Robert Walton's experience with realism started at a young age while climbing the mountains of the Northwest. Climbing companions such as the Whitaker brothers (first Americans to conquer Mt. Everest). Leroy Ritchie, and many others flavored his teen years with thrills, excruciating finger-hanging experiences all encased in the fabulous scenery afforded from Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Baker, Mt. Hood and all of the major mountain peaks of Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada.

The frosting on Robert's climbing career happened when he was in his 20's and he and a group of buddies were the first to ever climb the West Wall of Mt. Rainier. A fitting finish to a climbing career that was the starting point for his almost ...