Fun fact: There are 193 mountain ranges in Arizona. It may be hard to believe, but that number was not known until the late 1980s when geologist and mountaineer Doug Kasian of Tucson compiled a list of these ranges. He also identified the highest summit in each of them. After that effort, he set out to climb every one and he did so in a four-year odyssey that took him to all parts of the state.
Doug will be the featured speaker at the SaddleBrooke Hiking Club’s meeting on April 17 in the HOA One Activity Center. He will entertain with tales of his experiences climbing on the Barry M. Goldwater Bombing Range.
Doug Kasian was born and raised in Canada, where he started climbing in 1962 in British Columbia. He has climbed in several countries. For example, he has made five trips to the Andes in South America where, among other peaks, he climbed Cerro Aconcagua, the highest peak in the range. He is a ‘peakbagger’—one who compiles and climbs lists of peaks—and he has a lifetime total of more than 2,600 peaks climbed to date. At age 71, he still works full-time as a teacher for the Marana School District, which he says definitely cuts into his climbing!
Residents of SaddleBrooke are invited to attend the meeting at the HOA One Activity Center at 4:00 p.m. on April 17. Points to remember: there is no street parking near the Activity Center; you do not need to be a member of the hiking club to attend; and, following the talk, participants are encouraged to meet for happy hour at the Agave Lounge at the SaddleBrooke Clubhouse. For more information about the hiking club please contact Laurel Parrott at [email protected] or call 269-873-5739.