Rob Keller
Bio: I grew up in Forest Grove, Oregon until the age of 18 when I joined the U.S. Navy. In the Navy I was an Aviation Structural Mechanic serving 17 of my 20 year career working on EA-6B Prowler electronic radar jamming aircraft stationed at Whidbey Island, Washington. The other three years I was stationed at Barbers Point, Hawaii working on P-3 Orion submarine hunting aircraft. After retiring from the Navy in 2007 I moved to Las Vegas and ended up getting a job with a wind turbine company out of Portland, Oregon. From 2007-2012 I was a Construction Manager in charge of overseeing the building of wind farms around North America.
Age: 45
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: In December 2012 the downturn in the economy caught up to the wind turbine industry and I ended up getting laid off. Five years on the road was not good on my body and I decided I needed a physical. I completed my physical and found out I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and was diabetic. Upon these findings I decided I was going to take a year off re-group, get back into shape, and have a fun time with life. I started doing P90X in the mornings and hiking the trails around Red Rock in the afternoons. I hiked the trails daily for about three weeks before I started getting bored of them. At that time I started looking on line for other places to hike around Las Vegas. I stumbled across Hiking Las Vegas and the 52 Peak Club. On January 27, 2013 I joined the club and completed my first hike at Calico Tank Peak on January 30th where I felt like I was going to die. But I enjoyed the first hike and the enthusiasm of the organizer. I kept joining hikes here and there and by the end of April I had lost 50 lbs, had a follow-up physical and no longer needed to be on medications for the ailments I had been diagnosed with previously.
Date Completed all 52 Peaks: Jan 18, 2014 (59th person to become a 53er)
Toughest Peak: I don't know if the hike was really tough or I just wasn't in the best shape yet but the hike that sticks in my mind the most as being the toughest was Mummy's Toe. It could have been a combination of the snow, mud, scree and steep slope but more than likely was just my poor shape. Another tough one was McFarland that was definitely a long day and very exhausting. I won't be doing that one again anytime soon, thank you!
Favorite Hike: While there are many great hikes that could fall into my favorites list I am going to pick Mt Charleston as my favorite. Not so much because of the mountain but because of the trip there. It was my first backpacking trip since I was a kid and I got to spend a couple of days with my best friends. That trip also opened the door to Mt Whitney for me and to other backpacking and car camping trips which have become my favorite pastime.
How did you feel once you became a 53er: I felt a great sense of accomplishment. It's hard to believe that in under a year I went from the worst shape of my life to good enough shape to climb the 52 peaks in this club, many of them multiple times. And not only that but good enough shape to climb Mt Whitney, White Mountain and the other peaks I have had the privilege to try. It has been a great journey and an amazing year. I have made the best friends I could imagine this year. They seem more like family than friends and I want to thank them for pushing me to be better and conquer these goals!
Advice for new hikers: Know your limitations, start with the easier/slower hikes, stick with it. Find a group of similar hikers and organizers that fit your style. Don't be in a rush, the mountains are always going to be there. Get into shape, gym shape is not the same as hiking shape. Always be safe out there it only takes a small mistake to get injured. Remember why you joined the club in the first place. For me it was to get into shape and meet fun people.
Age: 45
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: In December 2012 the downturn in the economy caught up to the wind turbine industry and I ended up getting laid off. Five years on the road was not good on my body and I decided I needed a physical. I completed my physical and found out I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and was diabetic. Upon these findings I decided I was going to take a year off re-group, get back into shape, and have a fun time with life. I started doing P90X in the mornings and hiking the trails around Red Rock in the afternoons. I hiked the trails daily for about three weeks before I started getting bored of them. At that time I started looking on line for other places to hike around Las Vegas. I stumbled across Hiking Las Vegas and the 52 Peak Club. On January 27, 2013 I joined the club and completed my first hike at Calico Tank Peak on January 30th where I felt like I was going to die. But I enjoyed the first hike and the enthusiasm of the organizer. I kept joining hikes here and there and by the end of April I had lost 50 lbs, had a follow-up physical and no longer needed to be on medications for the ailments I had been diagnosed with previously.
Date Completed all 52 Peaks: Jan 18, 2014 (59th person to become a 53er)
Toughest Peak: I don't know if the hike was really tough or I just wasn't in the best shape yet but the hike that sticks in my mind the most as being the toughest was Mummy's Toe. It could have been a combination of the snow, mud, scree and steep slope but more than likely was just my poor shape. Another tough one was McFarland that was definitely a long day and very exhausting. I won't be doing that one again anytime soon, thank you!
Favorite Hike: While there are many great hikes that could fall into my favorites list I am going to pick Mt Charleston as my favorite. Not so much because of the mountain but because of the trip there. It was my first backpacking trip since I was a kid and I got to spend a couple of days with my best friends. That trip also opened the door to Mt Whitney for me and to other backpacking and car camping trips which have become my favorite pastime.
How did you feel once you became a 53er: I felt a great sense of accomplishment. It's hard to believe that in under a year I went from the worst shape of my life to good enough shape to climb the 52 peaks in this club, many of them multiple times. And not only that but good enough shape to climb Mt Whitney, White Mountain and the other peaks I have had the privilege to try. It has been a great journey and an amazing year. I have made the best friends I could imagine this year. They seem more like family than friends and I want to thank them for pushing me to be better and conquer these goals!
Advice for new hikers: Know your limitations, start with the easier/slower hikes, stick with it. Find a group of similar hikers and organizers that fit your style. Don't be in a rush, the mountains are always going to be there. Get into shape, gym shape is not the same as hiking shape. Always be safe out there it only takes a small mistake to get injured. Remember why you joined the club in the first place. For me it was to get into shape and meet fun people.