My climbing career really started when I was in the Boy Scout Troop 51 sponsored by the American Legion and led by Albert Simons, my 7-8 grade teacher and Fire Warden at the Snow Peak Ranger Station. 

Every year he would take us up to the summit of Snow Peak where he worked in the summer.  Although not a high mountain (5,600 ft) it did give one that "Top of the World" feeling.

At the age of 14 I climbed Coffin Mountain while at Camp Pioneer with the Scouts.  These experiences left me with an intense desire to do more, but due to the Second World War and meeting my family responsibilities there was no time to pursue it.

At age 33 restarted my climbing career, having at this time a little more free time and a good wife who encouraged me in my mountainous adventures.  After trying my luck on Three Fingered Jack and Mt. Washington without reaching the summit of either, I decided to join the Mazama Climbing Club in Portland.  With my tow oldest sons in tow we attended all of their climbing school classes, finishing up with a graduation climb up Mt. Hood.

We went on from there, climbing Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams that summer.  We then struck out on our own, climbing the South Sister from the Green Lakes area.  The time on that one was 5 hours up and 1 hour down.  Glissading almost all the way down.  After that summer in 1962 we went on to climb every major peak in the Northwest.  From Mt. Baker and Rainer in the state of Washington to numerous ascents of Mt Hood, Jefferson, The Three Sisters, Mt. Washington, Diamond Peak and scores of minor ones.

On most of these ascents I was accompanied by my four sons.  When they grew up, I continued climbing with my good friend Ron McAuliffe.  We are still at it to this day.  In August of this year I climbed the South Sister with two of my sons Scott and David and David's boy Luke and Scott's son Aaron.  This was a three generation hike and I was highly elated and extremely thankful that I could still do it.

We have climbed St. Helens 6 times before it erupted and 5 times after.  

If anyone wants any information on any of these Peaks, just give me a holler and I will be glad to enlighten you as much as I can - Larry