Ray's Chronologies

See also: Ray's Profile

2024

• Iron Butt Ride #3 San-Diego-Express: 1,148 mi in 22 hrs 50 min.

2023

• Write Book #16 Tempest Chronicles: Paddling the west coast of Alaska

• Moto-Alaska: 10,254 mi in 32 days.

• Iron Butt Ride #2 Bun Burner 1500: 1,537 mi in 33 hrs 23 min.

• Write Book #17 Coppermine Quest: Paddling in the far-north Canada.

2022

• Write Book #13: Saga of the Sea Tub Story of our 3,300 mile sea-kayaking journey to the Artic.

• Write Book #14: Legend of Nunaluk

• Write Book #15: Black River Odyssey

2021

• Jenny's Pearl 8: AT thru-hike: 2,197 mi in 114 days.

• Ray worked on his fence all summer.

• 50-day water-only fast

2020

• 2020-09 Divide, All-Night-Dig: 5,500 mi in 35 days.

2019

• 2019-09-GDR-Nisus: 3,300 mi in 19 days.

• 2019-10-LT-Kingman

• Iron Butt Ride #1 Winter Solstice 1000: Riding a thousand miles in 24 hours.

2018

• 2018-10-GDR-Gravellies: 4,453 mi in 17 days.

2017

• Write Book #12: Extreme Fun

• Write Book #11: Pearl Four

• Publish Global Voyage.

• Motorcycle stolen, no trips this year.

• Motorcycle recovered and rebuilt.

2016

• Six months working on the Blood Cleaner.

• AT Section Hike, Part 2: Harpers Ferry WV to Lincoln NH, 777 mi in 44 days - Apr 12 to May 25.

• Ray's Pearl 9: AT Section Hike, Part 3: Lincoln NH to Katahdin, 389 mi in 24 days - Jul 06 to Jul 29.

• Trip to Japan, 10 days.

2015

• Seven months working on the Blood Cleaner.

• 2015-09 GDRx2-FW 6,287 mi. in 30 days

• 2015 Moto-Baja 2,034 miles in 9 days, Nov.

• Winter: training for the AT.

2014

• Seven months working on a programming project.

• 2014-07-GDRx2-Alberta 6,323 mi. in 28 days.

• 2014-09-GDRx2-Columbus-Roosville 5,222 mi. in 20 days.

• 40-Day Water Fast

2013

• AT Section Hike, Part 1: Springer Mt to Harpers Ferry - 1,022 mi in 49 days.

• Dad's memorial ride

• 2013-07-GDRx2-tagalong 4,756 mi. in 20 days.

2012

• Moto-Baja 1,800 mi. in 10 days.

• Tail of the Mexican Dragon 6 days.

• Canyonlands 1,500 mi in 7 days.

• Four Corners 8,500 mi. in 20 days.

• 4,000 mi of Dirt 4,800 mi in 17.5 days.

• CA Mountains & Coast 3,282 mi in 11 days.

• Colorado TAT 2,073 mi. in 8 days.

• TAT UT-NV-OR 3,647 mi. in 15 days.

• Fall & Winter: training for the AT.

2011

• Write Book #10: The Ray-Way Tarp Book Essential.

• Ride motorcycle twice across the US: Ray's 2011-Moto-America 7,300 mi. in 22 days.

• Ride to Prudhoe 2011-Moto-Prudhoe 10,700 mi. in 40 days.

• Early winter: 33 day fast.

2010

• Develop new products for our Ray-Way business.

• Ray's Pearl 8: Third thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin - 2,100+ mi in 100 days.

• Cycling the TransAmerica Trail, 3,783 mi. in 54 days.

2009

• Ray's Pearl 7: Second Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin - 2,100+ mi in 103 days.

• Develop new products for Ray-Way.

• Training for the AT.

2008

• Write Book #9: "Trail Life," doing all the layout work and photo prep myself.

• Running and training for the AT.

2007

• Climbed highest peak in Antarctica: Vinson Massif 16,050 ft.

• Reached 22,000' on Aconcagua.

• A month's trekking in the Himalayas, reaching Camp 2 on Everest.

• Fall: two months in Argentina climbing in the Andes, reached 21,000 with Jenny.

• Produced the Knife-Kit Ray-Way Sharpening Video.

2006

• Trip to Colorado skiing Loveland and snowkiting Dillon reservoir.

• A week of snowkiting in Minnesota.

• A week of snowkiting in Utah.

• Two weeks on Greenland Ice Cap and a week in Iceland.

• Ski to the South Pole in 57 days.

• Climbed Pic'ho Peak 105 times in 2006.

2005

• Working on Ray-Way Products full-time except for:

• Subarctic trip #8 Coppermine River starting at Yellowknife via Pike's Portage: 960 mi. in 39 days (44 portages totaling 15 mi., 710 mi of lakes and up rivers, then 250 mi. down the Coppermine in 8 days.)

• Teach two Journey's Flow class in Oregon.

• 9/20 personal accident.

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Climbed Pic'ho Peak forty-eight times in 2005.

2004

• Hold five 3-day sewing classes; students make backpacks, quilts, etc.

• Hello America bicycle trip, coast-to-coast round-trip from home, 6,689 mi. in 92 days.

• Write Book #8: Siku Kayak.

• Teach two Journey's Flow classes and one 10-day Connection Camp.

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean) with lots of windsurfing as usual.

2003

• Retire from skydiving with R 2,591 jumps & J 2,000.

• Start company Ray-Way Products and start making and selling kits for sewing outdoor gear.

• Write Book #7: The Ray Way Tarp Book.

• Pearl 6: IUA Hike & Bike, Canada to Mexico 2,000 mi. in 63 days.

• Autumn: teaching classes: 7-day Journey's Flow class Oregon, and three 7-day Connection Camps Arizona.

2002

• Skydiving full time except for:

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean) in April

• Trip to UK.

• Row across Atlantic Ocean: 3,003 mi. in 53 days. Nov-Dec

2001

• Full-time skydiving except for:

• Subarctic trip #7: Canoe the Kazan River, 560 mi. in 25 days; Kasba Lake to Inuit hamlet of Baker Lake.

