The Mountaineers may refer to:

• The Mountaineers (club), an American mountaineering club
• The Mountaineers (band), a Welsh pop group
• The Mountaineers (opera), an English romantic opera by Guy Eden and Reginald Somerville

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Fred Beckey (born Wolfgang Beckey, 14 January 1923) is an American mountaineer and author, who has made hundreds of first ascents, more than any other North American climber.^[1]

Early years[link]

"Beckey," as he is known to his climbing companions, was born near Cologne, Germany, and his family emigrated to the United States when he was three, ending up in Seattle, Washington. He started climbing in the North Cascades as a teenager, learning the basic concepts from The Mountaineers but quickly going on to harder climbs.

He attended the University of Washington and received a degree in business administration. He worked as a delivery truck driver, which left him time for climbing.

Unlike Jim Whittaker, a fellow Seattleite and the first American to reach the top of Mount Everest in 1963, Beckey shied away from the large team efforts, preferring smaller alpine-style undertakings. Beckey seemed a likely choice as a member for the large, 1963 American Everest Expedition, but he was not chosen, even though he had been to Lhotse in 1955 with the International Himalayan Expedition.^[2]

Guidebook author[link]

Fred Beckey (right) in Alaska, 2005

In the late 1940s, he asked The Mountaineers of Seattle to publish his first climbing guidebook for the local peaks. They turned him down, and the American Alpine Club agreed to print a few thousand copies for a flat fee. Between climbs, he has written several books, most notably the Cascade Alpine Guide, the definitive 3-volume description of the North Cascades from the Columbia River to the Fraser River, now in its third edition, published by The Mountaineers.

Recent accomplishments[link]

In 2003, his 563-page book on the history of the region, Range of Glaciers, was published by the Oregon Historical Society Press. According to a reviewer, he did much of the research for the volume in Washington, D.C., at the Library of Congress and the National Archives, scouring files of the State Department, U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies. Beckey also perused the Canadian archives in Ottawa; Hudson's Bay Co. archives in Winnipeg; British Columbia archives in Victoria; records of the Northwest Boundary Survey at Yale University; and records of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern railroads in Minneapolis.

As of November, 2010, he continues to climb.

Mt. Beckey, named for Fred, is located in the Alaska Range at North 62 degrees, 52 minutes, West 152 degrees, 15 minutes.

First ascents[link]

Devils Thumb, Alaska

Some of his first ascents:

• 1940 Forbidden Peak, North Cascades - with brother Helmy, Lloyd Anderson, Jim Crooks, and Dave Lind.
• 1945 Price Glacier, Mount Shuksan, North Cascades with Jack Schwabland and Bill Granston^[3]
• 1946 East Ridge Devils Thumb, Alaska with Bob Craig and Clifford Schmidtke (Aug 25)^[4]
• 1947 North Peak, Liberty Bell, North Cascades - 1947
• 1948 North Ridge of Mount Baker, North Cascades Fred Beckey, Ralph and Dick Widrig (August 1948)^[5]
• 1954 Northwest Buttress to North Peak, Mount McKinley, Alaska (May 27) with Donald McLean, Charles Wilson, Henry Meybohm and Bill Hackett.^[6]
• 1954 Mount Deborah with Heinrich Harrer and Henry Meybohm^[7]
• 1954 West Ridge Mount Hunter (Alaska) - with Heinrich Harrer and Henry Meybohm^[8]
• 1959 Yocum Ridge, Mount Hood, Oregon, USA with Leo Scheiblehner^[9]
• 1961 North Face of Mount Edith Cavell, Canadian Rockies, Canada with Yvon Chouinard^[10]
• 1961 Beckey-Chouinard Route on South Howser Tower, Bugaboos, Canada with Yvon Chouinard and Dan Doody ^[11]
• 1963 Complete North Ridge, Mount Stuart, North Cascades, Washington, USA with Steve Marts^[12]
• 1963 Northeast Buttress of Mount Slesse, British Columbia, Canada with Steve Marts and Eric Bjornstad^[13]
• 1963 West Buttress (IV 5.8 A1), Musembeah Peak, Wind River Range, Wyoming, USA (September) with Layton Kor^[14]
• 1967 El Matador (NCCS IV, A3), Devils Tower, WY. FA with Eric Bjornstad^[15]
• 1968 Direct East Buttress (IV F8 A4), South Early Winter Spire, North Cascades, WA. FA with Doug Leen^[16]
• 1968 South Face (III F8 A1), Cathedral Peak (Okanogan), North Cascades, WA. FA with Dave Wagner, John Brottem and Doug Leen^[17]
• 1968 Northeast Face, Mount Hooker, Canadian Rockies, Canada. FA with John Rupley^[18]
• 1970 Beckey's Spire aka Christianity Spire, Sedona AZ
• 1996 Mount Beckey, Cathedral Mountains, Alaska, USA - 1996, with John Middendorf and Calvin Hebert

