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• Position: Finalentry - Interview

Brian Rowbotham takes members of his firm to new heights--literally. For seven years, Rowbotham & Company LLP has sponsored and organized a Mt. Whitney challenge hike. This year, for the first time, all hikers made it to the summit and back in one day. At 14,496 feet, Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. The event was used to raise funds for the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy, which provides rehabilitation and therapy services through the use of horse riding. California CPA took a moment with Brian to get some more details about this towering adventure.

What was the genesis of the challenge hike?

We did it as an athletic challenge, to push physical limits with training and altitude. Whitney is a tough hike to do in one day and can take 12-16 hours depending on your fitness level. Starting at 8,300 feet at the base of the trail, it's 11 miles to the summit (14,496 feet). Then it's 11 miles of dirt and granite trails to get you back to the start. Up and down is a 12,400-foot vertical change, and the altitude becomes a major factor above 12,000 feet.

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Why the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy?

The group does specific support work for seriously wounded vets returning from combat situations with head trauma. It's local, so you can see the results. You can learn more at www.nceft.org.

How did team members prepare?

I tell people to train or they will feel as bad as bad can be. Some training tips I use include 70 to 100 minutes of cardio work (StairMaster or elliptical); five to six miles on a track; and hiking 20 miles with a really-good hill or several hills. That's a good benchmark that you're ready.

In the last month before the hike:

* Find a building with stairs and start walking up and down the stairs to exercise the calf muscles at the back of the legs that get hammered in a long downhill hike. My building is 27 stories.

* Start with two round trip flights, about 13 minutes each, then try three laps.

* About two weeks before the hike, I push to four laps. I'd skip a day: Monday stairs, Tuesday gym, Wednesday stairs, etc.

At this level, Whitney can be done between 11 and 12 hours.

What were the biggest concerns before setting out?

Altitude sickness combined with long-hike stress. It's equivalent to a 50-mile walk without stopping. The big unknown is lightning and rain. For the past three years, there have been wild thunderstorms the day or two before. Whitney is notorious...