It is an honor for me to represent the Illinois Climbers Association as a Land Manager Liaison to the various land managers of the cliffs in southern Illinois. With the latest influx of energy into our organization, I have only high expectations of seeing the ICA grow in size and scope in the coming years. I am grateful to the climbing community at large for its support of the ICA mission. I am especially grateful to my fellow ICA officers for their commitment and energy.
My vertical-related history in a nutshell: Rock climbing has been a large part of my life for most of it. I started climbing as a high school freshman in the spring of 1977. I began opening new routes at Jackson Falls in 1985 and have since opened over 150 routes at various cliffs throughout southern Illinois. Jim Thurmond, Alan Carrier, and I introduced sport climbing to southern Illinois in 1986. In 1993, I started the Vertical Heartland Climbing School & Guide Service. I also received training from the American Mountain Guides Association up through “advanced rock guide”. In 1996, Kathy & I purchased the bulk of the south face of Draper’s Bluff and we’ve since lived there, operating the climbing school on site. In 2002, I began training with Ropes That Rescue, Ltd., a rope rescue, rigging, and rope access training school based in Sedona, AZ. I joined their staff in 2005 and have since been involved in teaching RTR classes across the U.S., including locally at Draper’s Bluff. I’ve also authored three editions of “Vertical Heartland: A Rock Climber’s Guide to Southern Illinois“, the latest in 2005.
I’m an EMT-Intermediate with 13 years at Jackson County Ambulance Service in southern Illinois. In 2006, I left full-time ambulance work to start Rope Science Tree Service . I remain on the JCAS employee roster as Team Leader for the Jackson County Rope Rescue Team.
Away from the vertical: I enjoy training in the Korean Martial Art styles of Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido. I have a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Kathy and I have one son, Lukas.
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