NOTE (May 19, 2009): On
Tuesday, May 19th,
I
received a call from
Vern. He was participating in
the
Sante Fe Century bicycle
ride and was involved in an
accident on May 17th.
After being evaluated at the
local hospital, he learned that
he had broken his femur in the
accident. He had surgery to
place pins in the upper part of
his femur... I couldn't
believe it...it's happening
again, one of us would not be
able to make the climb. Now we
are down to three. -- Todd
Age - 62
years. From age 12 I have lived in Colorado - began
rock climbing & hiking in with my father who was a Command Sergeant Major
and climbing instructor with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division. As a
teenager I grew up on the West side of Colorado Springs and climbed
extensively in North Cheyenne Mt. Canyon, the Garden of The Gods and the
surrounding mountains. I climbed my first Colorado Fourteener, Pikes Peak,
when I was 14 years old. And, I hope to climb my last 6 peaks over the
coming year.
Between
January of 1968 & June of 1970 I served in the U.S. Army as a Chemical
Demolition Specialist and was in charge of the Radioactive Disposal Facility
for Southeast Asia. While in Okinawa I was awarded the Distinguished
Service Medal.
As a Certified
Financial Planner (CFP) and 35 years in the
financial service
industry I offer an advisory service to integrate financial, business
and estate matters that are consistent with my client’s goals. As
part of a full service nationwide investment firm Cambridge Investment
Research my primary area of specialization is financial planning before
and during retirement. I specialize in and offer services related to:
Preparing for Retirement, Lump Sum
Distributions, Establishing Financial Goals and Monitoring My Clients
Portfolios. I can provide more details regarding my practice if
necessary……..
COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB
I joined the
Colorado Mountain Club - Boulder Group in 1997, for their ice-climbing
program and later graduated from their Ice Climbing School. In 2000 I
transferred my membership to the CMC, Denver Group.
Since
becoming involved with the Denver CMC I have regularly lead hiking, climbing
and back country ski trips as well as several expeditions to Rainier, Denali
and Mexico. I am a Sr. Avalanche Instructor for the CMC Avalanche Seminar,
on the High Altitude Mountaineering Section Executive Committee, High
Altitude Mountaineering School – School Director, HAMS - Advanced Crevasse
Rescue Seminar, Instructor & Past Director. In 2006 I assisted John Raich &
John Bickel as Co-Directors of the newly formed Ski Mountaineering School.
During 2005 & 2006 I helped with the CMC Denver Annual Dinner – recruited
the speakers and raising the necessary funds to compensate the speakers.
Currently and for the past 4 years I have served on the Denver Council.
With the 2008 CMC Denver elections my term is just ending. I have enjoyed
my time on the Denver Council and believe I have helped made a difference;
better reporting & organization of our budget, membership retention, changes
to the clubs website, electronic voting and member communication. I am a
member of the HAMS Executive Committee.
Education:
University of Colorado - Finance Degree - 1973, Certified Financial Planner
(CFP) - 1994, 35 years in the Financial Service Industry. My office is at
I-70 & Harlan - Chase Bank Building, 4704 Harlan Street, Suite 660,
Lakeside, CO 80212.
Family:
Wife of 24 yrs - Donna - 48, 4 Daughters - Whitney - 18, Ashley - 20, Amy -
33, Emily 37 & 5 wonderful Grandchildren.
Outdoor
Training & Experience:
Climbed or
skied 47 of the Colorado Fourteeners & will finish them all soon – I HOPE!
Leadville
Trail 100 - Race Across The Sky - Mt Bike - 1998.
24 Hours of
Moab - organized and captioned mountain bike team - 1999.
July 2002 -
I organized and lead a trip of six High Altitude Mountaineering School
(HAMS) graduates to Mt. Rainier with everyone summiting. Emmons / Winthrop
route.
July 2003 –
Steve Martin of the Ft. Collins CMC Group & I organizing & lead 13 HAMS
graduates to Mt. Rainier's with everyone summiting. Emmons / Winthrop
route.
January 2003
– organized and lead a trip to the Mexico's volcanoes - trained on Ixta &
summited El Pico De Orizaba - 18,405 ft.
May – June
2004 – Steve Martin & I organized and co-lead an 18-day expedition of 6
climbers up Denali’s West Rib. While we did not summit this was likely the
most challenging climb for me to date – aprx 4,000 vertical feet of ice. We
did reach 18,400 ft & into the Orient Express.
December
2005 – January 2006 – participated in 13 day CMC trip to Ecuador – summited
Cayambe – 19,000 ft. & reached / weathered out at 17,300 ft. on Chimborazo.
June 2006 –
Again - Steve Martin & I organized and co-lead a 21-day expedition of 7
climbers up Denali’s West Buttress. Put 3 climbers on the summit – 20 320
ft. *Regretfully one of them was not me – ran out of patience / weathered
after 11 days at 14,200 ft camp.
December 2006 – successfully climbed Aconcagua – 22,841 ft via the
normal route. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas and the
highest mountain outside Asia.
July 2007 -
participated in 16 day CMC trip to Europe – summited Mont Blanc – via The
Three Monts Route - 15,776 ft. & Monte Rosa – 15,203 ft.
First Aid Training:
Wilderness
First Responder and Nationally Registered Wilderness EMT –
completed the NOLS course in 0ctober 2008.