Other notable ascents[link]

• Second ascent Mount Waddington, British Columbia - 1942
• Triple ascent of Mount McKinley, Mount Deborah, and Mount Hunter - 1954

Quotation[link]

"Fred Beckey has achieved enduring recognition as the most imaginative, persistent, and thorough explorer and mountain investigator of the Cascade Range Wilderness. He was noted as "one of America's most colorful and eccentric mountaineers," and is unofficially recognized as the all-time world-record holder for the number of first ascents credited to one man. In addition to being the author of the Cascade Alpine Guide series, Beckey is also the author of Mountains of North America, The Range of Glaciers: Exploration and Survey of the North Cascades, and a personal narrative, Challenge of the North Cascades."
--Mountaineers Books

Personality[link]

Timothy Egan captures Fred Beckey's personality in a chapter of "The Good Rain". Fred named Vasiliki Ridge, by Washington Pass, after his one true love. Fred is a quintessential dirtbag climber, and there is a classic portrait of him holding a sign "Will belay for food." His reputation is well-known among many climbers, captured in a t-shirt "Beware of Beckey: He will Steal your woman, steal your route." ^[19]

Books[link]

• Fred Beckey's 100 Favorite North American Climbs (Patagonia Inc., 2011, ISBN 978-0-9801227-1-8)
• Range of Glaciers: The Exploration and Survey of the Northern Cascade Range (Oregon Historical Society, 2003 ISBN 0-87595-243-7)
• Cascade Alpine Guide (3 vols.) (Mountaineers Books, 1973–2008)
  • Columbia River to Stevens Pass (1973, 3rd ed. 2000, ISBN 0-89886-577-8)
  • Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass (1973, 3rd ed. 2003, ISBN 0-89886-152-7)
  • Rainy Pass to Fraser River (1981, 3rd ed. 2008, ISBN 0-89886-423-2)
• Challenge of the North Cascades (1969, 2nd ed. 1996, ISBN 0-89886-479-8)
• Mount McKinley: Icy Crown of North America (Mountaineers Books 1993, paper 1999, ISBN 0-89886-646-4)
• The Bugaboos: An Alpine History (1987) (Introduction Only)
• Mountains of North America (1986)
• Mountains of North America (Sierra Club, 1982)
• Darrington and Index Rock Climbing Guide (Mountaineers Books, 1976)
• Guide to Leavenworth rock-climbing areas (Mountaineers Books, 1965)
• Climber's Guide to the Cascade and Olympic Mountains of Washington (American Alpine Club, 1949, revised edition 1953)

See also[link]

• Snafflehound

References[link]

External links[link]

• Biography at HistoryLink
• New York Times, 16 Dec. 2008. The Old Man of the Mountains. Video report on Fred Beckey. (The video displays the date of Dec. 16, although the URL states Dec. 15.)

