Tabs (Mal) Talbot
Nov 4, 1939 – May 12, 2022
Tabs (“Malcolm” only to his mother, “Mulc” to his immediate family, “Mal” to his associates and “Tabs” to his friends) Talbot passed away May 12 after a ferocious multi-year battle with colon cancer.
Tabs leaves behind his brother Roger Talbot and his nieces Joanne and Francesca.
Tabs loved climbing mountains. From an early age, after experiencing one pitch of British gritstone climbing, he knew his life would be about the mountains. His most memorable days were doing long hard routes in the Alps. He felt most at home on large routes with tremendous exposure, when in the presence of massive peaks. While living in the UK, he climbed with friends in Nottingham, and after immigrating to Calgary in 1977, he climbed regularly with members of the Calgary Mountain Club (CMC). Tabs felt some of his fondest mountaineering achievements included the N Face of the Dru, the East ridge of Mt Logan, NW face of Half Dome, Mt Blanc, Piz Badile, Mischabel Chain, Artesan Raho (Cordillera Blanca), and Catinaccio (Dolomites).
Tabs was also a great volunteer in the climbing world. In the 1980’s Tabs, Dick Howe, and Mike Mortimer became a major force in the ACC (Alpine Club of Canada) Huts Committee. Building new huts and upgrading existing ones, many ACC huts are only standing today thanks to the tireless efforts of these three.
He loved his craft as a cabinet maker / carpenter, and many CMC club members’ homes contain items that Tabs built. He never charged much for his work, accepting only sufficient pay to sustain him and support his outings in the mountains.
A celebration of Life will be held for Tabs at the Ironwood Stage and Grill in Calgary on June 12 at 3:00 PM. People wishing to speak or contribute photos should email [email protected] for more information.