• Move into new house of own design.

• In first year of skydiving R logs 1,300 jumps and Jenny 700.

2000

• Six months developing next phase of Ray-Way lightweight hiking (Unpublished).

• Week of fishing at Kasba Lake with parents.

• Two weeks skydiving Arizona.

• Two weeks skydiving Florida.

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Move to Arizona and begin skydiving full time.

1999

• Write Book #6: Beyond Backpacking.

• Subarctic trip #6: Canoeing the Back and Meadowbank rivers, 40 days, 736 mi.

• Switch to raw foods (9/9/99).

1998

• A year of practicing primitive skills.

• Several zero-packweight outings, the longest being 12 days.

• A week in VA studying under master flintknapper Errett Callahan.

• Host BBC film crew of seven in Three Sisters Wilderness, making film about R & J's wilderness philosophies.

1997

• Design and build kayak #3, vacuum bagging all components.

• Arctic and sub-arctic trip #4: Paddle kayak #3 down Mackenzie River 975 miles Ft. Providence to Inuvik in 18 days, float-plane to turn-around point of previous summer on coast, paddle 200 miles to Tuktoyaktuk in 12 days.

• Also sub-arctic trip #5: Canoe Thelon River 575 miles Lynx Lake to Baker Lake in 24 days.

• Fall: Nearly 3 months at Tracker school.

• A week in Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Christmas Card

1996

• Spring: Design and build kayak #2 of Kevlar, carbon fiber and epoxy.

• Summer: Arctic trip #3: kayak Alaska coastline, Shishmaref to within 11 miles of Herschell Island, Canada. Stopped by pack ice and paddle sub-freezing conditions 100 miles back to village of Kaktovik. 78 days, 1,440 miles.

• Fall: Three weeks Tracker classes.

• 12 days Canoeing Fulton Chain of Lakes in Adirondacks.

1995

• Spring: 12 days in Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Design and build kayak #1 of carbon fiber & epoxy.

• Summer: Arctic trip #2 Paddle from St. Marys near mouth of Yukon River, north along coast of Alaska to Shishmaref, exceptionally stormy conditions. 48 days, 600 miles.

• BVI bareboat charter w/ snorkeling & windsurfing.

• Write Book #5: Pacific Crest Trail Hiker‘s Handbook, A major re-write, call it the "Second Edition."

• Make our first web page.

1994

• Sell second rental property.

• Spring holiday: 9 days at Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Summer: PCT hike #3, southbound, 2,700 mi. Manning Park to Campo in 3 months and 4 days.

• 10 days BVI bareboating.

• Write Book #4: the CDT Pocket Planner

1993

• Spring: Sell one rental property.

• Summer: Pearl 4: thru-hike Appalachian Trail: 2,100+ mi. Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin in 2 months and 28 days starting June 8.

• Fall: Build 36' x 48' shop in back yard.

• Start American Long Distance Hiker's Association, West (ALDHA-West)). At first annual Gathering, we climb nearby South Sister mountain. Start publishing quarterly newsletter. By the time we resign, three years later, paid membership had reach 850.

1992

• Spring: Publish PCT Hiker's Handbook.

• Summer: Pearl 3: thru-hike Continental Divide Trail, 2,500 mi. Waterton Lakes, Canada to Palomas, Mexico in 3 months and 3 weeks.

• Fall: 10 day BVI bareboat charter.

1991

• Spring: travel to Hawaii, Hike the Na Pali Coast.

• Summer: Pearl 2: PCT hike #2: 2,700 mi. total, Campo to Manning Park in 4 months and 3 days.

• Fall: Write Book #3: PCT Hiker's Handbook, the book that started it all.

• Travel to Washington DC, five days at Smithsonian.

1990

• 1990: Spring: nine days on the Yellowstone River.

• Buy three fixer-upper houses in LaPine, OR and spend summer renovating them, live in one and rent the other two.

• Build garage, our first construction project.

• Write Book #2: Global Voyage the story of our round-the-world voyage (Published 2017).

• Three hundred hours programming new Friend stem design, make it twice as strong and half the weight. (WC rejects the design)

1989

• Spring: 23 days Yellowstone River.

• Summer: Write Book #1: The story of our first PCT thru-hike (unpublished).

• Fall: 10 days on the John Muir Trail.

• 12 days on the Yellowstone River.

• Baja trip # 9: The Cardon Coast, paddling 680 mi. from San Felipe to La Paz in 33 days.

• Move to central Oregon and live in van for a month while looking for inexpensive property.

1988

• Summer: "Arctic" trip #1: Sea Tub: 3,300 mile kayak trip in 100 days, Anacortes, WA, to Bering Sea. Route: 1,100 miles Inside Passage to Skagway, 100 miles portage Chilkoot Trail in 3 trips, 2,000 miles Yukon River to Bering Sea, return 7 miles to village of Emmonak.

• Fall: 20 days on the Yellowstone River.

• Winter: Rent apartment Salt Lake City.

1987

• Spring: Move to Manitou Springs (Ruxton Ave), train on Pikes Peak for upcoming PCT hike.

• Summer: Pearl 1: Pacific Crest Trail hike #1: 2,500 mi. total, Mexico to Canada generally along PCT in 4 months and 2.5 weeks.

• Two days after completing PCT we participate in Pikes Peak marathon ascent.

• Move to Longmont, CO, (Warren Ave).

• Winter: Prepare for Alaska trip.

1986

• Sell sailboat, live in apartment in San Diego for three weeks.

• Move to Utah for a summer of cross-country hang gliding, Jenny driving radio-equipped chase vehicle, 89 hours flight time in 78 days.

• Fall: 13 days Yellowstone River.

• Winter: Live in Colorado Springs.

1985

• Fourteen days sailing across Southern Atlantic to St. Helena, six days there.

• Eighteen days sailing to Fortaleza, Brazil, four days there.

• Sixteen days sailing north along coast of South America and into Caribbean, to Bonaire. Six months in Bonaire, waiting out hurricane season, snorkeling and scuba diving.

• Eight days sailing to Panama, 22 days there - including touring country by car and transiting Panama Canal.

• Six days to Costa Rica, 25 days there.

