Paul Fredrick Sands was born September 2, 1934, in Seattle Washington, where he was raised with his younger sister, Sharon, by parents Percy and Edna Sands. Paul developed his love of the Pacific Northwest early as an Eagle Scout, a wooden boat builder, and a mountain fire lookout. He was one of the original members of the REI Coop, and a Seattle Mountaineer. Paul graduated from Lincoln High School in 1952, and later completed his Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Washington.

Paul met Gloria Pauline Taylor in 1957, and they were married in 1958. They welcomed Kimberly Pauline in 1959, and Yvonne Teresa in 1962. Paul had spent his younger years on solo mountain and water adventures. And soon, these became adventures with his family of four. Summers were filled with hiking, camping, and boating. Paul, Gloria, and their girls explored the Cascade Mountains, and spent weeks boating through the San Juan Islands. Winters were spent on family ski trips.

After many years working as an engineer for The Boeing Company, Paul took a position with the US Bureau of Mines in 1975 and moved the family to Spokane Washington. He retired in 1993, and Paul and Gloria began new adventures. They took frequent trips to Europe, and spent extended periods in Taxco, Mexico. Paul acquired his private pilot’s license; he and Gloria flew to destinations throughout North America including the Arctic Circle and Central America. They became snowbirds, splitting their time at home between Apache Junction Arizona and Lopez Island Washington.