Reaching the Highest Peaks

Who says that growing up in the city means avoiding nature altogether? Many urban dwellers escape for a weekend away in the country nearly every sunny day. Those that are fortunate enough to have a country get away often find themselves relaxed and refreshed when they return to the city. But for many kids living in the midst of the urban jungle, nature is little more than the slight flash of blue sky, or the city park that they see on a daily basis. To these kids, the thought of climbing a mountain wall, or drinking from a cool stream is merely a dream. In a world full of crime and busy streets, the world is nothing more than a concrete prison. The organization, Big City Mountaineers seeks to take at-risk teens off of the city streets and into the wild to seek an adventure unlike any that they have ever known before.

Big City Mountaineers is a place that teens can go to in order to escape the city streets. Guides take these teens out onto mountain tops and through animal infested forests in order to see the world as a living entity, not as a people packed nightmare. The organization Summit for Someone has decided that it would like to support the Big City Mountaineers through a series of funding climbs. This annual fundraising event will include over 400 participants this year, 2007, and is expected to attract a large number in 2008 (you can register for 2008 in October). The group of volunteers will climb a total of fourteen mountains ranging from Mount Shasta to Mount Moran. This large group will be assisted by the Jackson Hold Mountain Guides and the Rainier Mountaineering International and Sierra Mountaineering International. This fundraising even is expected to raise well over $10,000 dollars (total) in order to help the Big City Mountaineers project. This even will help to ensure that inner city kids finally have a way to escape the stressful urban streets. If you are up for the long hike, visit www.summitforsomeone.org to sign up for 2008’s trek – sorry, 2007 is already full!