Ken Prestrud August 8 ,1922 -Feb. 13 ,2008

A sad note ,
Ken Prestrud is gone from us. I first met Ken like many others through the Mountaineers Steven's pass Lodge. I voluntered there to help get the place in shape for the ski seasons. It was a great time to be there before the season starts with lots of time to get to know people. Working together on projects is a real test of friendships and character. Ken was good on both counts.
The Prestruds lived up the street from us in West Seattle at it's highest point. Thier house had commanding veiws of both the Olympics and the Cascades. One time I asked Ken if was hard to stay home with those veiws. His Answer "Well there weren't many days that I did !"
I'm sure there are many other stories out there.
Condolences to Family and friends.

Kenneth M. Prestrud  
Kenneth M. PRESTRUD August 8, 1922 ~ February 13, 2008 Ken was a mountaineer, who began skiing and climbing as a boy. Throughout his life, Ken took pleasure in ascending and descending hills, mountains and declivities, and in sharing these delights with others. He began skiing at Snoqualmie summit in 1928 on 6' 6" long skis. Ken was active in the Mountaineers, and received their Service Award in 1994 for his contributions as Stevens Pass ski hut chairman, member of the History Committee, and service on the Board of Trustees. His wife Lois, who survives him, skied, climbed and hiked through mountains with Ken on three continents. They married in 1953 in Pittsfield, MA, and moved to Seattle in 1962, after stints in New York, Argentina, and North Carolina. Ken inspired a love of mountains in his children, Kris Prestrud (1955-2006; late of Jackson Hole, WY) and Suzanne Anderson of Boulder, CO, and the tradition continues with his four grandchildren, Peter and Alise Prestrud (age 10), and Grace and Hannah Anderson (age . Ken worked as an engineer for Boeing, retiring in 1988. His fastidious, detail-oriented approach to problems was obvious in careful planning of trips, projects like building a log gazebo for the family mountain property, Tranquility Base, and well-organized computer files. Ken loved music, art, coffee and joking around with his friends. A Memorial Celebration is planned for early summer. Contributions may be made to the Mountaineers Foundation.

Is the guy who climbed in the Gunks with Bonnie Prudden and others in the 1940's?  The Uberfall route Ken's Crack is named for him, and he was one of the early NE activists.

Hail to the Hard Men of Old

I knew Ken from the Mountaineers History Committee. I vaguely remember asking him once if he had climbed in the Gunks in the early days. I don't remember the conversation very well, but I believe he is the person you're thinking of. He will be missed.

Yes that was Ken. He asked me once if i was related to Bonnie Prudden exercise guru and climber. HE did climb with her and that gang. I am related but in a distant way.

I meet Ken and his wife when they hosted at the Mountaineers' Stevens Pass cabin in the 90's. He was the one who introduced me to the "Ullar prayer". He would also wake us by yodeling while standing in the stairwell and then announcing the depth of the new snow.