Back in late 2011, Gary (Bulldog34) asked me whether I had averaged at least one 10,000 foot summit a week since I started climbing. I didn’t know the answer, but I did have a list of every climb I had ever done. After doing some research and a little math, I got back to him with the answer: I had averaged one summit every 7.9 days for about 24½ years.

Gary said I should get busy and bring my average to at least one summit a week. Moving the average from 7.9 to 7.0 sounded easy enough. All I would have to do was one summit a week plus over a hundred additional summits. Like a fool, I fell for Gary’s suggestion.

I’ve always counted repeated summits, and I’ve tended to tag (and count) multiple summits in one outing, and that’s what I did. I’ve done some non-trivial trips in the last year and a half, but I’ve mostly focused on nearby Mt. Rose (10,776), Church Pk. (10,661), Mt. Houghton (10,483), and Relay Pk. (10,324). Relay and Houghton make a nice half-day twofer on skis in the winter, and it’s not too hard to tag all four when the snow is gone.

As I closed in on my goal (or should I say Gary’s goal), we realized that I was on schedule to hit the one-a-week average at about the time the Bulldog family was flying out west for another Sierra trip. I twisted Gary’s arm and convinced him to bring the family through Reno on the way to Mt. Whitney. I also got to work making sure I would hit the average while they were here.

Gary, Barb, and Bri arrived at our house Saturday afternoon as planned. We had a great time socializing, playing with the horses, and eating homemade Thai and Indian food.

Sunday morning, the four of us headed up to the Mt. Rose trailhead for a pre-Whitney acclimatization hike for them and for at least two more summits for me.

The first two summits, Relay Pk. and Mt. Houghton, went pretty smoothly, though Bri had a bit of a headache. Mt. Houghton brought my average to exactly one summit a week, so there were plenty of high-fives to celebrate achieving the goal Gary set for me. The route from Houghton to the Mt. Rose trail involved descending a steep, loose slope that none of us enjoyed. Bri didn’t feel like climbing any more peaks, so Dad stayed with her while Barb and I headed for Mt. Rose.

I let Barb lead and made her responsible for setting the pace. After a few minutes of going way too fast, she settled down to pace she could maintain all the way to the summit. We did 1,000 feet of gain in under an hour. I took a quick detour to Church Pk. on the way down, and then caught up with Barb a few minutes later. We met Gary and Bri at the waterfall and hiked back to the trailhead together.

Overall, it was a great day. I wish you guys the best on Whitney this week and I hope you’ll swing through Reno whenever you come out west.

Congratulations, Bob! Sheesh, is that 1,352 peaks?!!!

1,359 summits in 9,499 days (as of Sunday). Lifetime success rate is 98.76%.

I am always impressed/amazed to read about such described lists/statistics. I have hiked/summited in three different continents, but could only name one or two of the peaks abroad (if I could even pronounce them). Locally, I may have done a single training course 100, 200, or 50x...some days it felt like the 1000th. My buddies have Yosemite Park maps with all the trails hiked marked in red, whilst I may have repeated favourites too many times. I have a scientific background, but it seems to have failed me when it came time to recreate, so hats off to those who can actually recount where they have been and what they have done!

First, let me thank Bob and his wife Dovie for the outstanding hospitality they showed us in Reno. We had a great time over the two days we spent there. Bri loved the horses in particular, especially Rooney!

A slight correction on Bob's take of how this came to pass. I was on SummitPost back in 2011 not long after Bob and I had spent a day on Cathedral Peak in Yosemite, and was reviewing his profile . Wow! And it only lists peaks of 10K' or higher. The next time I spoke to him I mentioned that those numbers over that period of time was just incredible, and that his lifetime average of summits over 10K' had to be an achievement few people could match. A bit of math later, the idea of one a week surfaced and it was off to the races!

Congratulations Bob! It's always a privilege to hit a mountain with you, and a very enjoyable experience. I always learn something new when we get together, and I value that tremendously. I appreciate your patience with Bri on Houghton - she was clearly out of her comfort range on that scramble down and I knew it was going to play hell with the time table for the rest of the day. I'm just glad it worked out that we were still able to get all 4 peaks for you, and especially the opportunity for Barb to finish Mt. Rose with you. It wore her out, but she enjoyed it greatly.

We're off to the Portal this morning and start up Whitney tomorrow if weather allows. Looking iffy right now, but we didn't come all this way to let a little rain stop us!