• 40 days sailing along coast of Central America, stopping at various ports of call.

• Sail back into San Diego harbor December 24, 1985, completing round the world voyage.

1984

• Rebuild sailboat engine.

• Two months sailing north inside Great Barrier Reef, anchoring each night.

• Nine days sailing to Darwin and 17 days there.

• Fifteen days to Christmas Island and 6 days there.

• Five days to Cocos Keeling, favorite tropical island, and 21 days there.

• Sixteen days to Rodriguez, 7 days there.

• Four days to Mauritius, 10 days there.

• Two days to Reunion Island, 10 days there - mostly hiking remote interior.

• Nineteen days sailing to Richard's Bay, South Africa, and 28 days there. Several trips inland, including 5 days at fabulous Kruger National Game Park.

• Three months in South Africa altogether, hopping port to port making way around infamous Cape of Storms.

1983

• Three months Tahiti & Moorea, and a month in the Leewards.

• Six days sailing to Rarotonga, 12 days there.

• Eleven days sailing to Vava'u, Tonga, 35 days there.

• Five days to Fiji, 23 days there.

• Five days to Solomon islands, 4 days there.

• Four days sailing to New Caledonia, 14 days there.

• Nine days sailing to Bundaburg, Australia, 6 months waiting out cyclone season.

• Buy motorcycle and tour inland, take lessons in powered aircraft and earn Restricted Private Pilot's License. Also fly sailplanes once a week.

1982

• End marriage #2.

• Hire secretary named Jenny.

• Take Jenny scuba diving Cayman Islands and one and half months England, climbing (21 routes) and business, with week's holiday in Alps.

• Wild Country withdraws my U.S. Friends distributorship. Jenny and I decide to chuck it all, and sail around the world.

• November 2: set sail - 3,000 mi. in 29 days to Marquesas Islands. Two months gunkholing Marquesas.

1981

• Buy 41' sailboat with intent of sailing around the world. Live aboard, with the boat birthed at Shelter Island Marina. Rent an office and manage Friends distribution.

• Baja trip #8: San Felipe 680 mi. to La Paz in 23 days.

• On return trip, van engine blows. Tow van to San Diego and rebuild engine the Shelter Island parking lot.

• Twenty six days in England, climbing and working at Wild Country.

1980

• Winter: Lots of X-C skiing Yosemite.

• Late Winter & Early spring: lots of climbing Yosemite.

• With a few friends, invent "Sport Jumping" climbing a steep wall far above last piece, and leaping off - while belayed with climbing rope - the precursor to bungy jumping.

• Spring: Four months on Nose of El Cap, descending daily and commuting back up via jumar; free climb to base of Great Roof.

• Marriage #2.

• Retire from serious climbing, leave valley.

• Summer: Move to Draper, UT. Hang gliding in Utah, mostly cross-country; Log 64 hours air time in 67 days.

• Rebuild van engine.

• Fall: Baja trip #7 on Hobi 18: San Diego to Ensenada, and Bahia de Los Angles to nearby islands. Capsize Hobi, loose much gear when lashings break.

• Winter: Rent apartment El Cajon, make regular trips to Mt. Woodson for bouldering.

1979

• Spring: Very full season climbing and hang gliding in Yosemite. First free ascent of an El Cap grade VI: West Face.

• Summer: Hang gliding Owens Valley finishing by demolishing glider (Sea Hawk) in crash on Cerro Gordo.

• Buy new glider (Magic III) in Utah. Very full season hang gliding Utah.

• 2.5 months in England, climbing forty six routes and working on the "Friend" camming device.

• Back in Yosemite for climbing, buy first computer (Apple IIe) and log several hundred hours programming.

• Hang gliding Wyoming/Utah (Crawford Mountains).

• Fall: Excellent climbing season Yosemite.

• Late Fall: Baja trip #6: nine days paddling in vicinity of Bahia de Los Angeles.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1978

• Prospects of Friends going on sale seem slim, and I need living expenses for the coming climbing season, so work a few weeks at a Portland freight dock.

• Feb 23: receive first batch of Friends from Wild Country. First person in US to see one is first person to buy one - the Customs Import Agent happened to be climber.

• Spring climbing season in Yosemite, sell Friends out of car for $17.50 ea.

• Also start hang gliding. Friends sell well, and for first time in nine years I have extra money, so buy a hang glider: a used Sea Hawk.

• Summer: live with my parents in colorado Springs, working on business distributing Friends to US climbing shops.

• 18 days on Yellowstone River.

• Fall: Hang gliding Colorado and short flying season Utah.

• Full season climbing Yosemite with lots of hang gliding also.

• Make first-ever and possibly world's-only hang gliding flight off El Cap.

• Baja trip #5: nine days with family members to islands around Loreto.

• Back to Yosemite, trade old Rambler - home for several years - for equally old van which had more living space.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1977

• Spring: three months Yosemite, climbing 5.12 nearly every day, (Separate Reality, Owl, Phoenix, Rostrum) culminating in the Phoenix, 5.13.

• Two months climbing in England, 109 routes altogether, working with Mark Vallance to manufacture Friends and start Wild Country. My expenses paid but no salary.

• Back in the States, agate hunting on Yellowstone river for three weeks grubstaking next trip to Baja.

• Baja trip # 4: Bahia de Los Angeles to La Paz in 26 days.

• Winter: live in Yosemite, then later in Portland for a month.

1976

• Spring: Very full climbing season including my first 5.12s (Crimson Cringe & Hangdog Flyer) which were among the very first 5.12s anywhere. My 4th El Cap route (3-D), and more than 75 other climbs.

• End of season bank balance: $6.30.

• Wilderness Instructor in Pacific Northwest.

• Between classes, lead about a hundred pitches at Columns, Eugene.

• Fall: Yosemite climbing season.

• Baja trip #3, San Felipe to Bahia Animas in 25 days.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1975

• Spring climbing Eldorado.

• Very full season in Yosemite, about 50 routes including several first ascents.

• End of marriage #1.

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor in San Juans, Colorado.

• Fall: Climbing season Yosemite.

• Late Fall: Baja trip #2: Three weeks exploring the coast by car and kayak.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1974

• Very full Spring season Yosemite, using Friends.

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor Gore Range, Colorado.

• Fall: make fiberglass kayak on Catalina Island and paddle twenty seven miles back to the mainland.

• Baja trip #1, paddle San Felipe to Bahia de Los Angeles in two weeks.

• Winter: Live in Boulder.

1973

• Spring: Climbing at Leavenworth WA.

• Very full Spring season Yosemite, including third El Cap route (Salathé Wall).

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor Holy Cross range.

• Fall: Climbing Estes Park.

• Very full season Yosemite.

• Winter: Living in Boulder, invent "Friends" rock climbing anchors.

1972

• Spring: Estes Park climbing scores of routes.

• A very full season in Yosemite, climbing 5.10s almost exclusively.

• Summer Wilderness Instructor in San Juans, Colorado.

• Lots of climbing around Estes.

• 6th & 7th Diamond routes (Jack of Diamonds, Curving Vine).

• Fall: full season in Yosemite, my first 5.11 which was also 5th ascent and first all-nut ascent of New Dimensions.

• Taught Advanced Climbing at University of Colorado two seasons.

• Wife and I move to Port Angles, WA and work in home for mentally retarded, (Arlene Engel Home) one of my most rewarding jobs.

1971

• Spring in Eldorado and Yosemite, my second grade VI on El Cap (W. Face).

• Summer: numerous routes in Lumpies.

• 4th & 5th Diamond climbs (Grand Traverse & D-1).

• Fall: very full season in Yosemite culminated with my first 5.10 off-width.

• Winter: live with wife in Boulder.

1970

• Early Spring: Retire from aerospace industry, start climbing Eldorado Canyon full time.

• Spring: first full climbing season Yosemite.

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor (Outward Bound) in San Juans, Colorado.

• 3rd Diamond climb (Black Dagger).

• Climb Shiprock.

• Fall in Yosemite, my first climb of El Capitan (Nose).

• Winter: Back with wife, live in Lyons and work as a surveyor.

• Gym workouts three times a week, eventually manage a thousand pull-ups in a day. Friends on CU gymnastic team award me with team-colored sweat shirt with large "1" on it; one of my then most prized possessions.

1969

• Year of climbing so intense that its a wonder Martin Marietta does not fire me. Mostly climbing difficult routes in Eldorado.

• Travel to Peru, climb 22,210' Nevado Huascarán.

• 2nd Diamond climb (Yellow Wall).

• Single again, rent room in Bill Forrest's house with other climbers, help make innovative climbing gear.

1968

• Climbing trip to Yosemite.

• Large number of fairly difficult routes in Eldorado.

• Regular bouldering on Flagstaff Mountain & running Mesa Trail.

• First of seven Diamond ascents (D7 with four bivies, mostly pitons).

1967

• Spring: Graduate Northrop University with bachelors in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

• Move to Denver and work for Martin Marietta as Systems Analyst, specializing in computer simulated space-flight mechanics, shaping trajectories for earth satellite and interplanetary missions.

• Rock climb most evenings and most weekends, mostly in mountains west of Denver with a few forays into Boulder and Eldorado Canyons.

• First major alpine climb, and only climb with a guide: North Face Grand Teton with Peter Lev in two bivies.

• Climb a bunch of Colorado's 14,000' peaks.

• Instruct for Colorado Alpine Winter Mountaineering School for next two winters.

1966

• While attending school, work evenings at a custodial job (cleaning and maintenance duties). Then land a position at North American Aviation as a night draftsman (Behind my desk sat an XB-70 Valkyrie).

1965

• During college: live in my Dad's 18' trailer and pay $5 per month trailer space rent. My roommate paid the other $20.

• Peddle my old racing bicycle on a 15-mile loop most evenings. lots of body surfing, a few long bicycle trips, and several climbing classes with Sierra Club.

• Marriage #1.

1964

• Only summer off during college.

• In Colorado springs, work for my grandfather. Spend the whole summer digging a single ditch for water and sewer pipes - five feet deep, hundreds of feet long - in solid sandstone using an 80 pound jack hammer. $1.25 an hour.

• Sleep in a tent in my friend's back yard each night; climbing extensively in the Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne canyon on weekends.

• Buy a used car from my friend's parents - for $10, and together with my friend set off on a grand adventure.

• Climb Mt. Owens in Tetons.

• Drive to Missoula MT to visit my girlfriend (future wife); then on to Yosemite Valley for two weeks climbing.

1963

• Summer: Ride train to Yellowstone Park, and work as housekeeper and bear clean-up at West Thumb.

• Lots of hiking. Take Rock climbing lessons in Tetons with Instructor Barry Corbet of Everest fame. Then climb a few technical routes.

• Fall: Move to Los Angeles and enroll in Northrop University.

1962

• Spring: Graduate high school with rather poor grades (was more interested in hiking and gymnastics). Decide on aerospace engineering career, so return to high school and take summer classes.

• Summer: After the classes, walk three miles from school to work each day, and work until evening.

• Fall and winter: A year of Post Graduate high school, taking math and science classes (again working for my grandfather in the afternoons).

1945-1961

• Grow up in Colorado Springs.

• A great deal of hiking and camping.

• Climb Pikes Peak about 50 times.

• In the 1950's, live at my grandfather's ranch during the summers - mostly working (farming crops), and sleeping at my forest camp every night.

• Numerous spelunking trips, mainly to Hucky Cove. Over the course of my explorations, I found (and used) a second entrance to this cave.

• Eagle Scout.

• Break leg skiing, pins inserted and stay there permanently. Doctor's prognosis: will never walk again without pronounced limp. In cast nine months, most of that on crutches. Start walking three miles to school and another three miles to work, strengthening leg.

• High school gymnast (trampoline), Senior year place first at 50% of competitions.

• After the age of eight, work part time for grandfather in plumbing business - starting at 25 cents an hour, and gradually working up to 75 cents.

1944

• Start of the great adventure.

• Being born in 1944 makes me a member of the "Silent Generation." (The "Baby Boomers" came later.)

1944

• Start of the great adventure.

