High Pointer Profile

June 15, 2015 | Posted in: JHMG


Troy 2

Photo Courtesy of Troy Aupperle

When Troy Aupperle first got the climbing bug, he was living in Tempe, Arizona managing the REI store there.  “I was running the REI climbing department and didn’t know anything about climbing!”  That’s when he met Chet Wade. Wade, then 54, was just finishing up climbing all of Colorado’s 54 14,000′ ft Peaks.  He only had 2 left and asked Troy to come along.  These two peaks just happened to be Capitol Peak and the Maroon Bells.  Both objectives are big,  high, and for a newcomer to the sport – quite technical.

After successfully completing those two objectives, Troy was hooked.  “I love being outside, I love the challenge, I love it all.” He returned to Colorado every September after that and continued to bag peaks. “I looked at the high points in all the states and realized that I had already completed 2, so I figured why not finish the the other 48.” Said Troy

Troy Everest

Troy on Everest

But on his way to bag all 50 high points, Troy got side tracked. “In 2005, I read Dick Bass’s book, “Seven Summits”, and I thought, Wow! I really want to do this.”  Troy focused the next 4 years on completing the seven summits, and in 2009, completed this herculean task by climbing Mt. Everest.

With this experience behind him, he refocused his attention on high pointing and on November 28th, climbed the last of the 50 high points, summiting Hawaii’s, Mauna Kea.

When Troy is not climbing, he is running his business, Enzymology Research Center.  This Minnesota-based company supplies organically certified enzymes to food, feed, equine and nutraceutical industries.  “Performance and nutrition go hand in hand.” Says Troy.

So what’s next for Troy? “I have been amazed by the Race Across America. It’s an endeavor that is interesting to me both personally and professionally.”  For those of us unfamiliar with Race America, it is a grueling bike race that …. well…. races across America.  Once completed in 22 days, today’s athlete’s are now completing this race in 8 days!  “These athletes discovered high carbo, liquid diets, that propelled their performance to new levels.”

Congratulations Troy!  If your race across the country takes you through Wyoming, please take 5 minutes and swing by JHMG.  We’ll have some trail mix ready for you!

 

 

 


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