Howdy,
For those of you that don’t know me, the name is Leif. It is pronounced “leaf” just like Leif Erickson the Viking, and nothing like Leif Garret the 70’s teen heart-throb. Careful, if you admit to knowing who Leif Garret is you will be showing your age.
I am originally from Urbana, Illinois where I somehow discovered climbing amidst the sea of corn that engulfs the central part of our great state. I was always one of those kids that was inexorably drawn to high places; you know, the kind of kid us real rock climbers watch scrambling around on whatever choss pile is available and say to each other, “that kid is going to break his neck.”
Somehow I survived my initial forays and was eventually introduced to technical climbing as a member of an Explorer’s Scout troop in High School. Pretty soon me and my buddies had some rudimentary top-rope skills, and we started taking trips to places like Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin, Kickapoo Falls in Indiana (now closed), and of course our favorite down here in So iLL, Giant City.
The next thing I knew I was skipping class at SIU to head out to Jackson Falls and Draper’s as a college student throughout much of the nineties. I was around for the early days when there were just a few bolts at Jackson, there was 40-minute poison ivy choked approach to Draper’s, and the ICA first formed.
Somehow I eventually managed to get my degree, and I took a job teaching English in Japan where I lived for several years. I was lucky to have the best rock-climbing, ice-climbing, and skiing in Japan within a short drive from my apartment. I married my wife, Junko Otake Faber, while I was there even though she hates skiing. I haven’t regretted it at all; she is an excellent partner for rock and ice adventures and never complains that I can’t afford lift tickets.
We moved back to Southern Illinois in 2004 when I took a position with SIU’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center, where we have been since. Our son Kai was born on the winter solstice of 2008, and he is working a wicked boulder problem on the couch as I type. It will be baby B3 when it goes for sure.
When I found out the ICA was re-organizing, I jumped at the chance to give back to the community that has given me so much. There are numerous challenges out there, but I firmly believe we can make a difference if we stand together. I look forward to meeting all of you that I don’t know yet. If you have any questions or comments please contact me at leif@ilclimbers.org
Cheers,
Leif
Recent Comments