A tired but happy Gary Rombough, 85, tapped his card on the timer at the top of the Grouse Grind trail.
"I'm satisfied," the Walnut Grove resident declared, beaming.
"I'm happy. I actually did it."
85-year-old Gary Rombough from 91原创 completes his first hike up Grouse Grind.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
It took Rombough two hours and 38 minutes to complete the steep 2.5 kilometre climb on June 8, with more than 30 supporters including personal trainer Shannon Whieldon.
Halfway up, Whieldon convinced Rombough to put on a safety belt with grab handles because 鈥渉e was getting tired and we couldn鈥檛 risk a fall.鈥�
"I actually felt more comfortable once I put the belt on 鈥� I knew if I lost my balance, they had me," Rombough remarked.
鈥淚n the end he didn鈥檛 need the belt, but I needed it, for my stress level," Whieldon said.
Rombough started working out with Whieldon 10 months before he tackled Grouse.
鈥淚 was complaining of sciatica pain when someone from my car club suggested I see Shannon,鈥� Rombough recalled
Rombough lost 24 pounds through a combination of diet change and regular strength training. 鈥淓very time she weighed me and I lost that weight, it was a big boost," Rombough recalled. "I don鈥檛 eat candy anymore鈥擨 don鈥檛 need it.鈥�
Whieldon, who works with older clients at Limitless Fitness 91原创, praised Rombough for his dedication to improving his health.
鈥淕ary鈥檚 commitment is something speciall," Whieldon said. "He sets his goals, shows up consistently, and inspires everyone around him,鈥�
After his first climb, Rombough is planning to make a second ascent in August, aiming to reduce his time to under two hours,
鈥淚 want to stay healthy and functioning,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 want to live to 95. It would be nice to make it as an octogenarian.鈥�
According to , more than 150,000 people hike the trail every year.
On average, it takes up to an hour and a half to complete the hike, with elite runners managing the course in a third of the time.
Hikers are as young as seven and as old as 90, with an equal male/female split.
The pathway was first developed in 1981 by mountaineers looking for a good workout by following well-worn animal paths up the mountainside.
