Thank you, Steve Goryl!

by Christine Lichtenfels

Standing on the summit of Everest. Skydiving from 30,000 feet. Leading local cave exploration trips and sailing and S.C.U.B.A. expeditions worldwide. Spending more than 440 weeks teaching wilderness skills on National Outdoor Leadership School courses all over the world. Spending hours fixing WOC computer systems. What do all those activities have in common? Steve Goryl!

With last year's departure of our in-house computer whiz and staff scientist, Jerry Freilich, local WOC member and friend Steve Goryl has come to the rescue, volunteering endless hours fixing our computers - and refusing all offers of remuneration except for the occasional double-latte "card" at the local coffee house.

"I think WOC does great work and I want to support it the best way I can," explains Steve. "Without its determined efforts, many wild places in Wyoming would be ruined!"

A full-time computer system administrator at our nextdoor neighbor NOLS, Steve has years of experience working on Apple computers like those WOC uses. He also brings endless perseverance and an unbelievable work ethic to everything he does. Although perhaps not requiring the same amount of resolve as it took to stay for five days at Everest's 26,000' high camp, alone, in order to get a summitday weather window (which Steve did, reaching the summit on Friday the 13th of May 1994), fixing computer system problems can try the patience of most.

Thank you, Steve, for being our computer Superman, quickly coming to our rescue and keeping us up and running! Your enviable knowledge, ready advice and hours of volunteer work are a huge help.