In the beginning, back when things made sense, when there was a normal logic or way of thinking. Way back then when boys were boys and girls were not. Boys liked sports, guns and the outdoors while girls were content to talk and play with dolls. When that changed, I'm not sure, but this much I do know, I've always loved being in the outdoors...

So begins Thoughts on Mountain Climbing, as a 54 year old backpacker from Tennessee takes up mountaineering and goes after his dream of climbing Mt. Rainier.

Jim learns from his mistakes, faces some very real fears and experiences success while gaining a new perspective about life at lower elevations.