Steven Pearce
Bio: I’m a native Las Vegan who has never left the town for any appreciable period of time. I’m married to Zenaida, who many of you know from our club, and have two sons. Being active in the outdoors and staying fit has always been a passion of mine. Previous to hiking, I was an avid road and mountain bike cyclist for many years and still enjoy several rides each week. Recently retiring from the area of accounting and finance in the gaming industry has freed up a lot of time to do the things I really enjoy, principally hiking. Backpacking in the high mountains is also a huge passion of mine .
Age: 58.
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: Living in Las Vegas my entire life, I’ve hiked around the area quite a bit. However, I wanted to do some of the more extreme hikes I’d heard about with individuals experienced with the routes. Learning the skills necessary to be a better hiker was also important to me. I wanted the challenge and wanted to do it with like minded people.
Date Completed all 52 Peaks: May 25th, 2013 (29th person to become a 53er)
Toughest Peak: In terms of endurance, Charleston Peak was by far the toughest due to its length and altitude. From a technical perspective, Terrance Canyon Peak was my first experience with a long chimney climb and exposure making this a memorable climb. I shall also never forget the Holiday Peak chimneys.
Favorite Hike: It is difficult to select one favorite because it is always your fellow hiking companions who make the hike truly special and there were many of these hikes for me. With that said, White Pinnacle Peak is a super fun hike. It seems to have a little bit of everything (fun scrambling, rope assisted climbs, rabbit holes, chimneys) and a whole lot of exposure at the peak.
How did you feel once you became a 53er: After my first few hikes when I began to really grasp the challenge of completing all 52 peaks, doing so became a goal on which I was extremely focused. Finally achieving this goal gave me a very satisfying sense of accomplishment.
Advice for new hikers: Initially, be selective in the hikes you choose to do. Read the hike descriptions and ask questions. There’s also a lot of information in books and on the web for many of the routes. Then based on your fitness and skill assessment, select the hikes that are appropriate for you gradually advancing to the more difficult hikes. This will ensure your successful summit of each peak and make the hikes more enjoyable for you. Finally, take your time and savor each peak experience with your fellow hikers. If the opportunity arises do some of your favorite routes multiple times along the way. The mountains aren’t going anywhere.
Age: 58.
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: Living in Las Vegas my entire life, I’ve hiked around the area quite a bit. However, I wanted to do some of the more extreme hikes I’d heard about with individuals experienced with the routes. Learning the skills necessary to be a better hiker was also important to me. I wanted the challenge and wanted to do it with like minded people.
Date Completed all 52 Peaks: May 25th, 2013 (29th person to become a 53er)
Toughest Peak: In terms of endurance, Charleston Peak was by far the toughest due to its length and altitude. From a technical perspective, Terrance Canyon Peak was my first experience with a long chimney climb and exposure making this a memorable climb. I shall also never forget the Holiday Peak chimneys.
Favorite Hike: It is difficult to select one favorite because it is always your fellow hiking companions who make the hike truly special and there were many of these hikes for me. With that said, White Pinnacle Peak is a super fun hike. It seems to have a little bit of everything (fun scrambling, rope assisted climbs, rabbit holes, chimneys) and a whole lot of exposure at the peak.
How did you feel once you became a 53er: After my first few hikes when I began to really grasp the challenge of completing all 52 peaks, doing so became a goal on which I was extremely focused. Finally achieving this goal gave me a very satisfying sense of accomplishment.
Advice for new hikers: Initially, be selective in the hikes you choose to do. Read the hike descriptions and ask questions. There’s also a lot of information in books and on the web for many of the routes. Then based on your fitness and skill assessment, select the hikes that are appropriate for you gradually advancing to the more difficult hikes. This will ensure your successful summit of each peak and make the hikes more enjoyable for you. Finally, take your time and savor each peak experience with your fellow hikers. If the opportunity arises do some of your favorite routes multiple times along the way. The mountains aren’t going anywhere.