52 Peak Challenge

If you keep up with my updates on Facebook, you might be aware that I'm passionate about hiking and climbing. Nowadays, I typically engage in these activities alongside the 52 Peak Club . On Facebook they are known as Hiking Las Vegas . I realize this might seem a bit pretentious, but this group takes great pride in its status as a top-tier climbing organization, known for tackling the most demanding and adventurous ascents. Their guiding principle is: 'Join us or step aside; we're on a journey to the summit.'

Long before this group, I joined the Las Vegas Mountaineers Club . I continue to take pride in being part of this group, although they seldom hold events in our area anymore. They have an inclination for scaling lesser-known peaks and often travel throughout the southwestern region for these adventures. There have been various phases in my climbing journey, lasting years at a time. Now, after a complete circle back to my roots, I find myself climbing again. A friend who actively participates in the 52 Peak Club reignited my enthusiasm for climbing with this club.

The club's name, 52 Peak Club, comes from the fact that they present a specially printed playing card for each of the 52 selected summits you conquer within approximately 50 miles of Las Vegas. Generally speaking, the more difficult the climb, the higher the value of the card you receive. Upon completing the full deck, climbers receive a plaque and earn the title of '53’er.'

Here are some of the climbs I've completed with the club since my return to climbing:

That's a total of 10 recent cards, summing up to 12 overall. I already have plans for four additional climbs in May.

In conclusion, I want to express my gratitude to the 52 Peak Club and its leaders for the enjoyable and friendly experiences. If you reside in Las Vegas, consider yourself in great shape, and aren’t afraid of heights, I highly recommend joining the club. I would love to have someone to chat with about gambling.

Written by: Michael Shackleford