Marilyn Koolstra

When she was ready, maybe in a few years, she would step away from her job and join him. But in the meantime, they came to an understanding. Marilyn gave Eric her permission to hike alone.

When she was ready, maybe in a few years, she would step away from her job and join him. But in the meantime, they came to an understanding. Marilyn gave Eric her permission to hike alone.

Every relationship fosters and grows well if people have their own space and their own interests and you're not tied to each other's apron strings or glued at the hip and you can go off and do things and come back and relate and enjoy and share.

Every relationship fosters and grows well if people have their own space and their own interests and you're not tied to each other's apron strings or glued at the hip and you can go off and do things and come back and relate and enjoy and share.

But they agreed Eric needed two new pieces of gear if he was going out solo. First, a handheld GPS unit. Remember, this was 2007, before everyone carried a smartphone. GPS devices were far less common. Eric had learned how to navigate with a map and compass, but GPS would be an important tool if he ever got lost.

But they agreed Eric needed two new pieces of gear if he was going out solo. First, a handheld GPS unit. Remember, this was 2007, before everyone carried a smartphone. GPS devices were far less common. Eric had learned how to navigate with a map and compass, but GPS would be an important tool if he ever got lost.

You could set in where you were going. You know, it recorded where he wanted to go and look how far I've walked and look how far I've climbed. And, you know, you could plot and plan on that.

You could set in where you were going. You know, it recorded where he wanted to go and look how far I've walked and look how far I've climbed. And, you know, you could plot and plan on that.

The second new piece of gear they bought was a big, chunky DSLR camera. So Eric could show Marilyn photos of the amazing places he visited. Retirement meant Eric didn't bump into his estranged hiking buddy Alan at work anymore. It was the lunchroom connection that started it all. And the lack of that lunchroom connection slowed their reconciliation. Eric and Alan were on speaking terms.

The second new piece of gear they bought was a big, chunky DSLR camera. So Eric could show Marilyn photos of the amazing places he visited. Retirement meant Eric didn't bump into his estranged hiking buddy Alan at work anymore. It was the lunchroom connection that started it all. And the lack of that lunchroom connection slowed their reconciliation. Eric and Alan were on speaking terms.

I don't think there was a, I'm never going to speak to you again. It was, I'm not going hiking with him ever again.

I don't think there was a, I'm never going to speak to you again. It was, I'm not going hiking with him ever again.

Alan tried to break down that barrier. He invited Eric on a trip to New Zealand in early 2008. Alan wanted to climb the summit of Tititia, Mount Aspiring, the Matterhorn of the South, an imposing fang of grey rock.

Alan tried to break down that barrier. He invited Eric on a trip to New Zealand in early 2008. Alan wanted to climb the summit of Tititia, Mount Aspiring, the Matterhorn of the South, an imposing fang of grey rock.

There was discussion beforehand of Alan encouraging Eric to climb Mount Aspiring.

There was discussion beforehand of Alan encouraging Eric to climb Mount Aspiring.

Getting to the top would require crossing glaciers and making some steep, exposed climbs. That's mountaineering.

Getting to the top would require crossing glaciers and making some steep, exposed climbs. That's mountaineering.

Eric goes, oh no, you know, in our discussion, I don't think I want to do that. You know, I'm not experienced in that. It's a young person's thing. It's Alan's thing. I don't really want to do that and hold him back.

Eric goes, oh no, you know, in our discussion, I don't think I want to do that. You know, I'm not experienced in that. It's a young person's thing. It's Alan's thing. I don't really want to do that and hold him back.