling she knew she'd love it," said her college friend, and she did. Failla was planning on returning to Madison Elementary to teach again in the fall.

She was a serious athlete, who in addition to climbing, enjoyed cycling, running, skiing, and wakeboarding, said Felton.

Last month, after biking almost 100 miles one Saturday, Failla e-mailed Felton an itinerary for the following day. The agenda included a hike up Mount Si and an afternoon of rock climbing, finishing just in time to make it back to Seattle for Sunday evening church services.

"A bit ambitious, yes, but I think very do-able if you're up for it!!" wrote Failla in an e-mail. "It will be a great day for hiking, climbing, churching, and sunseting!"

They did it all, and even got in a few rounds of Frisbee after church, said Felton.

Failla grew up in Morristown, N.J., where her parents, Frank and Kay Failla, still live. Her sister, Lauren Failla, will be a senior at Vanderbilt in the fall.

Joe Mullin: 206-464-2761 or jmullin@seattletimes.com