Middle Tennessee men hike the highest peak in each of the 50 states in 50 days

Summiting the highest peaks across America requires 10 months of strategic planning and a compact, mobile headquarters.

“Anything that we needed over the summer had to be contained in the van,” said Patrick Mertes. “We put 17,000 miles on the van over the course of the summer.”

Back in June, 31-year-old Patrick Mertes and 25-year-old Michael Shelver embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

“We started in Denali in Alaska,” said Mertes. “Then we flew to Mauna Kea in Hawaii and then from there we flew to Illinois where we picked up the sprinter van. Most people still think we’re crazy.”

These daring outdoorsmen documented their expedition, calling it PROJECT 50-IN-50. Their hiking adventures led them to the highest peaks in each of our 50 states, in 50 days

“We did it in under 50 days,” Mertes said. “We actually did it in 49 days, one hour, and nine minutes.”

Their effort is part of a larger fundraising initiative through a nonprofit organization called The Diabetes Family Connection.

“Through this expedition we were showing kids and families impacted by type 1 diabetes that they can do absolutely anything they want to do,” he explained.

Their undertaking wasn’t easy, but both Mertes and Shelver refused to let their type 1 diabetes slow them down.

“Michael probably fell 100 to 150 yards before hitting a rock field in Montana,” said Mertes. “Fortunately he was okay, but he was helicoptered off the mountain via Life Flight.”

Despite their challenges, both men are committed to taking type 1 diabetes awareness to new heights.

For more information about PROJECT 50-IN-50, visit their website here.