Owen Schmitt

Schmitt with the Seattle Seahawks in September 2009
No. 44     Oakland Raiders
Fullback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1985-02-13) February 13, 1985 (age 27)
Place of birth: Gilman, Wisconsin
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
College: West Virginia
NFL Draft: 2008 / Round: 5 / Pick: 163
Debuted in 2008 for the Seattle Seahawks
Career history
Seattle Seahawks (2008–2009) Philadelphia Eagles (2010–2011) Oakland Raiders (2012–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
2004 Division III All-Conference selection 2007 Ira Errett Rodgers Award 2007 Captain Award
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Rush yards 27 Yards-per-carry 3.0 Receptions 34 Receiving yards 218 Total touchdowns 2 Stats at NFL.com

Owen Schmitt (born February 13, 1985) is an American football fullback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia University.

Schmitt has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Early years[link]

Schmitt played fullback, defensive end, and linebacker first at Paul VI Catholic High School and then Fairfax High School in Virginia.

Collegiate career[link]

Wisconsin–River Falls[link]

After graduation from high school, he enrolled at Wisconsin–River Falls. At River Falls, he posted a 1,063 yards and five touchdown performance his freshman year, which earned him Division III all-conference honors in only nine starting games.

West Virginia[link]

Schmitt attended spring practice the next year at West Virginia University. A walk-on to the Mountaineers' squad, Schmitt became the starter that fall as a sophomore for the 2005 season and it was a breakout year. He was active as both a rusher and as a primary blocker. At the mid-point of the season, freshman Steve Slaton earned the starting spot at halfback, and with quarterback Pat White at the helm, Schmitt and Slaton teamed up to make one of the best rushing tandems in the NCAA. Schmitt totaled 380 yards and two touchdowns himself, while Slaton was a huge beneficiary of his blocking, recording 1,128 yards and seventeen touchdowns.

In 2006, Slaton, White, and Schmitt were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's regional "Big Man On Campus" article. With high expectations, the Mountaineers finished with an 11-2 record. Schmitt rushed for 351 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, and also caught one touchdown pass. His blocking helped Slaton to another phenomenal year—1,744 yards. Schmitt's biggest game was the come-from-behind Gator Bowl win against Georgia Tech, where he filled in for the injured Slaton and rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

Schmitt earned National Strength and Conditioning Association Strength All-American honors at the end of the season, as he bulked up from 245 pounds to 260. After the season he was named "College football's top workout freak" by ESPN.com.^[1]

In 2007, his senior year, Schmitt was arguably one of the best fullbacks in the nation. He also took many snaps at tight end in spring practice, where head coach Rich Rodriguez lined him up occasionally. Schmitt's first big game of the season came against Maryland when he carried the ball four times for 46 yards, including a 44-yard run early in the 31-14 win. According to ESPN during the game, Schmitt had broken eight face masks in his career to that point. In the next game against East Carolina, Schmitt rushed for 32 yards on four carries with two receptions for nine yards. Against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome, he earned MVP honors with two touchdowns on eight carries for 39 yards; in that game he also had a 31-yard reception (where he hurdled one defender and ran over another) and a 27-yard punt that was downed inside the Syracuse 10-yard line on a trick play. In a subsequent game, a 28-23 victory over #22 Cincinnati, he rushed for 19 yards on six carries, including the first score of the game, a four-yard touchdown run. After wins over Louisville and Cincinnati, he had reportedly recorded 10 broken facemasks. WVU's impressive run to the national title game was sidetracked on the last game of the season with a bitter, improbable loss in the Backyard Brawl to Pitt. This knocked them out of the National Championship game and matched them up instead with #4 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Schmitt's 57-yard touchdown run in the 48-28 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma was perhaps the most impressive and memorable moment of his storied career at WVU. Coming in a huge game at an emotional moment, his dash through the line of scrimmage and down the sideline broke open what had been a tight 6-3 scoreline. That run was also a personal career-best as well as a WVU school bowl record (until Noel Devine broke the record in the fourth quarter of that same game). It also marked the third consecutive bowl in which Schmitt had a 50+ yard run. Schmitt finished the Fiesta Bowl with three rushes for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Schmitt was awarded the Ira Errett Rodgers Award and Fred Schaus Captain's Award at the end of the regular season by head coach Rich Rodriguez.

