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?
Posts Tagged ‘Hiking’
Climber Summits Mount Rainier for Record-Breaking 500th Time
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010Frogs 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.
Tips for Your Little Halloween Hikers
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Halloween: an evening filled with creative costumes, scary stories, and tasty treats! Though while the holiday is an exciting one, it also has a reputation for being ominous and unsafe. So, before you hit the neighborhood trick-or-treating, make sure you’ve considered the following precautions (courtesy Halloween-Safety.com):
- Try trick-or-treating during daylight hours and limiting your time in the dark of night.
- Don’t let children go out alone. Make sure an adult is with them.
- Plan a safe route and stick to it. This includes: (more…)
Must-Haves for Seasonal Hiking
Monday, October 12th, 2009
I read an informative pair of articles today about appropriate gear and clothing for hiking. Since I recently published a post about fall and winter outdoor opportunities, I thought the connection was aptly timed. So, if you’re getting geared up to venture out into the fall or winter weather, read on for some great tips and advice.
The Adventure of “Unimproved” Campsites
Friday, September 18th, 2009
Often an exciting added element to camping can be using an unimproved campsite. Many campgrounds offer amenities like fire pits, tent pads, electric and water, even bathrooms, but an unimproved campsite offers little-to-nothing. For beginners looking to expand their camping experience, learning to “rough it” in a basic campsite can be quite the adventure.
I actually read a helpful article that introduced me to the idea of unimproved campsite camping. It provides a brief overview of what it is and what beginners will need. I’ve added some of my own recommendations below.
Essential Camping Gear: The Ipod Touch?
Sunday, August 30th, 2009
It appears Apple is attempting to broaden its target market by appealing to outdoor enthusiasts. Now, don’t get me wrong, I can embrace certain technological advances within the realms of camping and hiking — like LED light technology or new knife innovations – but accepting the Ipod as a potentially useful item in the outdoors went a little too far for me.
Apparently, there are a number of applications available on the Ipod Touch that are tailored to the outdoorsmen. Some of the suggested applications or uses include: (more…)
Hiking Around Lake Michigan
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Earlier this month, writer and adventurer Loreen Niewenhuis completed 250 miles of her 1,000 mile walk around Lake Michigan. She began her adventure in March on Chicago’s Navy Pier and has walked south from Chicago, east across the entire Indiana coastline, and north up the coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to the city of Ludington.
“I’ve learned so much about the lake already,” Niewenhuis said, “and I can’t wait to get back to the shoreline. It’s the adventure of a lifetime.”
Yellowstone: Wildlife Safety
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009Andrew Stanton, a Yellowstone National Park Examiner, has written some informative online articles concerning bear safety. He’s gathered his information from a number of websites and publications. He writes, “It is not my intention to be alarmist, but to give park visitors tips on avoiding confrontations with wildlife.”
Stanton has actually published two articles, the first containing a few general guidelines about hiking and camping in the wilderness, specifically regarding wildlife. Here’s a preview of some of the tips you’ll find in his first article: (more…)