• Being born in 1944 makes me a member of the "Silent Generation." (The "Baby Boomers" came later.)

1945-1961

• Grow up in Colorado Springs.

• A great deal of hiking and camping.

• Climb Pikes Peak about 50 times.

• In the 1950's, live at my grandfather's ranch during the summers - mostly working (farming crops), and sleeping at my forest camp every night.

• Numerous spelunking trips, mainly to Hucky Cove. Over the course of my explorations, I found (and used) a second entrance to this cave.

• Eagle Scout.

• Break leg skiing, pins inserted and stay there permanently. Doctor's prognosis: will never walk again without pronounced limp. In cast nine months, most of that on crutches. Start walking three miles to school and another three miles to work, strengthening leg.

• High school gymnast (trampoline), Senior year place first at 50% of competitions.

• After the age of eight, work part time for grandfather in plumbing business - starting at 25 cents an hour, and gradually working up to 75 cents.

1962

• Spring: Graduate high school with rather poor grades (was more interested in hiking and gymnastics). Decide on aerospace engineering career, so return to high school and take summer classes.

• Summer: After the classes, walk three miles from school to work each day, and work until evening.

• Fall and winter: A year of Post Graduate high school, taking math and science classes (again working for my grandfather in the afternoons).

1963

• Summer: Ride train to Yellowstone Park, and work as housekeeper and bear clean-up at West Thumb.

• Lots of hiking. Take Rock climbing lessons in Tetons with Instructor Barry Corbet of Everest fame. Then climb a few technical routes.

• Fall: Move to Los Angeles and enroll in Northrop University.

1964

• Only summer off during college.

• In Colorado springs, work for my grandfather. Spend the whole summer digging a single ditch for water and sewer pipes - five feet deep, hundreds of feet long - in solid sandstone using an 80 pound jack hammer. $1.25 an hour.

• Sleep in a tent in my friend's back yard each night; climbing extensively in the Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne canyon on weekends.

• Buy a used car from my friend's parents - for $10, and together with my friend set off on a grand adventure.

• Climb Mt. Owens in Tetons.

• Drive to Missoula MT to visit my girlfriend (future wife); then on to Yosemite Valley for two weeks climbing.

1965

• During college: live in my Dad's 18' trailer and pay $5 per month trailer space rent. My roommate paid the other $20.

• Peddle my old racing bicycle on a 15-mile loop most evenings. lots of body surfing, a few long bicycle trips, and several climbing classes with Sierra Club.

• Marriage #1.

1966

• While attending school, work evenings at a custodial job (cleaning and maintenance duties). Then land a position at North American Aviation as a night draftsman (Behind my desk sat an XB-70 Valkyrie).

1967

• Spring: Graduate Northrop University with bachelors in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

• Move to Denver and work for Martin Marietta as Systems Analyst, specializing in computer simulated space-flight mechanics, shaping trajectories for earth satellite and interplanetary missions.

• Rock climb most evenings and most weekends, mostly in mountains west of Denver with a few forays into Boulder and Eldorado Canyons.

• First major alpine climb, and only climb with a guide: North Face Grand Teton with Peter Lev in two bivies.

• Climb a bunch of Colorado's 14,000' peaks.

• Instruct for Colorado Alpine Winter Mountaineering School for next two winters.

1968

• Climbing trip to Yosemite.

• Large number of fairly difficult routes in Eldorado.

• Regular bouldering on Flagstaff Mountain & running Mesa Trail.

• First of seven Diamond ascents (D7 with four bivies, mostly pitons).

1969

• Year of climbing so intense that its a wonder Martin Marietta does not fire me. Mostly climbing difficult routes in Eldorado.

• Travel to Peru, climb 22,210' Nevado Huascarán.

• 2nd Diamond climb (Yellow Wall).

• Single again, rent room in Bill Forrest's house with other climbers, help make innovative climbing gear.

1970

• Early Spring: Retire from aerospace industry, start climbing Eldorado Canyon full time.

• Spring: first full climbing season Yosemite.

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor (Outward Bound) in San Juans, Colorado.

• 3rd Diamond climb (Black Dagger).

• Climb Shiprock.

• Fall in Yosemite, my first climb of El Capitan (Nose).

• Winter: Back with wife, live in Lyons and work as a surveyor.

• Gym workouts three times a week, eventually manage a thousand pull-ups in a day. Friends on CU gymnastic team award me with team-colored sweat shirt with large "1" on it; one of my then most prized possessions.

1971

• Spring in Eldorado and Yosemite, my second grade VI on El Cap (W. Face).

• Summer: numerous routes in Lumpies.

• 4th & 5th Diamond climbs (Grand Traverse & D-1).

• Fall: very full season in Yosemite culminated with my first 5.10 off-width.

• Winter: live with wife in Boulder.

1972

• Spring: Estes Park climbing scores of routes.

• A very full season in Yosemite, climbing 5.10s almost exclusively.

• Summer Wilderness Instructor in San Juans, Colorado.

• Lots of climbing around Estes.

• 6th & 7th Diamond routes (Jack of Diamonds, Curving Vine).

• Fall: full season in Yosemite, my first 5.11 which was also 5th ascent and first all-nut ascent of New Dimensions.

• Taught Advanced Climbing at University of Colorado two seasons.

• Wife and I move to Port Angles, WA and work in home for mentally retarded, (Arlene Engel Home) one of my most rewarding jobs.

1973

• Spring: Climbing at Leavenworth WA.

• Very full Spring season Yosemite, including third El Cap route (Salathé Wall).

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor Holy Cross range.

• Fall: Climbing Estes Park.

• Very full season Yosemite.

• Winter: Living in Boulder, invent "Friends" rock climbing anchors.

1974

• Very full Spring season Yosemite, using Friends.

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor Gore Range, Colorado.

• Fall: make fiberglass kayak on Catalina Island and paddle twenty seven miles back to the mainland.

• Baja trip #1, paddle San Felipe to Bahia de Los Angeles in two weeks.

• Winter: Live in Boulder.

1975

• Spring climbing Eldorado.

• Very full season in Yosemite, about 50 routes including several first ascents.

• End of marriage #1.

