February 2014 –
Roger began ice climbing in the late 1980’s after moving to Alaska as part of the US Air Force. His introduction into the sport began when Steve Garvey, looking for a belay machine, plucked him off the Seward Highway like a stray dog. As one of Garvey’s belay machines he was soon introduced to local ice and the meaning of “epic.” He shared many great climbs and adventures with Garvey and other friends Tom Evans, Paul Wharton, Dave Whitelaw, Jim Sweeney, Dave Nyman, Steve Davis, Jeff Mahlen, Jay Rowe, JJ Brooks, Paul Denkewalter and his trusty snow machine the “Ice Pilot.” He later helped produce Fat City and Urban Ice with Dave Whitelaw and Steve Davis. His most memorable ice climbing epic included a Halloween ascent via canoe approach of Hands Across the Water with Garvey and Mike Tumey that he called “the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”
Not at all a stranger to rock climbing, Roger and friends FA’d several routes in Hatcher Pass. He also co-authored First Steps, the first Hatcher Pass rock climbing guide book.
Roger recently retired from Alaska to Bend, Oregon and is now seeking sun and a more tepid climate in the Pacific Northwest.
From the beginning of Alaskaiceclimbing.com, Roger has allowed the use of information from Fat City and Urban Ice on the site. Prior to leaving Alaska, Roger shared with us his collection of ice climbing pictures, stories, and writings, some of which are provided here. The desire to share the sport of ice climbing with others is still very evident in Roger. We owe him a lot of thanks.