Gary, I see that you’ve changed your profile photo. You’ll need to change it again to one of the whole family on the Whitney summit.

Big congratulations Bob, that's amazing. And best of luck to Gary and family on Whitney!

Well, the weather gods got us this trip. Couldn't have picked a worse summer week to try Whitney. When we arrived in LP last Tuesday, the mountain had been absolutely hammered the night before and people were streaming off the mountain with horror stories of massive flooding, slides, and rockfall. And snap-crackle-pop, of course. The Portal Road was closed most of the day Tuesday while some big boulders were being removed. The Portal itself was flooded badly - the pond and creek overflowed, and tons of sand and rock had washed down into the parking lots, trapping and damaging cars. There was a backhoe busily trying to clear the drainage culvert under the road near the store, with Doug and Crazy Jack shoveling away as well. It was a mess.

We headed up Wednesday with Carole Christianson (Mountain Ginger, AKA SanDi Carole) with Doug's firm advice in mind - dark clouds in the sky when you hit Outpost, STOP! There were and we did. Up at 4:00 Thursday, and the clouds were still there. By the time we hit Trail Camp Mt. Muir was completely socked in and we were getting reports of rain, snow, groppel, etc. from the very few who were returning from the summit (mostly JMT hikers). We also heard a long, massive rockfall occur while we were at TC. Discretion being the better part of valor, Trail Crest became the goal for the day for my girls. Disappointment was not that great since we felt lucky to be as high as we were - Outpost was the summit for a lot of folks the previous two days, including my buddy Kent Williams who had come out from Florida a few days before with his daughter, and got caught in the Monday storm.

Oh well - just another reason to come back. Like I need more. We added some wonderful new friends to our Sierra Family, got to spend great quality time with some old ones, and most particularly had a blast with Bob in Reno! We arrived back home last night with smiles on our faces and are looking forward to the next trip. I'll try to get a more thorough TR up in the next few days with photos.

Gary

So Gary, it appears the Atlanta Monsoon weather followed you all the way to Calif! I'm really sorry it worked out that way. From the webcam views, it looks like it is still chancy weather in the Sierra.

Glad you made the best of it, though. Tell us... how is the weather in Atlanta? Has it decided to dry out yet?

Unbelievable, Steve - I just can't get away from the rain. Atlanta normally gets about 50 inches of rain per year, but we have 45 inches recorded already with 5 months to go. We've been back 24 hours and so far no rain, but t-storms forecasted tonight. And we're not even in the heart of hurricane season yet, where we can normally count on at least a couple of big drenches from systems moving up the coast or the Gulf.

Watching D Matt's forecasts, I knew that our chances for decent weather were diminishing, but I didn't expect this. There were some really miserable people streaming down off the mountain Tuesday and Wednesday, especially the JMT hikers. Stories about tents washing away on the other side of the crest, people in bivvies begging to be let into tents, rockfall and slides galore - it was apparently pretty ugly. Doug said this disturbance was way more than the typical monsoon, and all the moisture in the ground is just perpetuating repeating cycles. Early on Sunday morning, the day we left, the skies were blue and clear. By 10:00 am super-heavy clouds had formed and were darkening quickly. It was amazing to watch. And Death Valley looked just as bad much of the week.

What a bummer, Gary. I'm so sorry to hear this. Knowing you, you guys were well prepared for whatever came, but boy I would like to see your daughter's pictures from up top. So close. Maybe next time, Curtis and I will be able to join you guys on the trail.

As a side note, Curtis and I just got back from Havasupai where the normally gorgeous blue waterfalls were chocolate milk from all the recent floods. On our last night there, there was a soft-evacuation in effect from yet another flash flood warning. Mother nature demands attention, doesn't she?

Brent

Sounds like we all had weather-woes last week Brent. That's a shame about the "chocolate milk" - it's that azure water that makes Havasupai so special.

We were ready for cold and wet - we carried about 120 pounds up the mountain between the four of us (Bri hauling 25 without complaint at age 13, which impressed the hell out of me), but some of that weight was soaking wet tents, flys and footprints. We spent the night prior at Horseshoe Meadows and got drenched. When the time came to make the call about a summit, though, I once again erred on the side of safety with my girls. Those clouds covering the crest looked mean and angry, and we knew it had snowed on the summit the day before and was groppeling (is that a word?) that morning. After the horror show of Monday, I had no problem making Trail Crest the summit for their second trip up the mountain. Summit optional, parking lot mandatory. Period. The mountain will still be there for the next time.

