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Raymond Arthur Paine

1925 -

Ray Paine was born in Mazenod, Saskatchewan on March 12, 1925 and lived on the family farm until they sold it when he was twenty. The family then moved to Creston, BC where after several labouring jobs Ray was employed on the Columbia River Basin survey from April to November 1946. This work made quite an impression on Ray and led him to Victoria where he looked for work with the British Columbia Land Surveyors in 1947. Unfortunately due to the war years things were tight and there was no work for him, however, he got offered a job with the Government Forestry Department where he was involved with mapping and air photography. Ray stayed in this area through different ministry changes working his way up to Draughting Supervisor in 1972. Ray was married twice and had five children. In 1982 Ray retired and moved to Comox.

In the early 1960's Ray joined the Victoria Outdoor Club. After an outing to Fleming Beach where the Army put on a days rock climbing and rappelling Ray found a passion for mountaineering. With Dave Birch, Ray began making trips up into the mountains of Strathcona Park and onto Mount Arrowsmith. In 1966 Ray joined the Island Mountain Ramblers of Nanaimo and became involved in club outings. In August of that year Ray and Dave Birch hiked in to Marble Meadows and made the traverse of Strathcona Park climbing Marble Peak and the Golden Hinde along the way. At Elk Pass they met two Island Mountain Ramblers who had hiked up from the trailhead and then a little later a number more arrived by helicopter for a scheduled club trip in the area. The next day Ray climbed the Southeast Peak of Mount Colonel Foster with Mike Hanry, Ralph Hutchison, Ron Facer, Syd Watts, Mike Walsh and Bob Tustin. The following day he climbed Rambler Peak with Ron Facer, Mike Hanry and Ralph Hutchinson, and the next El Piveto Mountain with Elizabeth and Patrick Guilbride, Doreen and John Cowlin, Mike Walsh, Syd Watts and Bob Tustin. While nearing the summit of El Piveto a large rock was dislodged and began sliding down. Ray pushed Bob Tustin out of the way in the process injuring Bob's ribs, while the rock hit Ray gashing his knee. Although not too serious it put him out of action but fortunately a helicopter had been arranged to pick the Ramblers up after their climbing trip. Climbing on Vancouver Island will always have it wet moments. On one particular trip into Memory Lake near the Comox Glacier, Ray Paine was heard to say: "I didn't mind sitting on my air mattress doubled up but when my candle floated by it was time to find drier quarters."

Ray went on to attempt Mount Colonel Foster with Joe Bajan in August 1973 but bad weather forced them to descent their route. Ray climbed Mount Rainer several times and went into the Plummer Hut in the Waddington area in July/August 1975 with Bob Tustin, Brian Johnson, John Laurie, Tom de Groot, Brian Pinch, Al Harrison, Dave Coombes and Margaret Symon. Although the weather didn't cooperate a number of peaks were climbed but their dream of scaling Mount Waddington and Mount Tiedemann was thwarted.

In 1976 Ray married Phyllis and they hiked together in the mountains, however, Ray expressed little desire to undertake climbs without her. They now continue living a quiet life in Comox surrounded by their family.

Sources:
Paine, Ray. Personal communication. 2006.

Symon, Margaret. "Waddington." Timberline Tales. Published by the Island Mountain Ramblers. Nanaimo, B.C. 1975. p. 38-40.

Bajan, Joe. "The Day of Foster." Timberline Tales. Published by the Island Mountain Ramblers. Nanaimo, B.C. 1975. p. 4-5.

Whitehead, Warrick. "Golden Hinde." Timberline Tales. Published by the Island Mountain Ramblers. Nanaimo, B.C. 1975. p. 8.

Rossiter, Angie. "Mt. Todd." Timberline Tales. Published by the Island Mountain Ramblers. Nanaimo, B.C. October 1973.

Paine, Ray. "Pacific Crest Trail." Timberline Tales. Published by the Island Mountain Ramblers. Nanaimo, B.C. No. 8, January 1973. p. 12.

Guilbride, Patrick D. "El Piveto 6,400'." Island Bushwhacker. Vol. The Vancouver Island section of the Alpine Club of Canada. 1966.

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