I first met Scott Richards back in March of 1996 when I received an email asking if the climbing area on my webpage listed under Bear Rocks, was the same rocks near the old ski resort in Bear Rocks Community - Acme, PA. Turns out Scott lived about 1 mile down the road from me and my wife. We met one Saturday morning at Spruce Hollow to meet and climb. I setup a climb called the Castle and Scott and I both climbed it. We also rigged some other climbs and enjoyed climbing them. Right away I felt comfortable climbing with Scott. Little did I know that was the start to almost 4 years of outdoor adventures with a new friend. Scott and I spent that entire year working on a Spruce Hollow climb we called the "Tree Climb". It was rated about 5.10 and was a real project for both of us. Consistently overhanging and pumpy. Eventually by the end of the season we were both able to climb it. We made a lot of trips to Coopers Rocks, WV that year. One early one that sticks out in my mind was when we were there the first day the park opened in 1996 it was April 3rd. We camped at McCollum Campground right in Coops. We awoke to overcast skies and cool temps, (around 45degrees). The first stop that day was Haystack Block.  I led Rebolting Development & belayed Scott to the top. We hung out and enjoyed the view of the Cheat River. The temperatures must have dropped, because all of a sudden it started to snow. We rigged the rope for rappel and went down. We then went over to a climb near the Pavilion at the start to the Rock City Trail.  I had led it once before.  I went up first placing gear.  After I got to the top, I brought Scott up and he cleaned my gear. He climbed it without any problems. I asked him if he was interested in trying lead climbing. He said he was and that was it. He walked down as I rapped stopping at where the first placement went. I decided that he should at least have the first piece in due to the fact that it could be a serious ground fall in the event of him slipping.  He took the rack and off he went. He climbed calm and smooth, being cautious as one should be on their first lead climb. He made it to the top and was obviously excited to have done such an accomplishment. I was proud to be there for his first lead climb. We had many great climbing and camping trips that season. We climbed at Bellfonte Quarry and Donation Rocks up in state College. We went to Cheatfest and got soaked in the major rainstorm that occurred weekend. We spent a lot of time hiking on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, including a 4 day thru hike with fellow adventurer Tom Kopler.

That winter we spent a lot of time winter camping. We hiked into the shelters on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail just about every weekend, just to camp out in the cold. There were even some week nights we camped out. We would hike into the shelters around 6:00, and spend the night out (just because it was cold). We would have to get up around 4:30 to hike out and drive home in time to get a shower and get to work on time. There aren't many people you meet that would be up to that type of activity, just for the fun of it. We always had a great time. On January 4th 1997, I married Holly Moore at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Scott had become a good friend to Holly and I, so was asked him to be in our wedding party. He agreed and so it was. On the day Holly and I got married, it was about 70 degrees and sunny out. Nemacolin has an outdoor climbing wall and ropes course, so guess what Scott and I did before the ceremony. You guessed it, we were climbing. It was funny. Scott brought his climbing shoes and clothing with him in anticipation of climbing. I didn't. He lent me a pair of shorts and I somehow managed to squeeze my feet into his 5.10 guide tennies and up the wall we went. We had a blast. After climbing the wall, we took to the ropes course having a great time doing all the different skill stations.  It was a great way to take the edge off of the wedding day jitters.  I'll never forget what a day it was. To top it off that evening after the ceremony and reception, we rode the mechanical bull at their Country and Western bar in our tuxedo's. What a sight we were.  Along with getting married that winter, I also took up ice climbing. I was addicted the first time I went. After trying it, I asked Scott to give it a try. He wanted no parts of it. He just wasn't interested. After me pestering him to try it, he finally gave in. We went to Ohiopyle state park and setup a toprope on an ice column along Meadow Run. Just like I was, Scott was hooked after his first trip up the ice. I don't think more than a week went by and Scott was out shopping for tools. We discovered the Secret Cliffs near the end of that season.  We were amazed at the amount of ice that the area had. Pillars up to 150' high. We even found a 2 pitch route that we wanted to climb, but were too inexperienced to accomplish just yet. We put up 4 climbs that one trip we made. It was unbelievable to get a first ascents of that caliber in Western Pennsylvania. We knew that next ice season was going to be a great one.

Spring of '97 brought us lots of trips to Seneca Rocks, WV. We were there just about every weekend. We both got a quick lesson in being wigged out on lead. Sometimes we were scared while we were climbing, but after we were down the accomplishment kicked in. What a great feeling to look up at the rocks from the front porch and eye out the routes you did that day. After climbing we always got some beers and sat around to B.S. about anything and everything. After several hours we would hit the hay and dream of the climbs that awaited us the next morning. Our rule was to be up at the rocks by daybreak... to be sure to get our choice of at least one route. After completing our first climb we were willing to walk around and find something available. We spent quite a few weekends at Coopers also. Training and getting better at climbing. After many great camping and climbing trips to local crags like Krahlick, The Knobs, Coll's Cove, The Pipeline, Soldiers, Casparis, Uncle Joe's and many others that season, snow and ice was upon us again. We were excited to get back into ice climbing at the Secret Cliffs. The first couple of trips to the Secret Cliffs provided us with about 6 new routes, but on New Years Day 1998, Scott Richards, Matt Johns and Myself put up an ice route that has no equal in PA. It was 2 pitches of solid 4+ climbing. The first being 110' and the second pitch about 100' on some really nice ice. It took us 4 hours to get the 3 of us up that climb, but it was and still is one of my most memorable climbing experiences ever. On January 16th the 3 of us left for an ice trip to New Hampshire. We spent 4 days climbing all kinds of good ice. It was a great trip that we wanted to take again someday. The rest of 1998 we did a lot of local climbing and development. We bolted and completed some new routes at The Knobs in Dunbar, as well as put up some new routes at Elk Rocks, both of which were some of the best climbs I've done to date. We made a trip to the Gunks up in NY. It was Scott, Tom & Kim Kopler, Ron Edwards and I. We spent 4 days climbing the famed routes of the Gunks. We had alot of fun climbing all day and eating great meals at night. Also in 1998 Scott went out to climb Mt. Ranier in Washington. This was his 2nd trip to the mountain. After being there, he had a strong desire to move out there... He never really explained it to me, but I think I understand why he wanted to go so bad. On Tuesday December 22, 1998, Scott made his last drive up Rockpool road to visit Holly, now Skyler (our 4 month old son) and I. We sat around to reminisce of days gone by. Trips we had taken, etc. I was sad to be losing such a great climbing partner and friend, but thrilled that Scott was moving somewhere that would make him happy and give him the opportunity to do what he enjoyed as much as I. I knew that I wouldn't see him very often, but I could travel out there each year to visit and have the same great adventures we'd always had, only in another area of the county. Now as I sit here and write this after his terrible accident, I realize that I won't get the opportunity to share those great experiences with Scott again, but the memories of the times we've had will be with me forever and his words of encouragement will go through my mind each time I'm out climbing and face a difficult situation or decision.