• Summer: Wilderness Instructor in San Juans, Colorado.

• Fall: Climbing season Yosemite.

• Late Fall: Baja trip #2: Three weeks exploring the coast by car and kayak.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1976

• Spring: Very full climbing season including my first 5.12s (Crimson Cringe & Hangdog Flyer) which were among the very first 5.12s anywhere. My 4th El Cap route (3-D), and more than 75 other climbs.

• End of season bank balance: $6.30.

• Wilderness Instructor in Pacific Northwest.

• Between classes, lead about a hundred pitches at Columns, Eugene.

• Fall: Yosemite climbing season.

• Baja trip #3, San Felipe to Bahia Animas in 25 days.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1977

• Spring: three months Yosemite, climbing 5.12 nearly every day, (Separate Reality, Owl, Phoenix, Rostrum) culminating in the Phoenix, 5.13.

• Two months climbing in England, 109 routes altogether, working with Mark Vallance to manufacture Friends and start Wild Country. My expenses paid but no salary.

• Back in the States, agate hunting on Yellowstone river for three weeks grubstaking next trip to Baja.

• Baja trip # 4: Bahia de Los Angeles to La Paz in 26 days.

• Winter: live in Yosemite, then later in Portland for a month.

1978

• Prospects of Friends going on sale seem slim, and I need living expenses for the coming climbing season, so work a few weeks at a Portland freight dock.

• Feb 23: receive first batch of Friends from Wild Country. First person in US to see one is first person to buy one - the Customs Import Agent happened to be climber.

• Spring climbing season in Yosemite, sell Friends out of car for $17.50 ea.

• Also start hang gliding. Friends sell well, and for first time in nine years I have extra money, so buy a hang glider: a used Sea Hawk.

• Summer: live with my parents in colorado Springs, working on business distributing Friends to US climbing shops.

• 18 days on Yellowstone River.

• Fall: Hang gliding Colorado and short flying season Utah.

• Full season climbing Yosemite with lots of hang gliding also.

• Make first-ever and possibly world's-only hang gliding flight off El Cap.

• Baja trip #5: nine days with family members to islands around Loreto.

• Back to Yosemite, trade old Rambler - home for several years - for equally old van which had more living space.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1979

• Spring: Very full season climbing and hang gliding in Yosemite. First free ascent of an El Cap grade VI: West Face.

• Summer: Hang gliding Owens Valley finishing by demolishing glider (Sea Hawk) in crash on Cerro Gordo.

• Buy new glider (Magic III) in Utah. Very full season hang gliding Utah.

• 2.5 months in England, climbing forty six routes and working on the "Friend" camming device.

• Back in Yosemite for climbing, buy first computer (Apple IIe) and log several hundred hours programming.

• Hang gliding Wyoming/Utah (Crawford Mountains).

• Fall: Excellent climbing season Yosemite.

• Late Fall: Baja trip #6: nine days paddling in vicinity of Bahia de Los Angeles.

• Winter: live in Yosemite.

1980

• Winter: Lots of X-C skiing Yosemite.

• Late Winter & Early spring: lots of climbing Yosemite.

• With a few friends, invent "Sport Jumping" climbing a steep wall far above last piece, and leaping off - while belayed with climbing rope - the precursor to bungy jumping.

• Spring: Four months on Nose of El Cap, descending daily and commuting back up via jumar; free climb to base of Great Roof.

• Marriage #2.

• Retire from serious climbing, leave valley.

• Summer: Move to Draper, UT. Hang gliding in Utah, mostly cross-country; Log 64 hours air time in 67 days.

• Rebuild van engine.

• Fall: Baja trip #7 on Hobi 18: San Diego to Ensenada, and Bahia de Los Angles to nearby islands. Capsize Hobi, loose much gear when lashings break.

• Winter: Rent apartment El Cajon, make regular trips to Mt. Woodson for bouldering.

1981

• Buy 41' sailboat with intent of sailing around the world. Live aboard, with the boat birthed at Shelter Island Marina. Rent an office and manage Friends distribution.

• Baja trip #8: San Felipe 680 mi. to La Paz in 23 days.

• On return trip, van engine blows. Tow van to San Diego and rebuild engine the Shelter Island parking lot.

• Twenty six days in England, climbing and working at Wild Country.

1982

• End marriage #2.

• Hire secretary named Jenny.

• Take Jenny scuba diving Cayman Islands and one and half months England, climbing (21 routes) and business, with week's holiday in Alps.

• Wild Country withdraws my U.S. Friends distributorship. Jenny and I decide to chuck it all, and sail around the world.

• November 2: set sail - 3,000 mi. in 29 days to Marquesas Islands. Two months gunkholing Marquesas.

1983

• Three months Tahiti & Moorea, and a month in the Leewards.

• Six days sailing to Rarotonga, 12 days there.

• Eleven days sailing to Vava'u, Tonga, 35 days there.

• Five days to Fiji, 23 days there.

• Five days to Solomon islands, 4 days there.

• Four days sailing to New Caledonia, 14 days there.

• Nine days sailing to Bundaburg, Australia, 6 months waiting out cyclone season.

• Buy motorcycle and tour inland, take lessons in powered aircraft and earn Restricted Private Pilot's License. Also fly sailplanes once a week.

1984

• Rebuild sailboat engine.

• Two months sailing north inside Great Barrier Reef, anchoring each night.

• Nine days sailing to Darwin and 17 days there.

• Fifteen days to Christmas Island and 6 days there.

• Five days to Cocos Keeling, favorite tropical island, and 21 days there.

• Sixteen days to Rodriguez, 7 days there.

• Four days to Mauritius, 10 days there.

• Two days to Reunion Island, 10 days there - mostly hiking remote interior.

• Nineteen days sailing to Richard's Bay, South Africa, and 28 days there. Several trips inland, including 5 days at fabulous Kruger National Game Park.

• Three months in South Africa altogether, hopping port to port making way around infamous Cape of Storms.

1985

• Fourteen days sailing across Southern Atlantic to St. Helena, six days there.

• Eighteen days sailing to Fortaleza, Brazil, four days there.

