Inspiration on the Ridgeline

[Arizonaheat]

I’ve been meaning to write about this for sometime now.

You never know when you might run into to someone that will be a true inspiration, someone that gives you hope, someone that makes you think if he can do it and overcome what he has overcome, perhaps I too, can still be able to do such things at that age.

The weekend after the GHOTM for December, we set out early on a double Ridgeline hike. As we approached Superstition Peak on the first leg we ran into to such a person.

We exchanged a little chitchat as we passed and Jim mentioned the fact that there are three USGS markers on top of Superstition Peak. We mentioned that we had been up there before and were bypassing the Peak today because of our itinerary and daylight constraints. We passed and continued on our way, but there was something about this man that touched me.

We met again on our return and engaged in conversation. He was someone I didn’t want to stop talking to. He talked of all the hikes he has done in the Supes and I thought who the heck is this guy, so I began to ask some probing questions as he had been to places I know very few of us have ever been, let alone know about. At one point I actually thought we may be talking to a Spirit from the past that had roamed the Supes in search for the lost gold or something and he just wanted to talk to someone that shared the same love for the Lady as he did.

Then what floored me was when he mentioned that he was 77 years. His name is in the register on top of the Peak 10 times. It only took him a little less than 4 hours to summit leaving from Carney Spring TH. He did say he is slowing down a bit as last time he did it 10 minutes faster.

The weekend of the GHOTM, he did a twenty-mile loop that took in Bluff Springs, Terrapin, Bull Pass and the Dutchman. He did a solo Ridgeline the week before that.

Without sharing too much of his personal details and what he has overcome. He was told after suffering some medical problems at age 47, that he had five years max to live, and that was just the way it was. Obviously he didn’t accept that.

He found hiking, and that, among a couple of other things was his savior

Here is his picture. Those scabs aren’t from a tumble hiking; they are from a golf cart taking on him and his mountain bike. The bike was totaled, his helmet was cracked and obviously saved him and he is right back up on his feet hiking.

Anyway that is the jest of the story without going into great detail and I have found my new inspiration.

[IGO]

And the hat just tells it all.
I just loved this story.
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"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir

[RedRoxx44]

He is a true inspiration, it seems among that generation is some hardiness and love of the land that seemingly escapes the youngsters; until you look around you.
Ed Abbey said something so true--man needs the wilderness.

I met a 75 yo gentleman in the Uintas near a lake on a rocky, steep trail late in the day with no supplies, and he matter of factly noted if he couldn't make it back to his camp he was quite fine with finding a little cubbyhole, making a little fire, and waiting out the night sans sleeping bag or pad.
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You can rest when you're dead

[Davis2001R6]

Thats just awesome, an inspiration indeed!

[Cholla]

Thank you for sharing that story. What a great inspiration for 2007.

[threedogz]

Great story and picture, thanks for sharing.
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You can never eat too much candy...

[GeorgAz]

Wow! That is truly amazing! I have met a few like that on the way to the Flat Iron. Bless them all. Thanks for that!

[wanderingsoul]

Oh My, what inspiration... I've got my work cut out for me now....

Thank you for sharing such a great story and Picture. The picture says more than a 1000 words about the man.
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Wanderingsoul (Michelle)

Positive Thinking Is the Spark that Makes Dreams Happen~~~Unknown

[Trishness]

I've had the pleasure of running into this gentleman on several of my Flatiron treks but never knew his name. He's an inspiration for sure. We only exchanged pleasantries on the trail and talked for a short bit but he's a fixture in the Supes for sure since I've seen him several times......and he passed me going up and then coming down too!


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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." � J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

[sherileeaz]

Thanks for sharing this inspiring story and picture.
Truly an inspiration but not by his speed
but that he's still out there doing what he loves.
Looking at it in those terms, I have 26 years to get where he's at or close to it.
All things seem possible.

Sheri

[threedogz]

I hiked with him today on a Sierra Club hike. He is a mountain goat. He was going dancing tonight after the hike, and the hike was pretty exhausting. He has endless energy and he's a really nice guy.
_________________
You can never eat too much candy...

[BoyNhisDog]

That is too cool Kent. Another "high plains drifter" with a story you wouldn't know unless you found a way to him. You definitely have a way of finding these things out.
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Seize from every moment its unique novelty and do not prepare your joys
- Andre Gide

[gpsjoe]

Seen today on the Peralta trail about 3/4ths of the way up to Freemont Saddle. I was coming down, he was going up thinking about coming back via the cave trail. We talked a bit.

[threedogz]

his name is Herman...

I guess we could call him sombrero..
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You can never eat too much candy...

[thesuperstitions]

His last name isn't Petrasch, is it? No... couldn't be...

(this one's for you Supes history buffs!)