James Fuentes

Bio: Hails from Charlotte, North Carolina and has lived in Las Vegas for seven years. Started hiking a month or two after arriving in Nevada and has never looked back. Can't get enough of the Southwest's deserts and mountains.

 Age: Over 40 :)

 Why did you join the 52 Peak Club: I had been hiking solo in the Vegas area for about three years and was looking to get to the next level. I heard that the 52 Peak Club was the way to do it.

 Date Completed all 52 Peaks: September 28, 2019

 Toughest Peak: Icebox Peak

 Favorite Hike: Tough call. Possibly Rainbow, but Oak Creek Overlook and White Pinnacle are up there too.

 How did you feel once you became a 53er: It really did just feel like a life achievement. It was a long time coming (over four years!) and just such an incredible challenge. It was a very special day.
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Advice for new hikers: Unless you've already got a lot of climbing or scrambling experience, start with the easy routes and work your way up in difficulty. That way you'll have a lot more fun on the tough class 4 routes like Icebox and Rainbow.