Climbing Resume for Dan Bereck

On July 4, 1981, my peak bagging career began with a climb of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire with my brother.  During 1981 to 1983, I scaled the 65 highest peaks in New England which are known as the 4,000 footer.  In 1982, I ascended Flattop Mountain and Hallet Peak in RMNP which were my first peaks in Colorado and over 12,000 feet.  During 1983, I went to the Northwest with Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, and other Cascade peaks, being climbed.  That fall I reached the highest point east of the Mississippi River on the summit of Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina after spending four months touring the country in my vehicle with other peaks being ascended along the way.  I also climbed my first peak over 13,000 feet in Colorado which began my 13er quest with a hike up Longs Peak with my brother.

In 1985, I returned to the Northwest with Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Hood, and the South Teton (en route), all being climbed.  In 1987, I completed the 14ers with an ascent of Holy Cross.  In 1988, after several backpacking trips to the Tetons over the years, the Grand and Middle Tetons were scaled with Don Cook.  I also went to Mt. McKinley that year with 22 days being spent on the mountain without reaching the summit due to a week long storm at 17,000 feet where I rode it out in a tent.  In 1990, the Centennials were completed and in 1994 the Bi-centennials, with over 15 summits having been reached in winter, were achieved.  In 1993, I lead a climbing group back to Denali and Don, Mark Nash, Jim Wheeler, and I all reached the summit and returned in 13 days.  In 1995, Mark, Dave Cooper, John Bicknell, and I attempted the East Ridge of Mt. Logan but snow conditions forced an early retreat. 

I continued scaling peaks in Colorado during the ‘90’s with the tri-centennials being completed in June 2002 and the top 400 in September 2002.  In July 2004 Whale Peak was achieved to finish the 13ers.  In October 2004, I completed all the 11,000 foot peaks in the Lost Creek Wilderness.  Up until 2004, I had never climbed over 70 peaks in a year with 43 being my annual average since 1981 with that average being 67 since 1999.  2004 should see triple digits with about 50 Lost Creek Wilderness peaks being included.