Taking it to the top: Local Airmen participate in 50 Summits Challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  High-altitude airpower was achieved by local adventurous Airmen Sept. 20 who didn't even leave the ground.

Airmen from the Air Force Academy and Shriever Air Force Base participated in the 50 Summits Challenge Sept. 20 by climbing Mount Elbert here in Colorado.

The challenge is a movement to encourage Airmen to climb the highest summit in each of the 50 states.

"The idea is to put Airmen, the U.S. Flag and the Air Force flag, on the highest point of each state," said Maj. Nichelle Somers, air officer commanding of Cadet Squadron 32, who helped organize the event. "And it's just a fun thing we're doing to get the word out there to get people outside, build camaraderie and teamwork. We talk a lot about resiliency and how taking on a personal challenge like Mount Elbert can really build your resiliency."

Mount Elbert is the highest point in Colorado at 14,440 feet. It is the second highest point in the continental U.S.

"We had a good representation from all facets of the Air Force," Somers said, adding that nearly 80 Airmen participated in the nearly three-hour climb. "We had active duty, Reserve, retired and civilians who were all part of it. And we were excited to get them involved."

The 50 Summits Challenge began with the highest point in Washington, D.C., May 3.

"I'm not sure what the elevation was, but it wasn't that high," said Somers, adding the highest point was at the crossroad of two roads. "So they started at the Capitol and walked to that intersection. But it was still just the idea of getting people outside, getting them to have fun with each other."

Reaching the summit of Mount Elbert was more of a challenge, said Cadet 1st Class Jack Gendron, a native of Colorado Springs. Gendron has climbed several 14ers before - a name given to mountains 14,000 feet or higher - but this was his first time climbing Mount Elbert.

"The thing about the 14ers is they're always harder than you remember the last one being," he said. "Walking around Colorado, everyone's like, 'Oh, I just climbed a 14er this weekend, no big deal.' And then you get up to 13,000 feet and you're like, 'Gosh, I'm sucking wind right now. This is terrible.' So it was tough, but it was fun."

This combination of fun and difficulty was exactly what organizers like Somers hope for.

"It's a fun thing to do to get outside, talk to each other and have fun," she said. "This is just one of those outlets to get people out there and overcome some challenges. These days, with the operations tempo in the Air Force, it's really important we take time to kind of rejuvenate ourselves, and do things that are fun."

Gendron said the most difficult part of the climb came when they reached a false summit. He thought he only had 15 more minutes of climb before reaching the summit, but when he saw that what he thought was the summit was actually just the mid-way point, he was tempted to feel discouraged.

"It shows people that even when you see that false summit, which is the worst part of that climb, it relates to life," Somers said. "Even when you see that false summit, you can keep going and get there. And everybody made it, despite how hard it was seeing that next hill beyond that. And everybody who started out made it to the top."