Mountaineering Class, 1970-71

THROUGH 58 YEARS, and counting, MLC has helped introduce generations of young people—three generations, and counting—to the outdoors. Hard to say whether it has done so in ways more experiential than traditional schools can offer—but being MLC it always tried! Day trips, field trips, camps (such as Cedar Rock), Outdoor Schools, personal mentorships.

For me, Bill Rotecki's Mountaineering class, which existed for the blink of an eye in 1970-71, was the ultimate MLC experiential educational experience. Its images fill my brain; it has run my life; I blame Bill!

Mountaineering was among MLC's first outdoor offerings, a weekly "class" started in either Spring or Fall 1970 (no-one can accurately reconstruct which). Bill was a much-loved aide from Reed College, who in the weekly course or "mini-course" listings of that era always called his class just Mountaineering, the official name that stuck, although it was sometimes referred to as the "Thursday [Afternoon] Adventurers'" club or group.

The handwritten note Lolita sent with her photos.

Jack Poulson climbing at Broughton Bluff.

Originally from Illinois, Bill (now in Ketchikan—see his full story here!) knew back-country travel, lore, technique and safety. He developed expertise along with Reed friends, and doing alternative service at MLC as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war, made teaching these things his central contribution (along with packmaking! ... see sidebar).

Bill in 1970 was tall and strong, with a Mennonite beard and a bearlike walk; intellectually inclined, extremely energetic, always in motion, and supremely good with young people—approachable, confident, and funny. He seemed to be dressed for the outdoors at all times.

Mountaineering trips were always day trips, never overnights. "I remember we left MLC at 11:00 am on Thursdays, ate our lunch on the road, and arrived at our destinations around noon," wrote John Lynch—who along with Bill Wheeler, and myself, probably missed the fewest Thursday outings. Indeed, the class was huge as a social experience, a foundation of lifelong friendships.

Destinations were as diverse as time, distance, and local environment allowed. Bill exposed us to hiking, rock climbing, mountain climbing, snowshoeing, canoeing, and kayaking, and showed us many places we still hold dear.

Bill Rotecki himself remembers some of the genesis. "As I recall, when I started out taking you younger folks on trips," Bill recently wrote, "I was allowed to drive. And then at some point, the powers that be said no that was not allowed and John Angell drove us various places."

After a time, Lolita Celsi (parent of MLC alumni David, Anny, and Teresa) took on most of the driving—and became the unofficial photographer. Her unearthing and generous sharing of some of her 55-year-old images helped inspire this post, and have made it compelling—possible, really.

Her accompanying handwritten note speaks volumes!

Trudy Borges, mom of MLC alumni Jack, Eric, and Lisa Poulson, drove on at least one occasion—Jack was probably along!—while John Angell continued with some of the driving.

Thumbnail: climbing at Angel's Rest in the Columbia Gorge; l to r: John Lynch, Sam Lowry (hidden), Bill Rotecki, Peter Paget and (perhaps) Amy King (all photos by Lolita Celsi).

Above: Stuart Taylor at Angel's Rest; below: climbing at Horsethief Butte.

Despite the presence of "regulars," I want to believe the group never felt exclusive or cliquish; maybe thirty or forty different kids came on one, or another, or multiple trips. Camaraderie, sense of adventure, and laughter were never in short supply. Thursdays were favorite days!

Some of us have put our heads together to reconstruct all the trips we took and remembered, and the list (see below) is unbelievably short, considering the outsize impact the trips—only they, purely they—had on some of our lives.

I told Bill about this and asked for his memories; for him, the collection seemed to loom less large. "If memory serves, which is very, very doubtful ...," Bill wrote, "you were on a few of the outings that I arranged when we were both at MLC." No, I replied, "I was likely on EVERY outing in your Mountaineering class .... [Y]ou were our leader and champion."

