I think I got into the habit of looking at rocks for their potential climbing lines when I was a teenager in Kentucky in the late 1970s.  All I know now is that when I visit most climbing areas, just walking through and looking around fills me with adolescent excitement.  For me, climbing is at its most exhilarating when it involves exploring new terrain.  I get more joy and satisfaction out of on-sighting a pretty 5.9 than out of red-pointing a 5.11 on my 5^th try.

In Hoofer parlance, we call the people who do the heavy lifting for the club, "executives."  There's a very nice irony in using that term in a group that has no real command structure.

President: David Nimmer

Vice Presidents: Jeff Ladwig and Kirsten Martin

Treasurer: Hannah Tuson 

Gear Managers: David Nimmer and Hannah Tuson

Website Manager: Josh Schmale 

Hoofer Council Representative: David Nimmer

(from an email from Andy Davis)

most of you probably thought that i either fell off the face of the earth or died-- or more likely, managed to do both at the same time. well surprise! i am alive and well in portland. it was a long hard journey here: i had to fight off a bout of typhoid, ford rivers, and even defend myself from raiding thieves attempting to steal boxes of clothes in the night.

(Jeff Ladwig) 

Clouds enveloping the mountain on the only day we saw any rain.