Flying in my brothers' aircraft.

Flying in my brothers' aircraft.
My brother Ross constructed this aircraft after buying it in kit form. The government recognizes a homebuilt as an aircraft that the owner builds 51 %.It took about 4 years time working nights and weekends. Top speed is about 200 mph and it is equipped with oxygen so he can fly over the mountains.I think it is an awesome accomplishment. He is busy constructing a second aircraft, a faster 4 - person type this time.A funny side story to this... my 76 yr. old father who is a very experienced pilot and has been flying for almost 60 years thought he should obtain his aerobatic license again...until my mother put her foot down and said it was time to leave that to younger pilots!

My brothers aircraft.

Over a frozen Ghost lake.

Coming in to land.

RV 6

With my bro.

First time in my brothers aircraft.

Wedge Mt.9/21/04

Wedge Mt.9/21/04
Jason and I went to Wedge Mt. on 9/21/04. We didn't make the summit due to our late start, fresh snow and heavily crevassed approach. The weather was perfect and we'll try it again soon.
Unfortunately I posted the photos in reverse order, finish to start, sorry.

NIce view.

At the hut.

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A bit steep here.

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Heading down.

Seracs.

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We had fun tho.

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The saddle.

We decide at this point we are not going to make the summit and return in time so we stop here.

Deep snow made breaking trail a chore.

Jason.

Jason.

Seracs.

Jason.

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Knocking the snow off the crampons.

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Jason in the crevasses.

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Compared to previous years the glacier have degraded a lot.

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Up we go.

Roping up with Jason.

Starting up the galcier.

Wedgemount Lake.

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Wedgemount Lake.

Wedge Mt.

Wedge Mt.

Aconcagua, Argentina Jan. 2004

Aconcagua Jan. 2004
Aconcagua in Argentina was my first big mountain that I've climbed. At 22,841 ft or 6962 m., it is the highest mountain in the Americas but small by Himalayian standards. With me were my friends Dwayne, Craig and Kumar. It was a great adventure and served to build a greater awareness in me of just how small and insignificant mankind is. Although the local mountains around Vancouver had given me many outlets to escape the daily rat race of civilization and to appreciate the raw beauty of nature, it wasn't until I'd felt the fury of a 100 kph wind ripping at me did I truly feel humbled by nature. Kumar and I summited on Jan. 21. Unfortunately Dwayne and Craig were not able to. The higher I got the more surreal the experience became. The wind, the snow, the dark blue black sky above us. Near the end I started to take a step for everyone I knew and had encouraged me. Near the summit having to take several deep breathes for every step gave me plenty of time to think about the people most dear to me. But really it was the solitude of thought that sticks with me the most. Life for several hours became only to breathe deep and take one more step. Only one more step. And how much I did I love my wife! How much did I miss her now and how important it was to get safely back to her. Several people died that year just after we had left. You have no control over how the mountain will affect your life or end it. My wife had made some gear for me that contributed to me success. How much did i miss her now. I climb mountains to get back to what is the essense of life for me. Adventure, the human spirit, the dream of pushing yourself and expanding your limits, the window into yourself you get by living an unencumbered life for those moments. The realization that we are only on this planet for a short time and will not endure like the rocks and ice. I will always cherish these moments.

Mendoza, Argentina.