So, summit or not, we'll be back out there next year. It's a given with us now. Hope we can manage to hook up like we did a couple of years ago. I know Curtis wants that summit as much as Bri! I'm even toying around with the idea of heading back out there solo this season before the big snows come.

Bob, sorry to hijack your thread! I'll get a separate one going when I get pix organized. Congrats again on your 7.00 summit - It was a privilege to bag it with you! I found the photo of the Houghton summit on my camera and will e-mail it to you tomorrow. Hope you're enjoying your week "off" . . .

Bob, congratulations on your achievement. This list will continue to grow I'm sure. You're amazing.

Gary, I'm sure the trek up to TC was an adventure in itself made all the more special because it was with DAD. Your kids will appreciate this time, and the valuable practical lessons learned too.. Whitney will be there waiting when you return.

Gary, you didn’t hijack my thread. This really WAS your idea, and the Bulldog family was there when I hit 7.00. It’s your thread too.

I really thought this would be your year for the profile photo of the whole family on the summit. Even though you personally weren’t at your all-time fitness peak, you did fine. Barb did really well on Mt. Rose, her third 10K peak of the day, and being 13 instead of 11 should have made Bri much stronger than two years ago. I don’t see any comments about altitude issues on your way to Trail Crest, so I assume everyone is keeping that demon at bay. I would count Trail Crest as a victory under the circumstances. Next time!

I’m always teasing you about how you should transfer to the Reno Marriot to be closer to the mountains, and being here really makes a difference. It’s pretty easy to run up the statistics when it’s just over 4 hours to Bishop, 3.5 hours to Mt. Shasta City, 3 hours to Yosemite, and 40 minutes to a trailhead where I can tag four 10K peaks in around six hours. The other advantage is that I can pounce on the more ambitious goals when the conditions are just right and do something easier the rest of the time.

Carine, if you keep saying stuff like that, my head is going to explode. I already need a bigger helmet. “Persistent” would be a better word. I just wish women had called me amazing when I was young and single, but that was years before you were born.

No Bob, no altitude issues. Three nights at 10K' and a quarter-tab of Diamox each twice a day pretty much took care of that. We did have a gastro bug of some kind circulating among us, though. At various points I, Barb and Carole each had episodes that were no fun. Murphy's Law was certainly with us this trip.

Carole was a blast to backpack with. She's been up high a lot this year on some tough routes, and she's an extremely strong and knowledgeable hiker. In fact she christened Bri with a new trail name: "Tornado - because she's more than a little breeze". Her presence made an otherwise disappointing climb a ton of fun. The woman has more energy and personality than the law should allow. By the time we parted ways in LP a few days later, we felt like we'd known her for years. Now Bri has another "Sierra Aunt" to go with Laura and Betsy, and I feel fortunate that she's had so much quality time with these strong female role models over the past few years.

Keep rubbing it in about the geographical proximity to all the fun - it may actually work some day . . .

Gary, once you got me started doing lots of twofers and fourfers to bring the average down, I couldn’t stop. Today’s twofer ski trip brought the average to one peak (10K or higher) every six days, for almost 30 years. 1816 summits in 10895 days, to be exact. And, no, I’m not going to try for one every five days.

Wow. What an inspiration!

Bob, what's the old saying about fine wine? You just keep getting better with age, my friend. We all need to stop and think exactly what those numbers represent, and the determination and perseverance that has gone into achieving them. Thirty years is a long, long time. Interests, tastes, life priorities - they all change for most of us over such an extended period, but to stay focused on bagging peaks at such a prodigious rate is really mind boggling. I'm very proud of what little impact I may have had in helping you re-define this goal, and was truly honored to be with you for the 7.0 summits.

If 5.0 is out of the question, then I guess the next goal would be "Summit 2K"? That would be a tee shirt kind of event - late 2018 or early 2019 perhaps? I'll be there for it, even if this Georgia boy has to learn how to ski . . . ;-)

Hope to catch up with you in late August or early September. Planning on a couple of weeks in the Sierra if I can manage to find the time in my hectic, way-too-young, post-retirement life.

Like I've said before, everyone needs an 'Insanity Bob' in their life.

...says the girl who is doing a 100-mile run in Southern California in August!

