San Jose Man Hikes ‘Triple Crown’
A San Jose engineer reached the snowy, wind-whipped summit of mile-high Mt. Katahdin in Maine on Saturday, becoming the first person to complete hiking’s “Triple Crown” in a calendar year.
Since Jan. 1, the 40-year-old computer systems engineer has trekked 7,400 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide in the Rockies and the Appalachian Trail. Covering up to 40 miles a day, Brian Robinson ate every two hours: three pounds a day of high-calorie food, including granola and Pop-Tarts.
There were days when he drank three gallons of water to survive the hot sun. On Sept. 12, when he walked off the Continental Divide Trail into Silverthorne, Colo., Robinson noticed flags were flying at half-staff.
He asked why, and was told about the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. “I didn’t hear about Sept. 11 until Sept. 12,” he said.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
