Plant City Rotarian Steve Solomon presented fellow Lakeland Rotarian, and self-professed adrenaline-junky Scott Franklin to share his mountain climbing experiences with the Club. Scott is a Naval Academy graduate who retired from the military after serving 14 years of active duty and 12 in the Reserves as a carrier jet pilot. Scott is also the former CEO and owner of Lanier Upshaw, an insurance firm in Lakeland.
Scott started the extreme pastime about eleven years ago, after a friend mentioned he had just returned from a climb. Franklin has since made several climbs in locations worldwide, including two of the “Seven Summits,” which are the highest mountains in each of the seven continents.
Once of Scott’s hikes was the famous Grand Canyon “Rim-to-Rim” hike, also fondly called the “Death March.” This extreme hike must be completed in 24 hours, and covers 48 miles of trail with 26,100 feet of elevation change and temperatures that vary from freezing on the rims to triple digit heat on the canyon floor. Scott and his troupe completed it in 21 hours.
One of Scott’s first climbs was Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley), which is in Alaska. Scott said that this climb is very achievable physically, financially, and can be done over a “long weekend.”
While climbers certainly need to be physically fit, Scott shared that extreme mountain climbing also requires mental fortitude and a little luck. Weather is often plays a huge role in a hike, and even the most physically fit climbers (including Iron Man triathletes) sometimes do not make the summit.
Scott thanked the Club for the opportunity to share his experiences, and appreciated the opportunity to convene in an actual Rotary meeting, as his club is still meeting virtually.
--submitted by Scott Gardner
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Club & Member News
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This Weekend!
Fall Couples Cookout
Saturday, November 7, 6:00 pm
A Rotary Social and Fundraising Event
Tickets are $100 per person.
Net proceeds will support the high school scholarship program.
Contact any Rotary Club officer or purchase your tickets at the next meeting.
