Plutonium Bill is climbing

[Pug]

Bill Painter is planning to climb Hood tonight as a warm-up to Rainier. Bill is 84 years old and set the record as the oldest person to climb Rainier at the age of 81 1/2 in 2004. In 2005 and 2006 he raised the bar to 82 and 83 years old. LAst year's climb up Rainier was via the Kautz route. Pretty good ice-climb for an old guy.

 

If Bill passes you on the way up Hood tonight, please wish him well.

[ivan]

but will he be bringing a tauntaun and mlu?

 

weather kinda sucks - seems like if he's waited this long he could wait another night...

[catbirdseat]

I just belayed another 84 year old fella up a 5.9+ slab climb. He had to aid at a couple of places, but he got up the thing (with a little encouragement from me).

[G-spotter]

Don't forget the GPS log and three witnesses

[tvashtarkatena]

 

[Pug]

Pu239Bill waited a day. Just got a phone call that he is now above the Palmer and enjoying his evening climb.

[Jens]

Don't forget the GPS log and three witnesses

[Pug]

Plutonium Bill summitted about 5:30AM today and at 7:30AM phoned on his descent. He was already below the Palmer Lift. Said he had a little icy sections in the chute, but it was a fine morning. I don't know if anyone older than 84 years has summitted Mt.Hood, but I suspect there have been others. This isn't Bill's first assent of Hood. Bill wanted needed a "warm-up" to judge his fitness for another Rainier climb in June.

I'm sure he will be in Hood River drinking a beer by lunchtime.

[John Frieh]

Cheers to Bill

 

What pub does Bill frequent? Big Horse?

 

What is the story behind "Plutonium"? When is he thinking about Rainier?

 

[Pug]

Usually stops at Big Horse. Those stairs are so much fun after a climb and then stiffening up in the car for an hour.

 

Bill served in the army in WWII in the North African, European, and Japanese theaters. After surviving that, he worked at Hanford in eastern Washington for 40 years. He worked in the PUREX (Plutonium Uranium Reduction EXtraction) facility and when he retired was manager of the PFP (Plutonium Finishing Facility). Bill lives with his beautiful dark-eyed bride of 60 years in Richland, Washington.

 

Bill is a avid bicyclist (down to 6,000+ miles/year) and a recreational climber. Bill plans to climb Ingram direct in early June.

 

He should sell vials of his blood.

Edited May 23, 2007 by Pug