Chronology:

-         1970 – 1974 – Lived in New York and climbed in the Adirondacks.  Completed all peaks above 4,000’ to become an Adirondack 46er.

-         1974 – 1978 – Lived in Northern California and climbed in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades. 

-         1976 – Attempted to hike the Appalachian Trail.  Forced to give up after two days due to sciatica and back pain that had plagued me for years.  Received diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis (similar to Rheumatoid Arthritis) and started taking medications to control it.

-         1977 – Hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.  After almost 2100 miles, forced to stop at the base of Mt. Katahdin due to major fire raging in Baxter State Park.

-         1978 – Moved temporarily to Colorado.  Climbed Longs Peak (first Colorado ascent) and other 14ers.

-         1979 – Living in Arizona, climbed peaks near Tucson and did first foreign climbing trip to Mexican Volcanoes.

-         1980 – Moved back to Colorado and resumed climbing 14ers.

-         1981 – Climbed in Cordillera Blanca in Peru.

-         1982 – Expedition to Mt. Logan in Canadian Yukon.  Attempted new route on north side.  Three of seven members died in avalanche.  Epic rescue of survivors.

-         1983 – Climbed in Cordillera Blanca in Peru and Cordillera Real in Bolivia

-         1984 – Completed 14ers.  Climbed Aconcagua in Argentina.

-         1985 – Climbed in Soviet Pamirs (now Tajikistan).

-         1986 – Climbed Ecuador Volcanoes.

-         1987 – Completed Highest 100.  Climbed in Tibet.

-         1988 – Completed Highest 200.  Climbed in Atacama Desert in Chile.

-         1989 – Climbed in Himalaya in India.

-         1990 – Completed Highest 300.  Climbed in Soviet Pamirs.  Caught up in worst mountaineering disaster in history – 43 died in Camp 2 on Peak Lenin after serac fall triggered avalanche.

-         1991 – Climbed in Karakoram in Pakistan.

-         1992 – Completed Highest 400, 500, 600, and all peaks above 13,000’.  Climbed in Atacama Desert in Chile.

-         1993 – Climbed in Ladakh Himalaya in India.

-         1994 – Climbed in Tien Shen in Kirghizistan and Pamirs in Western China.

-         1995 – Completed Highest 700.  Managed to rupture colon and had a colostomy (colon coming out through abdominal wall and emptying into a plastic bag) for 3 months.  This had its down side but was actually a big advantage on those cold, windy ridges.

-         1997 – Completed Highest 800.  Had spinal surgery to clean up a bunch of herniated discs and bone spurs and to fuse several vertebrae.

-         1998 – Completed Highest 900.

-         1999 – Climbed in Tibet.

-         2000 – Completed Highest 1000.  Trip to Washington to climb Mt. Ranier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker and in North Cascades.

-         2001 – Trip to Idaho to climb Borah Peak and in the Sawtooth Range.

-         2002 – Completed Highest 1100.  Climbing trip to Utah, Nevada, and California – many peaks.

-         2003 – Completed Highest 1200, 1300, and all peaks above 12,000’.

-         Summary – Made a total of almost 2500 ascents (ranked and unranked, first time and repeats) of Colorado peaks above 12,000’ – 300 ascents of the 54 traditional 14ers (more than 80 of those in winter).