In The News
Minnesotan Troy Aupperle joins elite group of climbers who have reached the Seven Summits
By Alleen Brown
Special to the Pioneer Press
Updated: 12/31/2009 11:58:37 AM CST
Troy Aupperle reached the top of Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe and the first of his seven summits, in July 2005. (Photo courtesy to Pioneer Press: Troy Aupperle)
Troy Aupperle, 44, has his life goals typed out: By the time he's 50, he plans to have published a book, learned to fly a helicopter and become "celebrated as America's most sought-after and highest-paid health educator and entertainer."
Big goals, to be sure. But in May, Aupperle put a checkmark next to the goal that consumed the past four years of his life: Climb the Seven Summits.
The Seven Summits are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents: Denali in North America, Aconcagua in South America, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, the Carstensz Pyramid in Australia and, of course, Mount Everest in Asia.
Climbing the Seven Summits first caught the imagination of climbers and adventure-seekers in 1988, with the publication of the book "Seven Summits" by Dick Bass, Frank Wells and Rick Ridgeway. Since then, some estimate 160 people have completed the feat.
Mark Gunlogson, owner of the Seven Summits guiding company Mountain Madness, which Aupperle used on some of his climbs, describes the challenge: "To do them all is kind of an elusive goal. People might call it an odyssey or journey or whatever. It really is, because you go to all these amazing places. It's really goal-driven.
"In terms of actual people, they're usually professionals, and they're successful in other aspects of their life," Gunlogson explained.
That describes Aupperle to a "T."
Aupperle is owner and president of an enzyme manufacturing...