"Memory," Bill continued philosophically, modestly, "is unbelievably altered by what we think 'should' be true, or what we 'want' to be true .... People's memories are really likely to match what they think is consistent with how they think the world works. So you might have had some impression of me that led to a belief of who I was/am and that might alter your memory. But then, since I have no memory, how can I argue with yours?"

I assured him my memory was decent—"... although with lots of gaps and yes undoubtedly personal projections." Regarding Bill specifically though, "... well, everything I know about you," I said, "I have learned in the last week [here in 2026!] and I was just a kid when I knew you then so I have no preconceptions at all."

We agreed to disagree about some things. Both of us concluded Mountaineering probably began in Spring 1970 and hit full stride from the following Fall through Spring 1971. Bill thinks he taught one year, his Reed classmate Chris Price the next (after Bill left to attend the Evergreen State College), and Lolita only drove for Chris; I am certain she drove for Bill, and us, and Chris was along on several occasions.

I have no idea whether Chris Price taught Mountaineering in 1971-72! Does anyone know ??? With my family I traveled to Europe from May to December 1971, and when I came back Bill was gone, and I never saw him again; to me there was no Mountaineering class without him.

Others went on other trips, traditions were created, and these endured from 1972 forward—as photos on this page attest. These are others' stories to tell!

In Europe, I climbed. In teen years, with my brother, I backpacked and climbed. In college and after, with my friend John Lynch and others, I backpacked, and I climbed. At 68 I still do. It is largely Bill Rotecki's doing—which point of view, I'll argue until blue, is "consistent with how I think the world works"!

"I am somewhat surprised," Bill finally conceded, "by what sounds like my inspiring you peeps to do some fun stuff. It feels way good to know our shenanigans had some longer lasting positive impacts ... it feels good ... yeah ...."

— Sam Lowry

Packmaking!

Bill Rotecki knew how to sew, spotted the sewing machines in Geri Nusom's Home Economics room (shared with Couch students), and sometime in early 1971 added to the weekly class list, "Packmaking." It was a perfect complement to his Mountaineering class. Some of us started making our own gear.

As alumnus Tim McDevitt remembers: "Because of Bill I have been an REI member for 55 years. He told me how to join (cost a buck, it’s thirty now) because I had to order pack cloth, webbing, and D-rings, in order to make my rucksack on the sewing machine in the home-ec room. I remember appreciating the attention to detail: packing the tubular shoulder straps with foam, going to Oregon Leather to get scraps for zipper pull tabs, etc. Initially we broke every sewing machine needle going through leather, packcloth and webbing."

It is possible Couch and MLC student Eric Dortch started his highly successful West Ridge Designs pack company, also as a result of Bill's packmaking class.

Bill himself went on to create his own packmaking business—among his diverse careers! "Some of my packs are still in service," he wrote. "I made all the packs for climbing Denali in '76, so I guess that makes them 50 years old! Backpacks, kids' packs, dog packs, fanny packs, day packs, frameless packs, etc. I only just recently sold the last sewing machine I had held onto after all those years."

Memories from Mountaineering Class outings, 1970–71

Rock climbing at Pillars of Hercules in the Columbia Gorge:

"When we went to Pillars of Hercules in the Gorge, didn’t we take ceremonial leaks off the edge? I rode back to MLC on Bill’s friend Chris's motorcycle. Bill was in the sidecar and on the curves he would lean out to prevent the sidecar from tipping. No helmets no seat belt and going fast. Can you imagine today the school giving 13-year-old kids permission to go rock climbing and rappelling?" —Lee Gordon

"I remember chickening out on the final traverse and going back down." "Me too." —John Lynch and Sam Lowry

[This may have been the very first Mountaineering outing! It was the first time we met Chris Price, and it was before I became close friends with Lee Gordon. I think of it every time I drive by there. – SL]

Canoeing on the Willamette River (and in the Westmoreland Park pond and on the Sandy River!):

"Were you on the canoe trip that we took down a short section of the Willamette when it was rather full if not flooding and I was in a kayak and I tipped over? We stopped and went into a barn and found some owl pellets."

