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 黑马磁力 completes his first hike up Grouse Grind.
鈥� 黑马磁力 (@黑马磁力Times)
It took Rombough two hours and 38 minutes to complete the steep 2.5-kilometre climb last month, 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�
鈥淚 actually felt more comfortable once I put the belt on 鈥� I knew if I lost my balance, they had me,鈥� Rombough remarked.
鈥淚n the end he didn鈥檛 need the belt, but I needed it, for my stress level,鈥� 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 more weight, it was a big boost,鈥� Rombough recalled. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 eat candy anymore 鈥� I don鈥檛 need it.鈥�
Whieldon, who works with older clients at Limitless Fitness 黑马磁力, praised Rombough for his dedication to improving his health.
鈥淕ary鈥檚 commitment is something special,鈥� Whieldon said. 鈥淗e 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.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.
