Mike Coltrin - Our First President (2000-2001)

Age 56, married, three sons 2041 W Brichta Drive Tucson AZ 85745-1811 520-624-1831 Coltrin1@cox.net I have lived in Tucson since first grade. Growing up, I was in a scout troop that really wasn't very active. In high school spelunking was my outdoor activity of choice. A tour of Vietnam as an infantryman was included in my three-year enlistment in the army. After that experience I wasn't interested in any more hiking or backpacking for a number of years. My career was with the Southern Pacific Railroad. My primary work was as a switchman but I have also worked as a brakeman/conductor and as a yardmaster. I began hiking in earnest in 1983. For several years my experiences were mostly dayhiking but I eventually got more into backpacking. My first Grand Canyon hike was a five-day trip to Clear Creek. My second was a rim-to-rim-to-rim dayhike (16hours). I have now done 70 Grand Canyon backpacks, numerous dayhikes and two river trips. I have also hiked all over Southern Arizona, the Four Corners region, the Sierras, Cascades, Northern Mexico, the Smokies and even a trip to Alaska. Over the years I have been active in the Southern Arizona Hiking Club. I have served terms as president, chief guide, program chairman and bulletin publisher. In January of 1996 I suffered a severe fracture of my left wrist while hiking in the Pinacate Mountains in Sonora. The railroad then considered me 'damaged goods' and I was given the choice of retraining in a new occupation of taking an early retirement. Thirty years was enough. After a year of rehabilitation I was again hiking and once I figured how to get a heavy pack off the ground I was able to resume backpacking. I now backpack all over the west and have been able to live a long dream of really getting to know Grand Canyon.

updated 11/2/03