• Sixteen days sailing north along coast of South America and into Caribbean, to Bonaire. Six months in Bonaire, waiting out hurricane season, snorkeling and scuba diving.

• Eight days sailing to Panama, 22 days there - including touring country by car and transiting Panama Canal.

• Six days to Costa Rica, 25 days there.

• 40 days sailing along coast of Central America, stopping at various ports of call.

• Sail back into San Diego harbor December 24, 1985, completing round the world voyage.

1986

• Sell sailboat, live in apartment in San Diego for three weeks.

• Move to Utah for a summer of cross-country hang gliding, Jenny driving radio-equipped chase vehicle, 89 hours flight time in 78 days.

• Fall: 13 days Yellowstone River.

• Winter: Live in Colorado Springs.

1987

• Spring: Move to Manitou Springs (Ruxton Ave), train on Pikes Peak for upcoming PCT hike.

• Summer: Pearl 1: Pacific Crest Trail hike #1: 2,500 mi. total, Mexico to Canada generally along PCT in 4 months and 2.5 weeks.

• Two days after completing PCT we participate in Pikes Peak marathon ascent.

• Move to Longmont, CO, (Warren Ave).

• Winter: Prepare for Alaska trip.

1988

• Summer: "Arctic" trip #1: Sea Tub: 3,300 mile kayak trip in 100 days, Anacortes, WA, to Bering Sea. Route: 1,100 miles Inside Passage to Skagway, 100 miles portage Chilkoot Trail in 3 trips, 2,000 miles Yukon River to Bering Sea, return 7 miles to village of Emmonak.

• Fall: 20 days on the Yellowstone River.

• Winter: Rent apartment Salt Lake City.

1989

• Spring: 23 days Yellowstone River.

• Summer: Write Book #1: The story of our first PCT thru-hike (unpublished).

• Fall: 10 days on the John Muir Trail.

• 12 days on the Yellowstone River.

• Baja trip # 9: The Cardon Coast, paddling 680 mi. from San Felipe to La Paz in 33 days.

• Move to central Oregon and live in van for a month while looking for inexpensive property.

1990

• 1990: Spring: nine days on the Yellowstone River.

• Buy three fixer-upper houses in LaPine, OR and spend summer renovating them, live in one and rent the other two.

• Build garage, our first construction project.

• Write Book #2: Global Voyage the story of our round-the-world voyage (Published 2017).

• Three hundred hours programming new Friend stem design, make it twice as strong and half the weight. (WC rejects the design)

1991

• Spring: travel to Hawaii, Hike the Na Pali Coast.

• Summer: Pearl 2: PCT hike #2: 2,700 mi. total, Campo to Manning Park in 4 months and 3 days.

• Fall: Write Book #3: PCT Hiker's Handbook, the book that started it all.

• Travel to Washington DC, five days at Smithsonian.

1992

• Spring: Publish PCT Hiker's Handbook.

• Summer: Pearl 3: thru-hike Continental Divide Trail, 2,500 mi. Waterton Lakes, Canada to Palomas, Mexico in 3 months and 3 weeks.

• Fall: 10 day BVI bareboat charter.

1993

• Spring: Sell one rental property.

• Summer: Pearl 4: thru-hike Appalachian Trail: 2,100+ mi. Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin in 2 months and 28 days starting June 8.

• Fall: Build 36' x 48' shop in back yard.

• Start American Long Distance Hiker's Association, West (ALDHA-West)). At first annual Gathering, we climb nearby South Sister mountain. Start publishing quarterly newsletter. By the time we resign, three years later, paid membership had reach 850.

1994

• Sell second rental property.

• Spring holiday: 9 days at Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Summer: PCT hike #3, southbound, 2,700 mi. Manning Park to Campo in 3 months and 4 days.

• 10 days BVI bareboating.

• Write Book #4: the CDT Pocket Planner

1995

• Spring: 12 days in Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Design and build kayak #1 of carbon fiber & epoxy.

• Summer: Arctic trip #2 Paddle from St. Marys near mouth of Yukon River, north along coast of Alaska to Shishmaref, exceptionally stormy conditions. 48 days, 600 miles.

• BVI bareboat charter w/ snorkeling & windsurfing.

• Write Book #5: Pacific Crest Trail Hiker‘s Handbook, A major re-write, call it the "Second Edition."

• Make our first web page.

1996

• Spring: Design and build kayak #2 of Kevlar, carbon fiber and epoxy.

• Summer: Arctic trip #3: kayak Alaska coastline, Shishmaref to within 11 miles of Herschell Island, Canada. Stopped by pack ice and paddle sub-freezing conditions 100 miles back to village of Kaktovik. 78 days, 1,440 miles.

• Fall: Three weeks Tracker classes.

• 12 days Canoeing Fulton Chain of Lakes in Adirondacks.

1997

• Design and build kayak #3, vacuum bagging all components.

• Arctic and sub-arctic trip #4: Paddle kayak #3 down Mackenzie River 975 miles Ft. Providence to Inuvik in 18 days, float-plane to turn-around point of previous summer on coast, paddle 200 miles to Tuktoyaktuk in 12 days.

• Also sub-arctic trip #5: Canoe Thelon River 575 miles Lynx Lake to Baker Lake in 24 days.

• Fall: Nearly 3 months at Tracker school.

• A week in Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Christmas Card

1998

• A year of practicing primitive skills.

• Several zero-packweight outings, the longest being 12 days.

• A week in VA studying under master flintknapper Errett Callahan.

• Host BBC film crew of seven in Three Sisters Wilderness, making film about R & J's wilderness philosophies.

1999

• Write Book #6: Beyond Backpacking.

• Subarctic trip #6: Canoeing the Back and Meadowbank rivers, 40 days, 736 mi.

• Switch to raw foods (9/9/99).

2000

• Six months developing next phase of Ray-Way lightweight hiking (Unpublished).

• Week of fishing at Kasba Lake with parents.

• Two weeks skydiving Arizona.

• Two weeks skydiving Florida.

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Move to Arizona and begin skydiving full time.

2001

• Full-time skydiving except for:

• Subarctic trip #7: Canoe the Kazan River, 560 mi. in 25 days; Kasba Lake to Inuit hamlet of Baker Lake.

