If you think hiking Mount Rainier two or three times is impressive, you should meet George Dunn.
This July, 56-year-old George Dunn became the first person to climb Mount Rainier 500 times. You read correctly – five hundred times!
Dunn is a Mount Rainer hiking guide and director of Ashford’s International Mountain Guides. He completed the hike with his wife Nancy, his 16 year old son Jeremy, and his lifelong friend Phil Ershler, who has completed the summit 440 times himself.
“George is a consummate professional and a true gentleman,” climbing guide Gary Talcott said in the News Tribune Adventure Guys Blog. “He’s guided, mentored and inspired countless climbers, including some of the best, like Ed Viesturs.”
[Ed Viesturs is the only American to climb all of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks.]
Let’s stop for a moment and think about how much mountain climbing 500 successful summits is, exactly. Well, according to The Adventure Guys Blog, Dunn has covered approximately 9,000 miles and 4.5 million vertical feet. To put that into prospective, that’s a little over 852 vertical miles. That’s roughly one-tenth the width of the Earth. In other words, that’s a lot of hiking.
Dunn started climbing Mount Rainier while he was attending Renton High School in the late 60s. He started guiding hikes in 1975.
Not impressed? Well, grab your gear and LED flashlight and get hiking! Dunn’s 500-hike record is just waiting to be broken. Could that record-breaking hiker be you?
Archive for the ‘Hiking’ Category
Climber Summits Mount Rainier for Record-Breaking 500th Time
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010Top 3 Outdoor Activities for August
Sunday, July 25th, 2010August is pretty much your last chance to get outdoors and have an awesome summer adventure. Luckily for you, there are a number of great outdoor activities to get involved with during August. Can’t decide which to pick? No sweat. Here are Coast Portland’s picks for Top 3 Outdoor Activities for August. Enjoy!
1. Fall Chinook Seminar
Turtles on the Move!
Monday, July 19th, 2010There are a lot of animals you’ll probably keep an eye out for this summer – bears, wolves, mountain lions – but turtles? Unlikely. However, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking that you keep both eyes open for these pokey little amphibians this summer, as the females are on the move.
ODFW Conservation Biologist Susan Barnes releases a native Oregon western painted turtle. -Photo by Rick Swart, ODFW
Top Father’s Day Gifts for $20 or Less
Thursday, June 17th, 2010Oh no! Father’s Day is right around the corner, and you still haven’t gotten Dad a gift yet! What’s worse, you don’t have a huge gift budget this year. Don’t worry – Coast Portland has you covered. With many great products at reasonable prices, you’d have a hard time finding something Dad wouldn’t like. Here are our top Father’s Day gifts for under $20.
1. P4 LED Lenser HP Light
Featuring a moon lens and 14 lumen output, this compact, powerful light is perfect for lots of different situations. And with a 96-hour battery life, you’ll feel comfortable know the $20 you spend on this beauty will go a long ways.
Frogs Are Cool
Monday, May 31st, 2010
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently released a new pamphlet titled “Frogs are Cool: Facts About Frogs for Kids,” an informative and fun flyer aimed at raising awareness of the many endangered and sensitive species of frogs native to Oregon.
There are 16 species of frogs native to Oregon, and many are recognized as Oregon State Sensitive species, meaning they have small or declining populations. ODFW hopes the new frog awareness campaign will help kids and adults alike recognize and protect the protected species.
Cougar Sightings Reported Near The Dalles
Monday, May 24th, 2010Scary news for residents in and around The Dalles, Oregon: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently received a number of reports of cougar sightings in the area. From May 8-18, three cougars were spotted on the east side of town, near the hospital. The ODFW is asking locals to be on the lookout for cougars and call 911 if one is seen.
Jeremy Thompson, ODFW district biologist, considers the multiple sightings a bad sign.
May Climbing Events in the Northwest
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
If you’re a climber in the Pacific Northwest, then May is the Month for you. From Washington to Arizona, the Northwest boasts a number of great climbing events and getaways you certainly don’t want to miss.
Vertical World Spring Rendezvous
Redmond, WA
May 2, 12-7 p.m.
Best Redwoods Camping Spots
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
The Northern California coast has some of the most amazing camping opportunities in the country. The redwood forests stretch for miles, offering hiking and camping locations that are unsurpassed in size and beauty. If you’ve never visited a redwood park, late spring or early summer is the perfect time: not too hot, not too cold, not too crowded.
Here are some of the top redwoods parks in Northern California:
