Gary Neptune has forever had a fascination for the mountains. He was a young boy living in Kansas City when Everest was first climbed in 1953. Reading the book "Our Everest Adventure" by the leader of the expedition, Sir John Hunt instilled a life-long passion that would eventually become his livelihood. In 1963 Gary was awarded a scholarship to the new Colorado Outward Bound School, where the chief instructor was American climbing legend Paul Petzoldt. Petzoldt became a mentor and in later years Gary would often correspond with Petzoldt from faraway places such as Nepal and Pakistan. The year after Outward Bound, Gary went to the Alps for a summer season, summiting the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc among others.

In college Gary majored in geology and biology and spent the 1967-68 season as a geologist in Antarctica, where he managed a little climbing. Upon his return to graduate school, Gary came to a major crossroad in his life; commit to a professional career or devote himself to the mountains and to somehow make a living from them. Gary chose the latter path, and on April Fool's Day, 1973 he opened the doors of Neptune Mountaineering. The store began as a boot repair shop, selling climbing gear and cross-country skis on the side. However, it wasn't long before Gary purchased a nearby cross-country ski business and turned Neptune Mountaineering into a full time retail business.

Since its inception, Neptune Mountaineering has served as a hub for the local climbing community. In 1981 Gary began to hold public slide shows by world famous mountaineers, rock climbers and skiers. As Neptune grew and attracted bigger names, the shows became weekly events attracting hundreds of people.

In addition to the slide shows, Gary has created a museum of mountaineering history in the store. Climbers, skiers and backpackers come not only to shop, but to see the fascinating collection of historical climbing and skiing equipment.

Gary 's love for the mountains has led him to high destinations throughout the world. Often he would take employees with him to share the experiences. Gary has climbed throughout the western US, Alaska, Mexico, the Alps, Africa, and the Himalayas . In the Himalayas, he has summited Ama Dablam, Mt. Everest, Makalu, and Gasherbrum II. On skis, Gary has raced in over 10 ski marathons. Gary Neptune is one of those fortunate individuals who has been able to live his dreams and he has generously shared this passion with the community he lives in.