Greg Klima

Adanell Bobbitt was born on February 23, 1914. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Adanell Bobbitt.

In the summer of 1974, Mr. Klima was adult sponsor for a crew of boy scouts from the Great Smoky Mountain Council to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I was one of those boys he led. I had never been to NM, nor backpacking in the rockies, nor on a trip of such scale. He had just retired from ORNL, and had a birthday on the trail with us. We called him “Black Bart” after one of the notorious criminals who’s 19th century hideout was on the Philmont Ranch. On the day we went up Mount Phillips I hung to the back to stay with him as younger boys scampered ahead up the steep trail. He was slow but steady. As I watched him carry a pack up Mount Phillips to our 12,000’ elevation, dry peak camp I realized that backpacking was something I could do for the rest of my life – unlike football or running. Today, I am a grandpa, and still enjoy backpacking for a week at a time in New Mexico, not far from Philmont. I very much hope to spend my 65th birthday on the trail, where I will lift a toast to Bart Klima who taught me a life lesson by example a long time ago. "Pecos Jack" Robinson