Over One-Hudreds Years Ago

my Great-Grandfather broke tradition and took on geology and engineering as a profession. His exploration of various over-thrust formations while looking for oil deposits, carried him to destination far from home. Among his discoveries of oil one of the largest to be found. Ultimately, he died like many men would chose to, while working on an interesting geological endeavor. His son, Lloyd Crāpo (my Grandfather) also had this inbred interest and worked many years with the U.S. Geological Survey in Idaho, and Utah's high Uinta Mountains (the longest east to west mountain range in the continual U.S.A. with over 500 high mountain lakes.) He spent many years surveying the mountains of this country, identifying various rock formations, and inventing various labor saving and increased functionality items.

With this kind of heritage it is hard for me to break the mold, even if I wanted to. Even as a small child I found myself interested in build various contraptions. It was long before I heard news of friends cave exploring (Spelunking). That sound like great fun, so I went out and purchased a book, a rope, and a pair of climbing boots. Then proceeded to almost kill myself, but that's another story. Climbing brought together the best of everything: climbing, geology, engineering (building my own equipment and engineering various aid, rappel, belay, and rescue systems. One thing lead to another and before I knew it I had graduated early from high school and enlisted in the 19^th Special Forces Group (Green Beret). I wasn't over gung-ho but I was excited to learn to be a medic (91B20) and graduate from the Army Medical Training Center; and to learn what the military knew about mountaineering, rigging, and rescue. When I returned from my active duty training I started working as a VIP (Volunteer in the Parks). It wasn't too long before I was hired as a Seasonal Park Ranger. Even twenty-five years ago, these specialized skills were respected. I late found out that my climbing and medial skills were the reason I had been hired by the National park Service. I eventual transferred out of the Special Forces into the 117^thEngineer Company. I finished my National Guard Obligation. Got married, started a Professional Organization to teach about the great-out-of-doors, and the technical aspects of rigging, climbing and living in the mountains. In 1992 I had the opportunity to lead an "All-Utahan" Expedition to climb the North Face of Mt. Everest. After returning from Everest. Prior to Everest and after I spent a lot of my spate time writing for various climbing, and rescue journals, and saw a real need for safety systems, especially in the area of accidental falls. In 1993, I started and organization called High Angle Technologies, Inc. Prior to HAT I had started a successful business called, "Hansen Mountaineering, Inc." but the need to separate Industrial and recreational endeavors. In 1999 or 2000 myself with the other member of HMI sold most of our interests in HMI. Today I operate Douglas Hansen's High Angle Technologies, Inc. which as you know or will find out.