Eric entered the vertical world during high school in 1977,
learning rock climbing on the sandstone cliffs of Southern Illinois. Since then, climbing has been a constant.
He has climbed in areas across the United States, and has opened over 150 new climbing routes in Southern Illinois.
Eric was one of three key players to introduce sport climbing to Southern Illinois in 1986.
In 1981, Eric concurrently began a 12-year tenure as a Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido instructor at
Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri State Universities, and at private schools.
It was this precision-coordination teaching that laid a foundation for Eric to effectively communicate
technical rope and climbing skills. From 1986 to 1992, Eric was involved in competition climbing.
In 1993, he started the Vertical Heartland Climbing School. In 1996, he and his wife, Kathy,
purchased about 1/4 mile of the south face of Draper's Bluff in Southern Illinois, built their home at the base,
and have since operated the climbing school on site.
In 1994/95, Eric undertook training up through advanced rock guide with the American Mountain Guide Association
( AMGA ),
which focused heavily on multi-pitch guiding and rescue scenarios, with a minimalist perspective.
He served as regional coordinator of the Heartland States for the
Access Fund from 1994-2004.
In 2005, Eric joined the staff of Ropes That Rescue ,
an international rope rescue and rope access school based in Sedona,AZ.
He is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician- Intermediate level- with ambulance experience at Jackson County, IL since 1994.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Eric's on-the-side contract jobs have included: changing out the 500-pound Hilton Hotel signs 380 feet above the streets of
Springfield, IL; teaching rope skills to Team Columbia Sportswear (EcoChallenge);
rigging for a Rescue 911 television show; and complex rigging for piece-by-piece chain sawing of trees leaning over homes.
He is the author of three editions of Vertical Heartland: A Rock Climber's Guide to Southern Illinois,
having finished the latest in early 2005.
Away from work, Eric enjoys climbing with Kathy and their son, Lukas, and his other passions of Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido,
and in-line skating.
Vertical Heartland
Eric Ulner-Owner/Director
Ron Dierolf-Guide
Ron began backpacking and non-technical climbing in 1964
and has climbed non-technical peaks as tall as 12,000 ft. in many areas
of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. After running out
of places to walk, he began technical rock climbing in Southern Illinois
in 1994, and he began lead climbing in 1997. In 1998, Ron completed
the American Mountain Guide Association Top Rope Instructors Course and became a member of the
AMGA.
He holds a BS degree in Chemical Engineering
from University of Missouri at Rolla, an MBA from Murray State University
in Kentucky, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Kentucky.
Ron retired after 28 years with Lockheed Martin and is now an
engineering consultant with Science Applications International
Corporation- when he is not climbing. He also works as a part-time
assistant instructor in the Professional Development Program at the
Colorado Outward Bound school.
5050 Lick Creek Road
Buncombe, IL 62912
phone or fax at
(618) 995-1427
email us at
info@verticalheartland.com