• Move into new house of own design.

• In first year of skydiving R logs 1,300 jumps and Jenny 700.

2002

• Skydiving full time except for:

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean) in April

• Trip to UK.

• Row across Atlantic Ocean: 3,003 mi. in 53 days. Nov-Dec

2003

• Retire from skydiving with R 2,591 jumps & J 2,000.

• Start company Ray-Way Products and start making and selling kits for sewing outdoor gear.

• Write Book #7: The Ray Way Tarp Book.

• Pearl 6: IUA Hike & Bike, Canada to Mexico 2,000 mi. in 63 days.

• Autumn: teaching classes: 7-day Journey's Flow class Oregon, and three 7-day Connection Camps Arizona.

2004

• Hold five 3-day sewing classes; students make backpacks, quilts, etc.

• Hello America bicycle trip, coast-to-coast round-trip from home, 6,689 mi. in 92 days.

• Write Book #8: Siku Kayak.

• Teach two Journey's Flow classes and one 10-day Connection Camp.

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean) with lots of windsurfing as usual.

2005

• Working on Ray-Way Products full-time except for:

• Subarctic trip #8 Coppermine River starting at Yellowknife via Pike's Portage: 960 mi. in 39 days (44 portages totaling 15 mi., 710 mi of lakes and up rivers, then 250 mi. down the Coppermine in 8 days.)

• Teach two Journey's Flow class in Oregon.

• 9/20 personal accident.

• Trip to Saint Martin (Caribbean).

• Climbed Pic'ho Peak forty-eight times in 2005.

2006

• Trip to Colorado skiing Loveland and snowkiting Dillon reservoir.

• A week of snowkiting in Minnesota.

• A week of snowkiting in Utah.

• Two weeks on Greenland Ice Cap and a week in Iceland.

• Ski to the South Pole in 57 days.

• Climbed Pic'ho Peak 105 times in 2006.

2007

• Climbed highest peak in Antarctica: Vinson Massif 16,050 ft.

• Reached 22,000' on Aconcagua.

• A month's trekking in the Himalayas, reaching Camp 2 on Everest.

• Fall: two months in Argentina climbing in the Andes, reached 21,000 with Jenny.

• Produced the Knife-Kit Ray-Way Sharpening Video.

2008

• Write Book #9: "Trail Life," doing all the layout work and photo prep myself.

• Running and training for the AT.

2009

• Ray's Pearl 7: Second Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin - 2,100+ mi in 103 days.

• Develop new products for Ray-Way.

• Training for the AT.

2010

• Develop new products for our Ray-Way business.

• Ray's Pearl 8: Third thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail: Springer Mountain to Mt. Katahdin - 2,100+ mi in 100 days.

• Cycling the TransAmerica Trail, 3,783 mi. in 54 days.

2011

• Write Book #10: The Ray-Way Tarp Book Essential.

• Ride motorcycle twice across the US: Ray's 2011-Moto-America 7,300 mi. in 22 days.

• Ride to Prudhoe 2011-Moto-Prudhoe 10,700 mi. in 40 days.

• Early winter: 33 day fast.

2012

• Moto-Baja 1,800 mi. in 10 days.

• Tail of the Mexican Dragon 6 days.

• Canyonlands 1,500 mi in 7 days.

• Four Corners 8,500 mi. in 20 days.

• 4,000 mi of Dirt 4,800 mi in 17.5 days.

• CA Mountains & Coast 3,282 mi in 11 days.

• Colorado TAT 2,073 mi. in 8 days.

• TAT UT-NV-OR 3,647 mi. in 15 days.

• Fall & Winter: training for the AT.

2013

• AT Section Hike, Part 1: Springer Mt to Harpers Ferry - 1,022 mi in 49 days.

• Dad's memorial ride

• 2013-07-GDRx2-tagalong 4,756 mi. in 20 days.

2014

• Seven months working on a programming project.

• 2014-07-GDRx2-Alberta 6,323 mi. in 28 days.

• 2014-09-GDRx2-Columbus-Roosville 5,222 mi. in 20 days.

• 40-Day Water Fast

2015

• Seven months working on the Blood Cleaner.

• 2015-09 GDRx2-FW 6,287 mi. in 30 days

• 2015 Moto-Baja 2,034 miles in 9 days, Nov.

• Winter: training for the AT.

2016

• Six months working on the Blood Cleaner.

• AT Section Hike, Part 2: Harpers Ferry WV to Lincoln NH, 777 mi in 44 days - Apr 12 to May 25.

• Ray's Pearl 9: AT Section Hike, Part 3: Lincoln NH to Katahdin, 389 mi in 24 days - Jul 06 to Jul 29.

• Trip to Japan, 10 days.

2017

• Write Book #12: Extreme Fun

• Write Book #11: Pearl Four

• Publish Global Voyage.

• Motorcycle stolen, no trips this year.

• Motorcycle recovered and rebuilt.

2018

• 2018-10-GDR-Gravellies: 4,453 mi in 17 days.

2019

• 2019-09-GDR-Nisus: 3,300 mi in 19 days.

• 2019-10-LT-Kingman

• Iron Butt Ride #1 Winter Solstice 1000: Riding a thousand miles in 24 hours.

2020

• 2020-09 Divide, All-Night-Dig: 5,500 mi in 35 days.

2021

• Jenny's Pearl 8: AT thru-hike: 2,197 mi in 114 days.

• Ray worked on his fence all summer.

• 50-day water-only fast

2022

• Write Book #13: Saga of the Sea Tub Story of our 3,300 mile sea-kayaking journey to the Artic.

• Write Book #14: Legend of Nunaluk

• Write Book #15: Black River Odyssey

2023

• Write Book #16 Tempest Chronicles: Paddling the west coast of Alaska

• Moto-Alaska: 10,254 mi in 32 days.

• Iron Butt Ride #2 Bun Burner 1500: 1,537 mi in 33 hrs 23 min.

• Write Book #17 Coppermine Quest: Paddling in the far-north Canada.

2024

• Iron Butt Ride #3 San-Diego-Express: 1,148 mi in 22 hrs 50 min.