Ernesto Chavez

Video of Ernesto receiving his 53er Plaque 

Bio: :   From Bisbee, Az, a small mining town.  Had many jobs from miner, bouncer, bartender, truck driver, computer programmer to photographer/artist.  Have been self-employed most of my life.  Started long distance backpacking in 1996.  Have chipped away at the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), hiking from Tehachapi to Sierra City, north of Lake Tahoe.  Hiked the John Muir Trail twice, 1996 and 2015.  I am an avid photographer and love exploring new places with my camera.  
 
Age: 65
 
Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: I joined to discover new places to photograph, and in the process met some great hikers.

Date Completed all 52 Peaks: Jan 7th, 2018
 
Toughest Peak: Black Velvet.  Going up was no problem, but the down climb was difficult for me.
 
Favorite Hike:  Several faves, including;  Bridge Mountain, Mescalito and Lost Creek.  Many others could be favorites, but on these hikes, it just felt special.
 
How did you feel once you became a 53er: Elated.  I have a new set of skills and my hiking is not over yet!
 
Advice for new hikers: ​Test the rock, know your limitations and have fun.  It is also good to get a different type of workout between hikes.  For me, it was volleyball, weights and elliptical.