John Gonsalves
Bio: I’m originally for a small farming town in California. While in the Army I was assigned to the Washington DC area ended up retiring there, operating a photography business and spending a total of 34 years there before moving to Las Vegas in 2011
Age: 63
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: At age 62 I started hiking the Calico Trails at Red Rock Canyon NCA to lose weight. That became pretty boring very quickly, then I accidentally stumbled on the peak box at Calico Tanks Peak in January 2013 and found a card about the 52 Peak Club and Hiking Las Vegas. I started my scrambling journey in the 52 Peak Club on January 14, 2013 with a hike to Kraft Mountain..
Date Completed all 52 Peaks: Nov 16th, 2013 (54th person to become a 53er)
Toughest Peak: Thinking back it’s hard to think of any individual peak as being tough. All the hikes were interesting in many ways, but McFarland, in less than optimal weather, is the least likely for me to repeat any time soon.
Favorite Hike: White Pinnacle Peak will be my most memorable. I was the first up the last climb and when I looked out at that pointed rock in front me I so excited, I nearly ran out to the top.
How did you feel once you became a 53er: Completing the 52 peaks in a year despite the fires and storms will go down as one of my most treasured accomplishments. When you reach that last peak you feel invincible.
Advice for new hikers: Start with shorter, easier hikes. Read the descriptions and don’t sign up for hikes that are beyond your physical capabilities. If you haven’t been physically active for a while consider some of the fitness hikes to build endurance and look for beginner scrambling meet-ups to get to know the rock. Most of all get good stealth rubber soled shoes for sandstone scrambling.
Age: 63
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: At age 62 I started hiking the Calico Trails at Red Rock Canyon NCA to lose weight. That became pretty boring very quickly, then I accidentally stumbled on the peak box at Calico Tanks Peak in January 2013 and found a card about the 52 Peak Club and Hiking Las Vegas. I started my scrambling journey in the 52 Peak Club on January 14, 2013 with a hike to Kraft Mountain..
Date Completed all 52 Peaks: Nov 16th, 2013 (54th person to become a 53er)
Toughest Peak: Thinking back it’s hard to think of any individual peak as being tough. All the hikes were interesting in many ways, but McFarland, in less than optimal weather, is the least likely for me to repeat any time soon.
Favorite Hike: White Pinnacle Peak will be my most memorable. I was the first up the last climb and when I looked out at that pointed rock in front me I so excited, I nearly ran out to the top.
How did you feel once you became a 53er: Completing the 52 peaks in a year despite the fires and storms will go down as one of my most treasured accomplishments. When you reach that last peak you feel invincible.
Advice for new hikers: Start with shorter, easier hikes. Read the descriptions and don’t sign up for hikes that are beyond your physical capabilities. If you haven’t been physically active for a while consider some of the fitness hikes to build endurance and look for beginner scrambling meet-ups to get to know the rock. Most of all get good stealth rubber soled shoes for sandstone scrambling.