"I don't remember the owls but do remember the backside river-sides of farms. They blew my mind and I thought about them every day when I worked there in Yamhill County as a rural planner." —Bill Rotecki and Sam Lowry

"I think Ed Fountaine was along. We saw beavers at work on their dams. One of the canoes capsized, and a girl in it emerged with a transparent wet t-shirt, which caught the attention of all the boys." —John Lynch

"Bill assembled a bunch of canoes and kayaks. We first tried them out on the Westmoreland pond, then I think on the Sandy. Later I remember canoeing with him by moonlight at Sauvie Island!" —Jack Poulson

[Lark (Cambell) Lennox, her friend Gail who was also an aide, and I, split from the group for a while in a two-person and a one-person kayak, running beautiful little side channels. We got to see the Buena Vista Ferry in action. – SL]

Rock climbing at Broughton Bluff, in Lewis and Clark State Park near the mouth of the Sandy river:

"The rock climbing was Chris ... he was 'the man,' while snow climbing and hiking more likely were me."

"In your year (or years or year and a half) Chris was along on several trips, particularly due to his knowledge of rock climbing. Angel's Rest, maybe Broughton Bluff and Horsethief ... he (and you) introduced us to GORP and to PBC (peanut butter chewy), and he became known for 'the Chris Price hungry look'." —Bill Rotecki and Sam Lowry

"I did go to Lewis & Clark a couple of times, also Horsethief Rocks." —Tim McDevitt

[Tim helped identify participants shown in Lolita Celsi's wonderful photos. These outings attracted a cadre of interested young men, and it was my first real introduction to rock climbing. Bill told us of a friend of his who offered a million dollars to anyone who'd jump off the top of the Broughton cliff and grab a branch of one of the Doug Fir trees growing from the base; the branches seemed so very close. – SL]

Ice-axe self-arrest practice above Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood:

"I remember being three on a rope. Bill would push one over, so all three could practice self-arrest." —John Lynch

"We had to learn how not to stab ourselves in the stomach with the pick of the ice-axe when we flipped over. I remember Bill also got us crampons and we learned how to cut steps. For some reason I remember we ate sardines on Mt. Hood!" —Jack Poulson

[Our one foray onto mountain snow; exciting! In 2018, John told of the harrowing time his self-arrest knowledge saved his life. – SL]

Rock climbing and rappelling at Horsethief Butte, east of The Dalles in Washington state:

"I remember bouldering and doing the 90' rappel at Horsethief Butte! Bill brought horse-meat sandwiches which I tasted and liked. I got a crush on one of the girls ...." —Chris Ward

"Bill had an old BMW R-series motorcycle with a sidecar and I got to ride out to Horsethief with him." —Jack Poulson

[The big rappel was intimidating; all the older boys gave it a shot. This outing was captured in some of Lolita Celsi's photos. Tim Hunt and I went back later on our own to climb! – SL]

Hiking above "Abe's land" (later "High Valley Farm") in Skamania County, Washington:

"I remember hiking to the top of a bluff overlooking the farm. One of us took a tumble and nearly went over the edge." —John Lynch

[Marga Taylor and I found and rescued a hummingbird from an old shed; High Valley was soon purchased by a group of families including the Dragoons, and it became their home for quite a few years. – SL]

Hiking, swimming, and prusik-knot practice at High Bridge on Eagle Creek in the Columbia Gorge:

"I remember Lolita Celsi swimming the rapid under High Bridge!" —John Lynch

[Hanging on the beach under High Bridge with a mixed group of boys and girls was very romantic. We returned many times to backpack. – SL]

Bouldering and rappelling at Rocky Butte in northeast Portland:

"We went once or even twice to Rocky Butte in Portland to learn rappelling." —Chris Ward

