Photos from a career covering Spokane’s golden age of climbing

When I was hired by The Spokesman-Review in 1977, fishing and hunting dominated newspaper outdoor writers’ coverage nationwide. But the Pacific Northwest summoned the outdoors beat to an even higher level.

Section:Gallery

Sat., Feb. 20, 2021

Dane Burns, Inland Northwest ice climbing expert, demonstrated his craft at Copper Falls for a newspaper story circa 1980.

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Chris Kopczynski toughs out a bitter storm in a wind-damaged tent during a 20-day, two-man trip in Alaska with Rich Landers to climb Denali.

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Rich Landers shovels out after a storm dumped 4 feet of snow overnight during a 20-day, two-man trip in Alaska with Chris Kopczynski to climb Denali.

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Dane Burns, Inland Northwest ice climbing expert, demonstrated his craft at Copper Falls for a newspaper story circa 1980.

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Kim Momb hones his ice-climbing skills at Mystic Falls in Indian Canyon City Park in 1979. Four years later he garnered international fame for his first ascent of the East Face of Mount Everest.

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Kim Momb tests the latest gear and hones his ice-climbing skills at Mystic Falls in Indian Canyon City Park in 1979. Four years later he garnered international fame for his first ascent of the East Face of Mount Everest.

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Kim Momb leads a rope team down from the summit of Mount Hood during a 1980 Spokane Mountaineers Mountain School graduation climb. Momb’s muscular 44-inch chest tapered to a lean 29-inch waist.

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Kim Momb joins Rich Landers backcountry skiing in the Idaho Selkirks for a story on winter camping techniques in 1983. A few months later, Momb garnered international fame for his first ascent of the East Face of Mount Everest.

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Dr. Jim States, who later climbed Mount Everest, led Rich Landers into the Idaho Selkirk Mountains for a story about mountaineering techniques for enduring harsh winter conditions and high altitudes.

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Students in the Spokane Mountaineers Mountain School ascend Mount Hood during their graduation climb in 1980. The club produced some world-class climbers – and a treasure trove of story material for outdoors writer Rich Landers.

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John Roskelley of Spokane was America’s premier mountaineer in the 1980s.

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Jim Spearman managed Selkirk Bergsport, a small mountain shop in Spokane during the 1970s and 80s, and shared his expertise on climbing and climbing gear. He’s pictured here at the top of Dragontail Peak during a Spokane Mountaineers climb he led to Washington’s Enchantment Lakes.

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