I was born in Seattle, WA and have been hiking in the Cascades and Olympics since I was a youngster. I hiked the 50 mile Elwa River hike from Whiskey Bend to Lake Quinalt at age 15 shorlty after becoming an Eagle Scout. The mountains are my home...... At age 40 I was striken with M.S. . I was unable to backpack or hike for over 18 years. However, last year, 2010, I began to try a few short hikes and I noticed a great improvement. In September of 2010, I hiked from Chinnok Pass to White Pass, about 33 miles, with my two sons. Thank God for that trip! I had always wanted to do that hike and for my 60th birthday my sons Daniel and James made it all happen. Of course I was the head packmaster. ehbecker@live.com