On July 8 & 9, 2011, I took part in a climb of Mt. Hood as a member of a team of ten climbers bringing
Katie Nolan's ashes to the summit. Katie died on the Reid Headwall in December of
2009, along with her companions Anthony Vietti and Luke Gullberg. She had previously expressed her
desire to have Mt. Hood be her final resting place if she should pass away. Her body,
along with Anthony's, was found in August 2010, after a determined, unceasing search by folks who
made it their mission to bring the two of them down from the mountain. Katie was a dynamic,
vibrant young woman who always tried to help and improve the lives of those she crossed paths with,
no matter where in the world life took her. Our group was united in the desire to bring
her at last to the place she truly wanted to be.


It had been thirty-three years since I previously climbed Mt. Hood. I'd have never guessed that
I'd return all this time later, under these circumstances. Climbers know full well the
bonds that form during ascents, and I'm so fortunate to have been a part of such a caring, devoted group.