1976 - Brad is born on May 6, 1976 in Mackenzie, British Columbia. Growing up in a small town that has little or no rock climbing available, Brad spends countless hours climbing snow banks and playground equipment with yellow nylon rope. Even at this early age Brad's dad, George, is already building climbing gear for him, such as little wooden ice axes and Batman-style grappling hooks to tie to the end of his Canadian Tire yellow ropes. Brad and his family move to Langley, B.C. in 1986, and then to Prince George in 1987.

1976 - 1994 - Brad starts seriously climbing at the age of 15 with the help of his Hapkido friend, Dan Reed. After recruiting himself some climbing partners, Brad climbs every piece of rock within a day's drive of Prince George. It is only after partnering with Mark Ballard that Brad has the chance to make trips to Jasper, Alberta and Squamish, B.C. Just before his injury, he is leading 5.11 on gear and working 5.12 on bolts (for non-climbers here's more on rock climbing grades). The last route that Brad works on is called Hell's Bells, an exposed multi-pitched climb on Pope's Peak. This bold first ascent is Brad's first and only chance to drill on lead.