Take a Hike!  Climbing all the Colorado 14K’ Summits

Have you ever wanted to climb a “fourteener”?  This Wednesday our own ever-entertaining Bill “The Voice” Moellenhoff will share his passion for peaks and share experiences and tips for doing your own fourteener.  Bill will be introduced by Dr. Bob Meroney.  

 

Colorado has 54 peaks at least fourteen thousand feet above sea level.  Most are just hikes at altitude, not technical, requiring climbing gear and “protection pieces”, and have well-marked routes to the summit.  The keys to a successful summit hike are relatively simple; one must have a good level of aerobic conditioning, a good degree of knowledge of Colorado weather and common sense.  Proper clothing and footwear are essential.  Bill will note a few exceptions to this formula.

 

Bill Moellenhoff grew up in St. Louis, MO, graduated from the University of Missouri, and accidently climbed Longs Peak at age 16 for his first fourteener.  He recently retired as a Financial Representative for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, and joined RCFC in 1981, becoming club President 1991-92.  Bill has been honored by RCFC for “Five Avenues of Service” (2007-08), The Max Getts 4 Way Test award (along with wife Gentry, 2013-14), and was District Rotarian of the year in 2015.  He has been active in the District Youth Exchange program, and he and Gentry were sponsors of the yearly exchange student bus trip for 31 years.  Bill and Gentry completed all Colorado fourteeners in 1998.