OAKLAND, Calif. (TND) — A 93-year-old retired theology professor from California became the oldest person to summit the famous Half Dome in Yosemite National Park earlier this month.
Everett Kalin made the grueling, 13 hour climb on July 18 with the help of his son Jon and granddaughter Sidney, after training for months for the physical challenge.
The path up the quartz monzonite batholith is a full 4,800 feet from the valley floor, with the final segment of the climb going up a near vertical stretch of the rock.
Kalin, who tried skydiving at the age of 91, trained with daily walks around Oakland's Lake Merritt as well as climbing up and down the stairs of his 16-story apartment building. He also worked on his upper-body strength to grip and pull on the cables for that 400-foot ascent.
The summit almost did not happen as park rangers at a check point told them there was a 20% chance of thunderstorms and two of the park service's official warnings mention the sight of storm clouds and recent rain on the trails as reasons to forgo the climb.
Rangers also warn potential climbers to start the hike at sunrise in order to get up to the peak of the dome by around 3:30 p.m. in order to make it back down while there is still light; those who do not are instructed to turn around wherever they are by that deadline.
"I just feel so very grateful to the people that made it possible,” he said. “I’m actually feeling great."
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