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 乌鸦传媒� a personal milestone years in the making.
It all began in 2015, when Plummer hiked the trail 乌鸦传媒� described by westkootenayhiking.ca as a 6.6-kilometre loop with an 307-metre elevation gain 乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒� born on New Year乌鸦传媒檚 Day 1938 乌鸦传媒� marked his 80th birthday with a brisk ascent of the trail.
That day stuck with both men.
乌鸦传媒淎nybody that hiked the trail with me that day, I gave them a Werther乌鸦传媒檚 candy,乌鸦传媒� Benzer laughed. 乌鸦传媒淎 friend of mine from Fruitvale (Larry) came along just to get the free candy.乌鸦传媒�
The trail was frozen that Jan. 1 morning 乌鸦传媒� solid footing, no thaw 乌鸦传媒� and a handful of locals were out socializing.
The day felt special.
乌鸦传媒淲hen we got to the top, Larry looked at me and said, 乌鸦传媒業f this old guy can still do this hike at 80 years old, I乌鸦传媒檓 going to do it 1,000 times by the time I乌鸦传媒檓 80,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 Benzer shared.
乌鸦传媒淭hat was a little over seven years ago.乌鸦传媒�
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) 乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒� and back on the trail.
The Antenna Trail is no walk in the park. It乌鸦传媒檚 considered intermediate, with some challenging stretches. Now, each climb takes him about two and a half hours 乌鸦传媒� nearly double the time it once did.
乌鸦传媒淚 was doing pretty good until I got diagnosed with COPD in 2019,乌鸦传媒� Plummer said. 乌鸦传媒淲hat I do now, instead of an hour and a quarter round trip, it乌鸦传媒檚 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.乌鸦传媒�
He乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檛 the goal. Persistence is.
乌鸦传媒淚 know before I go that if I get too tired, I have to rest longer. I take shorter, slower trips. I乌鸦传媒檝e got set points 乌鸦传媒� if I push too far, I lose too much oxygen and I can乌鸦传媒檛 get it back,乌鸦传媒� he explained, adding that some days it can take over two hours just to reach the top.
With characteristic grit and humour, Plummer quipped, 乌鸦传媒淚 often say I got so slow, my shadow just gave up and left.乌鸦传媒�
Now, as Plummer nears that incredible 1,000th climb, he乌鸦传媒檒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 乌鸦传媒� Werther乌鸦传媒檚 candy in hand, as always.
