Seventy-seven years on this earth and a debilitating lung condition haven't stopped Larry Plummer from climbing mountains.
This Saturday, the Kootenay senior will complete his 1,000th climb up the Antenna Trail above the village of Montrose 香蕉视频直播� a personal milestone years in the making.
It all began in 2015, when Plummer hiked the trail 香蕉视频直播� described by westkootenayhiking.ca as a 6.6-kilometre loop with an 307-metre elevation gain 香蕉视频直播� twice.
His inspiration to achieve 1,000 climbs came during a memorable hike a few years later in 2018, when Antenna Trail visionary Art Benzer 香蕉视频直播� born on New Year香蕉视频直播檚 Day 1938 香蕉视频直播� marked his 80th birthday with a brisk ascent of the trail.
That day stuck with both men.
香蕉视频直播淎nybody that hiked the trail with me that day, I gave them a Werther香蕉视频直播檚 candy,香蕉视频直播� Benzer laughed. 香蕉视频直播淎 friend of mine from Fruitvale (Larry) came along just to get the free candy.香蕉视频直播�
The trail was frozen that Jan. 1 morning 香蕉视频直播� solid footing, no thaw 香蕉视频直播� and a handful of locals were out socializing.
The day felt special.
香蕉视频直播淲hen we got to the top, Larry looked at me and said, 香蕉视频直播業f this old guy can still do this hike at 80 years old, I香蕉视频直播檓 going to do it 1,000 times by the time I香蕉视频直播檓 80,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Benzer shared.
香蕉视频直播淭hat was a little over seven years ago.香蕉视频直播�
What began as a lighthearted challenge has since grown into something far more meaningful.
Six years ago, Plummer was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 香蕉视频直播� a progressive lung condition that makes breathing increasingly difficult.
Despite never smoking, he suspects the cause lies in his 35 years working at a sawmill, where he was regularly exposed to airborne particulates. Earlier this year, he was sidelined for a month with a bout of bronchitis.
But true to form, he got back on his feet 香蕉视频直播� and back on the trail.
The Antenna Trail is no walk in the park. It香蕉视频直播檚 considered intermediate, with some challenging stretches. Now, each climb takes him about two and a half hours 香蕉视频直播� nearly double the time it once did.
香蕉视频直播淚 was doing pretty good until I got diagnosed with COPD in 2019,香蕉视频直播� Plummer said. 香蕉视频直播淲hat I do now, instead of an hour and a quarter round trip, it香蕉视频直播檚 an hour and a quarter just to get to the top. Sometimes it can be bad, and I have to stop 45 or 50 times.香蕉视频直播�
He香蕉视频直播檚 learned how to manage it.
Plummer stays in shape with daily walks around Fruitvale, logging between 15,000 and 20,000 steps, and still averages about 10 climbs up the mountain each month.
For him, speed isn香蕉视频直播檛 the goal. Persistence is.
香蕉视频直播淚 know before I go that if I get too tired, I have to rest longer. I take shorter, slower trips. I香蕉视频直播檝e got set points 香蕉视频直播� if I push too far, I lose too much oxygen and I can香蕉视频直播檛 get it back,香蕉视频直播� he explained, adding that some days it can take over two hours just to reach the top.
With characteristic grit and humour, Plummer quipped, 香蕉视频直播淚 often say I got so slow, my shadow just gave up and left.香蕉视频直播�
Now, as Plummer nears that incredible 1,000th climb, he香蕉视频直播檒l be joined by his son and brother for the final push.
Benzer, who can no longer make the trek himself, will be proudly waiting for his friend at the bottom 香蕉视频直播� Werther香蕉视频直播檚 candy in hand, as always.