[At least one Rocky Butte trip was on a very chilly Fall day and our hands got cold as we tried to grip the little basalt edges. – SL]

Hiking to and rock climbing at Angel's Rest in the Columbia Gorge:

"I remember hiking to the summit, but not climbing." —John Lynch

[Chris Price tried some climbing on the poor rock and a few students did some short rappels; this is where Lolita Celsi took photos of Stuart Taylor, and the iconic image of Bill and students at the top of this post. – SL]

Rainy hiking in Silver Creek Falls State Park near Silverton:

"Some snow, too!" —John Lynch

[This hike attracted a different crowd of boys and girls; it was cold and we got very wet, but it was still fun and the falls were beautiful. – SL]

Winter hiking, ice-walking and icicle-bashing at Eagle Creek in the Columbia Gorge:

[This outing was beautifully captured in some of Lolita Celsi's photos! – SL]

Snowshoeing to Mirror Lake off the highway below Government Camp:

[John Angell drove and tried to join us but had trouble with his "bearpaw" snowshoes which were too small to support him! The snowy cirque of Mirror Lake was like another world. – SL]

Other Columbia Gorge hikes—Horsetail Falls, Triple Falls, Herman Creek, and probably others:

[There were several hikes, possibly including one into the Oneonta Gorge, which taught us about the steep and beautiful areas just above the old Columbia Gorge highway. – SL]

Kayak roll practice in the Couch pool:

[This was rumored to have happened, while I was overseas, but so far there is no evidence! – SL]

Other Memories!

"I live in Juneau and Bill lives in Ketchikan; I used to see him when he ran a sailboat race that came up this way but it has been a few years. His Mountaineering class really gave us a lot of important and very unforgettable experiences!" —Jack Poulson

"MLC was so cool! I feel honored to be part of any historical account of MLC and Bill R.—who helped me realize I could pursue my dreams which eventually led to a career in ski patrol. I do remember adopting, as a group, the title of the 'Thursday Afternoon Adventurers' Club.' Riding in an old van, Bill driving, probably Chris Price riding shotgun, crew in the back performing sandwich rituals. I remember making a red rucksack in Bill’s class and wanting to do a sleeping bag which would of course have been far beyond my skill level. Also a canoe trip starting or ending at Champoeg Park I believe. And learning self arrest w/ice axe at Timberline on the edge of White River Canyon." —Chris Ward

"Gosh, I do not recall anything about this [the Willamette river canoe trip]. What I do recall is taking about eight students overnight backpacking along the Cascade Head Trail / Heart Cove out of Lincoln City. I think we were out two nights. There were about three adults and we split the bulk of the weight of tents, stoves, etc. among the adults while the children carried their personal gear. Toward the very end of the trip, my pack was getting heavier and heavier. I remember I stepped on a stick and it snapped. And I thought, very matter-of-factly, it was my back that just broke. I was so relieved to get to our destination and relieved all the children made it safely. It was just plain relief, physically and emotionally, that we'd had such a successful trip. Remember we had no cell phones so if something happened, we needed to deal with it!" —Lark (Campbell) Lennox (who was on the Willamette trip even if she doesn't remember)

"I will say your packmaking class also set me off on a jag. That's another story but I still have and use the sewing machine my mom bought me as a result, in 1972 or so." —Sam Lowry

Photos below: these images in Lolita Celsi's collection are from 1971, and presumably from that Fall, that is to say post-Bill-Rotecki, for none who were in his 1970-71 Mountaineering classes recognize the hike or hikers—but see how things are progressing from our day! The boys are older, toting backpacks with multi-day gear, and ropes! From 1972 forward, traditions evolved; there were, for example, the trip Lark recounts above; another (possibly the same one) led by Ron Ashford that ended at the Celsis' "ranch"; one with Larry Colton, his girlfriend who was also an MLC aide, and Lee Gordon, to Eagle Creek ... and then forward, toward the present!