Actually, the next milestone is the 30-year anniversary of my first climb. I’m going to climb Cathedral Peak on July 20, and I need a partner. If you’ll buy the plane ticket, I’ll pick you up at RNO and bring the rope. And if you’ll make it for “Summit 2K”, I have two pairs of skis and two pairs of snowshoes.


I only have six days at home between August 14 and September 6. July 20 would work better.

BTW, there is one more statistic that I don’t think I have ever posted: I’ve done 77½% of my climbs solo (either no partner or partner didn’t make the summit).

Whoa, July 20!!

Due to the significance of the date for you, and the hikers attending this, I'm tempted to meet you guys and do what we did last time. I've got a kid I want to take up to Cathedral this summer, and if people I know are going up, that could be a great day! It's only a couple of days before my family leaves on a big vacation, though, so not sure.

And you retired guys hiking mid-week... what's up with that??

...and hope for a non-windy day, too!

My very first summit was Cathedral Peak on July 20, 1987. It looked cool from the Cathedral Lakes trail, so I scrambled up the fourth class route. I didn’t even know what peak I was climbing, let alone what “fourth class” meant. My wife was pissed at having to wait while I tried to kill myself.

The thirty-year anniversary climb obviously has to be on July 20, mid-week or not. Gary, are you in? You know that old “I have to work” excuse doesn’t cut it anymore.

Was reading that some (presumably rather wealthy) bloke was bragging on buying a new Ferrari every Saturday for 2 years.

I know you get far more satisfaction than him.

While I'd love to, Bob, family responsibilities have me tied to Atlanta through early August. There definitely should be some type of celebration on 7/20 - I just regret I can't be a part of it. Sorry to hear you'll be out of pocket most of August - John and I may still run up to Reno and see how Dovie and the horses are doing . . . ;-)

And Steve, half the reason to retire early is SO you can hike regularly on weekdays! It's just taken me a few months to get around to it . . .

Steve:

Gary can't make July 20. Are you in?

Not so sure. Family leaving on a big vacation 2 days after that. Work is always overloading me. I'll have to decide a few days before.

July 16 would sure suit me/us better. Sorry to be so wishy-washy.

OK. I’ll see if I can coax one of my old climbing partners out of retirement to be on the other end of the rope. Having to work really gets in the way of the important things in life. You should figure out how to retire.

I'll be watching your SPOT. Hope you have a (way) less windy day than we did a few years ago. Outside of hurricanes, I've never heard the wind howl like it did that day.

Gary, today was an outstanding "blue bird" day!

We went up the west side, summited, then descended the climbers' descent trail on the east side. There were lots of people going up the climbers ascent today.

   

Met a gal -- grad student returning from a summer job, who just wanted to climb something on her way home.


This taken by a solo woman climber who did the technical route. She tagged the summit, and had to return home -- to El Portal.
           


                Garmin InReach track:
             

Thanks for the photos, Steve. That was a great day!

Yeah, rub it in Steve.

Bob, so sorry I couldn't make that July date! Congrats on your continuing summits and the expansion of that record. Sorry we'll miss each other this year, dammit.

John and I are planning on going up the Cathedral MR in a couple of weeks. Hope our weather is half as nice.

> Yeah, rub it in Steve.

No rubbing intended, Gary. It was sure fun. I didn't even know about the somewhat constructed climbers' descent route off the east side of the ridge, N of the peak. It made the descent easier than heading back down the west side.

> John and I are planning on going up the Cathedral MR in a couple of weeks. Hope our weather is half as nice.

Let me know when your plans firm-up. There is always a chance I could join you. I've got a 12-y-o I think will like it. It'll have to be a weekend for us, 8/26 or later, though.

Steve, it'll either be Saturday or Sunday, 8/19 or 20. We arrive at the Portal 8/17 and want to hit Cathedral first while we acclimate. Then Whitney and Langley before we head back to LA on the 26th.

Well crap. I have an important obligation that weekend. Maybe next time.

Gary, I’m leaving for Goat Mountain tomorrow. I’ll be doing Mt. Cotter a few days later, weather permitting. I leave on August 22 for a seven-peak backpacking trip. I just might be able to get away to join you between trips. Saturday would be better for me. Keep me posted.

Well, damn, I just had to cancel the trip. Bri had her second fender-blender in a 9-month span, and both were her fault. At age 17 she's at risk of losing her license unless we move fast before her Sept court date. We may be able to reschedule later this year, but I've got to see how big a bite this takes out of my wallet first.

The joys of parenthood . . .