Hooked on Hiking

Bob was known in Pack & Paddle, Signpost and other publications for his innumerable reports, comments, pleadings feature articles and scientific papers.

He was born in Waterville, near Wenatchee in 1915. As a boy, he got hooked on Washington lakes and peaks flyfishing with his father. He served a stint in the Army during WWII as a weather officer, attaining the rank of Major. Afterward, Bob never stopped writing, mapping or taking pictures.

Bob was a robust hiker. He made 13 trips into the Enchantments, the first in 1950--and most since--in and out in a day. He was fast and liked shortcuts. At 70 he could still leave most youngsters in the dust.

He was one of the first to pioneer and popularize the common route up the cliff to Earle Lake, which is still in use today. The Wenatchee World published his "Backdoor Route to the Enchantments" by way of Wedge Mountain in July, 1985.

Bob retired from regular work in Civil Service in 1972 and the Military Reserve in 1975. He had been Chief Weather Officer at McChord AFB since about 1952 and attained the rank of full Colonel in the Air Force Reserve.

About this time, he started a full time map and publishing business specific to the Washington backcountry.

He was a member of The Hi-Lakers, The Military Order of the World Wars, and of course, the American Meteorological Society.

Of special note is his paper (AMS, Kinzebach, 3/'55) on summer coastal weather patterns specific to the pressure gradient in millibars of mercury between North Bend Oregon and Sea-Tac, and the Puget Sound Convergence Zone. His theory set the standard for weather forecasting in the Pacific Northwest. The North Bend millibar readings can still be heard on weather radio channels today.

As a busy meteorologist most of his adult life and in retirement he never failed to monitor NOAA Weather Radio KHB 60, Seattle, broadcasting on 162.55 MHz - to pick nice days in the mountains.

(In 1976, Sen. Henry M. Jackson got these pressure reports back on the air because Bob and most likely others wrote letters.)

His forecasting sense should be legend. One group leader, after chatting with him the morning before a day trip into the Olympics completed the 20-mile High Divide Loop from Sol Duc Hot Springs ... but it was nip and tuck! Bob had said "You should be able to stay ahead of the front."

Another party* not too far behind, got socked in at Heart Lake and wisely turned back on a compass heading to walk 24 miles this day.

I don't think Bob liked to get wet and cold and he enjoyed seeing safe bets play out successfully. It never rained on any hike I did in his company. George Bucher, a strong and experienced Hi-Laker, said the other day that Bob did Alaska weather better than the locals there. You might want to read why, in White Winds (page 231), by Joel Wilcox. This book details an illfated assault on Mount McKinley.

Bob was first to publish a fine set of 7 1/2 minute topo maps of the AlpineLakes Wilderness. They are still in print.

Bob scouted regularly, sometimes as much as 3000 miles a month on 100 or more trips a year. He wore out three VW Beatles and a Subaru, going many times where one would expect to see only 4x4s or 3-wheelers. I am not aware that he ever walked out because of car failure.

He seldom took much more than himself on hundreds and hundreds of day trips. Bob's version of the "10 Essentials" was an overcoat with lots of pockets, about ten cans of Pepsi and a Thommen altimeter. He walked and climbed as much as 27 miles a day.

A 1941 WSC (now WSU) graduate, with an MS in forestry, Bob joined the Army, completing meteorological training at UCLA, in 1942, with subsequent and commended service in Italy, where he married.

He is survived by his widow (separated), the former Olga Maria Pica, and four children: Jim, Kay, Marcia, Wayne and their children. An older brother Bruce lives in Wenatchee.

A resident of Federal Way much of his adult life, he produced, in addition to numerous maps, about 20,000 3-D lake and peak photos. Bob also compiled ten books of notes describing mileage, landmarks, intersections and other details of roads and trails in the Washington Cascades.

In typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, Bob suggested once that, "retirement is not the beginning of the end; rather it is the end of the beginning."

As a keen routefinder, practical scientist and soldier, he helped us all.

--Erl Syverstad, of Spanaway, was one of Bob's regular hiking partners.