1st time climbing Mt. Peoh

I was asked about the first time I ever climbed Mt. Peoh-- the mountain by my old home where I was born.
First I must tell you that it is the most prominent of the mountains on the south side of Cle Elum--. It was supposed to have been named after an Indian Chief---I never met him although I am almost old enough to have known him. Also the name Cle Elum is supposed to be an Indian word for rushing river. This mountain wouldn't be able to compete with the altitudes of the Alps although parts of the face is almost as difficult to scale as the Matterhorn. That's my personal view.
You might not know that Croatia and Slovenia are situated in very mountainous country. Close to the Alps. Hiking and climbing is a favorite pastine of the people there. But really not for me--I can't claim the DNA of a mountain climber, although my Uncle could--.He had a yen to climb that mountain every time he visited our place which is right at the foot of this big rock.
My uncles name was Anton(Tony) Kauzlaurich. He was married to my aunt who was my father's sister named Julianna--we called her Teta Yoola. And Tony Kauzlarich was mostly known by his nick name of "Stovrak". Now in the translation of that nick name ,I can hardly beileve it to be true--My Uncle was a docile handsome man like a movie star actually. The nick name means that he has the wrath of a hundred devils. Sto -vrak--. I never ever heard anyone dare to call him by his nick name.
So on one of the visits, he said " Ve klime it mountain" . My brother John was 3 years older than I am and was very willing to go--and I wanted the experience too. BUT I was just somewheres about 7 years old--. I don't know the exact date but I do know that Uncle Stovrak had a brand new 1928 model A ford. I would have been 6 years old at that date--and my aunt and uncle made frequent visits to show off the shiny spotless Model "A".
With no lunch and no water, and no other climbing gear and I am most likely to have been bare footed, we hiked to the base of the mountain and began scaling the big rocks one by one. Now and then a rock would tumble down and crash into the trees below. The mountain became steeper and steeper and now it was a life or death matter. Looking down at the old farm scared me to death and about half way up I froze in place when I thought I would fall backwards and to my death like those tumbling rocks. Uncle Tony now, comforted me and John teased me for being a chicken. One rock and another . I mean these rocks were as big as a pickup truck--and each one had to be scaled. Often times a foot would become wedged in the crevices of a rock and that was a reason to bawl. I can't remember becoming thirsty but that had to have been a problem and there was no water in sight and we didn't bring any at all. We did stop at the spring at the base of the mountain for a last big drink of icy mountain spring water.
There were several routes which could have been taken to be an easier climb. I had no opinion on which route. But Stovrak, picked a route where there were now a few trees. It was easier to grab a limb or a bush now for stability. I don't know how much moisture I lost by crying but finally we came to the top. It was like climbing over a wall--very steep and a slip on this last foot of travel would have been a fatal error. It was over. And I was so happy to be now out of danger and in the pangs of thirst and hunger. Looking all that distance down on the old farm--thousands of feet--I don't know the exact elevation. But to me is was the top of the world. We could see for miles both ways almost to Ellensburg. We were over looking the cities of South Cle Elum and the whole city of Cle Elum--we could also see the lakes and the mines in the opposite direction.
Now --how to get down? I worried about how will we unclimb that mountain--I mean--do we have to go over that last rock wall? and maybe tumble down like a rock?
No. The decision was made to go down the easy way--down the back and side of the mountain following forest service trails and old deer runs and to where there was a spring and water to drink to quench our thirsts.
I will try to post a picture of my Uncle Stovrak. You will see that he is the dead ringer for Tom Selec. The movie star.
I climbed that mountain face again sometime later with better equipment--I mean lunch and water. and shoes. I have also been to the top many times going the easy route . I hunted every rock and rill and forest. I knew where every spring was running. I loved mountin water. I would lay down on my belly and like an animal I would drink right from the flowing water. I could also see tiny bugs and tiny worms so that I could avoid them. I didn't worry about e coli in those days. We all knew that wild animals would walk through these creeks and even deficate in the water and urinate --but water in the mountains purifies after it runs over the rocks for ahwile. Thirst has no bounds.
Now the mountain has been desecrated. How? by the power line over the base of it for the first thing, then hauling rocks off the face, then people have begun to populate areas where we once hunted. Building resort homes, I think..To make matters worse, now there are No trespassing signs all over--it is closed for me to go any place where I once was free to go hunting for grouse or deer or elk. I wanted to own that mountain--to preserve it--but I didn't have a dime to buy any part of it. In my heart, it is MINE.
ON the peak right where we made it over the top, they have built a communications tower. Prior to that was a forest service lookout station. From that position the whole valley was scrutinized for the tiniest smoke arising from a potential forest fire. I was a nesessity, I know that, but still it disturbed my tranquility.
I wont ever be able to climb that mountain again but I think I would know where every small rill of water emerged. UNLESS there were no trespassing signs in the way.