As a rush blocker, Schmitt finished the 2007 season with 106 knockdown blocks and 17 touchdown-resulting blocks. He also finished the season with two of his three "pooch" punts downed inside the 20-yard line, for an average of 20.3 yards-per-punt.

In Schmitt's career, he earned 21 career starts, four of which were at tight end. Through his 353 career carries (at WVU and Wisconsin–River Falls), he was only tackled for a loss four times. He carried the ball for 1,003 yards, a 6.3 yard average, during his Mountaineer career. In his four collegiate seasons, Schmitt totaled 122 points and 2,398 all-purpose yards.^[2]

Professional career[link]

Pre-draft[link]

Schmitt accepted an invitation to play in the 2008 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama following the season. He was then invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.^[3] Schmitt's 26 bench reps were tied for the fourth best by a back in the Combine.^[4]

At West Virginia's Pro Day on March 13, Schmitt ran a 4.72 40, a 4.11 short shuttle, a 6.85 three-cone, and an 11.85 long shuttle. He measured in at 6'2" and 249 lb (113 kg). He performed running back, fullback, and tight end drills without dropping a pass the entire day.^[5] He also recorded a 9'9" broad jump and a 31.5" vertical jump. After the Pro Day, Schmitt worked out at the campus before traveling to interview with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He also worked-out with the Browns' running backs coach, Anthony Lynn.^[6]

Seattle Seahawks[link]

Schmitt was drafted in the fifth round (163rd overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He was the second Mountaineer selected in the draft, behind Steve Slaton in the third round (89th overall) to the Houston Texans. Schmitt signed a four-year $1.87 million contract that included a $158,000 signing bonus. In his first preseason game as a Seahawk, he rushed one time for two yards, caught two passes for 35 yards and also had two tackles on special teams against the Minnesota Vikings. The following week, against the Chicago Bears, he recorded one reception for 15 yards.

Schmitt did not play in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, but he recorded one reception for six yards in the second game against the San Francisco 49ers. In the 27-3 victory over the St. Louis Rams, he recorded his first professional carry, for two yards. He earned his first career start against the Philadelphia Eagles later in the season, in which he had a block in the backfield on a 90-yard touchdown pass early in the game, a franchise record for longest pass play in team history.^[7] He finished the game with two receptions for eight yards. In the following game, he carried the ball three times for 19 yards, including a 14-yard run, and recorded one reception for six yards against the Miami Dolphins. In the next loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he recorded a seven-yard reception. Schmitt finished his rookie season by totaling five carries for 21 yards and six receptions for 29 yards, playing in every game on the season except for the season-opening loss against Buffalo.

Following the March 2009 free agency departure of starting fullback Leonard Weaver to the Philadelphia Eagles,^[8] Schmitt was expected to compete with Justin Griffith for the starting Fullback role for the 2009 season.

Schmitt attracted media and YouTube attention in the aftermath of a game during the 2009 NFL season during which he smashed his helmet against his head until he opened up a large gash.^[9]

On September 6, 2010, the Seahawks released Schmitt, citing the lack of need for a true fullback in the Seattle offense.

Philadelphia Eagles[link]

Schmitt was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on September 13, 2010 following a season-ending injury to Leonard Weaver. On December 2 against the Houston Texans in week 13, Schmitt caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Vick, marking Schmitt's first career touchdown with the Eagles.

Oakland Raiders[link]

On May 15, 2012, he signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Personal[link]

Growing up, John Riggins of the Washington Redskins was Schmitt's favorite football player.^[10]

Schmitt likes to play guitar in his spare time and can often be found following the Davisson Brothers Band on tour. The band based out of Clarksburg, West Virginia allows him to play on stage as a part of the band whenever he is able.^[11][12]

In the media[link]

Schmitt is also featured on the cover of the PSP version of NCAA Football 09. He also shared a Sports Illustrated regional cover for the 2006 college football preview with teammates Steve Slaton and Pat White.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Philadelphia Eagles bio