Episode 1: Ed Kenney- when you have climbed 3,000 peaks, you have lots of great stories!

Ed Kenney has been helping moderate the PNW PeakBaggers group now for a couple of years. He started bagging peaks when he was sixteen in Colorado and found that he preferred the steeper, more glaciated peaks. He move to Washington State in 1969 and thought he had died and went to heaven! He had not heard about the Bulgers List but was captivated by the fellow educator Dallas Kloke's list of the most difficult 10 Peaks to climb in the state. Ed has climbed over 3000 peaks on 5 continents. He has climbed to 20,000 ft. in South America and climbed over 18,000 ft in a single day. Join us as he tells us about some of his adventures including climbing and meeting legends such as Fred Beckey, Royal Robbins, Yvonn Chounaird, and Tobin Sorensen. Summary: Ed Kenny, an experienced climber, shares his journey and adventures in mountaineering. He talks about how he got into climbing and his early experiences in Colorado. Ed recounts memorable climbs, including rescuing climbers and facing challenges. He discusses influential climbers he has met, such as Fred Beckey and Ueli Steck. Ed also shares his experiences climbing in the Alps and witnessing tragedy. He talks about his love for climbing and the independence it offers. Ed concludes by discussing his role as a moderator in the PNW Peak Baggers group and his off-grid lifestyle. Takeaways: Ed Kenny started climbing after a fishing trip turned into a mountain climb. He climbed many fifth-class peaks in Colorado and completed all the 14ers. Ed had memorable experiences rescuing climbers and facing challenges in the mountains. He climbed with influential climbers like Fred Beckey and Ueli Steck. Ed witnessed tragedy while climbing in the Alps and learned valuable lessons. He enjoys the independence and self-sufficiency that climbing offers. Ed is a moderator in the PNW Peak Baggers group and lives off the grid. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction and Background (01:27) Getting Into Climbing (2:21) Climbing the Colorado Peaks (03:16) Rescuing Climbers and Facing Challenges (04:16) Memorable Climbs and Early Mentors (07:03) Climbing in the Alps and Witnessing Tragedy (09:30) Influential Climbers and Changing Ethics (11:21) Climbing with Fred Beckey and Ueli Steck (12:50) Memorable Climbs and Adventures (15:33) Climbing with Health Challenges (17:26) Taking Students on Climbs and Liberty Ridge (19:25) Preparations and Gear for Climbing (21:20) Memorable Climbs in Indonesia (23:40)The PNW Peak Baggers Group and Living Off the Grid (27:57) Keeping Up with Ed and Future Plans To learn more about PNW PeakBaggers, visit our website at: www.pnwpeakbaggers.com