Bits and pieces as I remember them:
Born: August, 1949, in Pontiac, Michigan. Named Ellis Brasch. Missed most of the 5th grade with rheumatic fever; all I remember is that I got to stay in bed and watch television all day. Seemed cool to me. High school: Lived for the weekend and for cruising Woodward Avenue in my parents’ yellow Olds 442. Gas was cheap; you could disconnect the speedo cable and drive forever. Played guitar (still do) and listened to music on a week-day radio show called Gambit on WDET FM. College: Went to Michigan State, studied hard and did things I can’t tell you about now. Saw the Mike Hoover short film, Solo (1972), and immediately decided I wanted to do that mountaineering thing. Bailed out of Michigan in 1973 and headed for Oregon. Spent the next five years climbing in the pacific northwest. Burned out on climbing in the late ’70s and decided I wanted to write about food and wine. Picked up an MBA at Portland State along the way. Avoided responsible work until 1989. Got hooked on triathlon and mountain bike racing in the ’90s; played a lot of golf too, but that made me suicidal.
3 responses so far ↓
Chris Kobler // August 6, 2007 at 12:41 pm
I found this site while googling Dana Yelverton and was somewhat stunned to find this reference. Not only was I there in July 72, I was holding Dana when she passed. She actually died of interstitial pneumonia (at the time a rare form of the disease that had only ocurred above 10,000 feet).
How do you know her name; is there a memorial in the Goat Rocks?
Regards,
Chris Kobler
geulincx // August 8, 2007 at 6:44 am
There was a memorial (and shelter) in Dana’s name in the mid-seventies but the shelter wasn’t maintained. The shelter was complete with rock walls and roof and there was a plaque dedicated to the memory of Dana.
In 2003, there was not much left of the shelter – just the remnants of the walls. But the plaque was still there. I know her name only from the shelter and the story behind it. I’m planning on spending some time in the Goat Rocks again this summer.
Marshall Sperling // October 5, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Also googling Dana Yelverton to see what is out there. Have emailed back and forth with Roger Burris and now I see Chris Koblers’s name. I knew about as much about Dana’a story as Geulincx until communicating with Roger a few weeks ago. I would certainly be interested in hearing more of your story Chris.