My name is Trevor Jones and I am a Staff Sergeant in the US Army. My love for the outdoors started when I moved to North West Pennsylvania from England at the age of 8. I was enamored by the hills, the wildlife and the colors, none of which we had in England. For the rest of the time that I lived in Pa, I would get out as often as I can and explore The Allegheny Forest with my friends, or even by myself.
After high school I joined the Army. After all of my training I was sent to Germany, which gave me plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. From hiking in Bavaria, the Rhineland, and even Norway, to skiing in the Alps, I used every opportunity to get out. The first time that I went to Switzerland and I saw the jagged peaks of the Alps touching the sky, I knew that I had a new passion, mountains.
When I got back from my first deployment to Iraq I moved to Fort Drum, which is in upstate New York. There I had plenty of opportunities to head into the Adirondack Mountains, for a hike, or skiing, or even drive a few hours back home, and hike in the Allegheny National Forest. I even returned to Norway where my wife and I did a good bit of hiking. My time in NY was shortened by another year long deployment to Iraq followed by a year in Afghanistan.
Everyday in Afghanistan I was surrounded by the Hindu Kush Mountains, reaching upwards of 20,000 feet. I decided that I wanted to go to Alaska, and like most people heading to the last frontier, seek adventure any way that I can.
I packed up the car and headed north, spending 2 weeks driving to Alaska, stopping to hike in Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada.
In Alaska I spend every minute of free time that I have climbing in the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains. From skiing the mounatians literally in my front and back yards, to hiking and climbing I am out doors all year round. I have climbed dozens of peaks ranging from 4000 feet to about 7000 feet. I also have completed the Army’s Cold Weather Leadership Course, where I learned to survive in temps below -40ºF, along with the Army’s Mountaineering Course. With those two courses I earned the title Military Mountaineer. I have also developed a love for helping others. I spend time cleaning up the state park, coaching children in little league baseball and football, and competing in charity bicycle races.
I’ve had a fairly extensive military career in my short life, having served two deployments to Iraq, and one to Afghanistan. I have witnessed firsthand the horrors and atrocities of war. I have seen my friends and fellow countrymen and soldiers suffer horrible injuries. Some of the injuries were life altering and some were life ending. Having seen what I’ve seen, and living with the questions of what happens to those who survive, I’ve made a conscious decision to get involved and support them the only way I really know how, by climbing in their honor.
I have taken on the challenge of climbing each of the tallest peaks on each of the continents in the world, also known as the Seven Summits. If successful, I will be the only active duty member of the United States military to do so. I’d like to do it as a funds and awareness-raising campaign for the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization committed to helping service members overcome their injuries and live normal active lives.
As a member of the United States Army, my personal training and climbing schedule must accommodate my deployments to the Middle East. I use my already limited vacation time to turn the goal of the Seven Summits into a reality.
In June of 2009 I began my quest by climbing Denali (Mt. McKinley). I made it to the top in just 13 days, and was off the mountain in 15! I will be attempting my second, Aconcagua in Feb 2011.
