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Sort of an Origin Story
As a little boy, I was obese (particularly a bummer when you consider my last name). I had orthopedic issues and didn’t have my first pair of Keds until I was 12. My parents divorced before I was 1 year-old, and I lived with my single working mom and grandmother. Thus, no playing catch, no riding a bike, not even running. Things had to change, so at 13 I got into exercise and nutrition and lost 64 pounds, and since I have run ultramarathons, climbed three of the world's Seven Summits, dove the Great Barrier Reef, and completed a number of what I like to call Weirdo Challenges. This page is an overview that I hope may serve as an inspiration to those wanting to make a change, too.
Some details...
Alpinism: I have climbed three of the world’s Seven Summits (the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents – Africa, Russia/Europe, and Australia, so far), along with Rainier, Half-Dome, Pikes Peak, Tetons, Whitney (tallest in the lower 48), Athabasca, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), and other rock and ice climbs.
Some details...
Alpinism: I have climbed three of the world’s Seven Summits (the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents – Africa, Russia/Europe, and Australia, so far), along with Rainier, Half-Dome, Pikes Peak, Tetons, Whitney (tallest in the lower 48), Athabasca, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), and other rock and ice climbs.
- Sorta Climbing: Raced up “The Big Three of Skyscraper Stair Climbs (Willis Tower, Hancock and Aon Buildings), in Chicago a number of seasons; and others elsewhere; and the Everest Challenge as well as Jesse Itzler’s crazy 29029 Everesting.
- On Foot: Marathons, 10 Milers, 10Ks, 5Ks, Tough Mudder’s and a variety of other obstacle runs, along with organized as well as unsupported ultras (double marathon, 50K, 50 Mile, and 100K distances), and Colin O’Brady’s 12 Hour Walk, and survived Running with the Bulls.
- With a Gun: Summer biathlon (running and target shooting with a 22 cal. rifle).
- With a Gun (but standing still): I participated in a Competitive Marksmanship League and met the scoring standard for an expert qualification.
- On 2 Wheels: Hilly Hundreds, Millenium Club Member (high milage), Centuries, Metric Centuries, 50 Miler, and Criterium Racing.
- On Both Foot and Wheels (but no gun): Duathlon.
- On 2 Wheels (but with a motor): Earned my license from the Western Eastern (Motorcycle) Roadracing Association.
- On 4 Wheels (also with a motor): Land Speed Racing (set 2 records at the Arkansas Mile), Ultimate Street Car Challenge at Road America, and
- Podiumed at the Mountain Mille Road Rally, 2024.
- In the Air: Flew an Advanced Aerobatic Marchetti SF – 260 doing Air Combat (and stalled the engine mid-loop!)
- Underwater: Dived the Blue Hole, Narco dived, swam with dolphins, shark dived, night dived in Honduras, and dived the Great Barrier Reef.
- Strength Based: Tank Curling, The Murph Challenge, The 100 Ton Club, and Strongman Stone Lifting.
- Joined the Polar Bear Club diving into Lake Michigan on New Year’s Day.
- And other “Weirdo Challenges.”
Sponsored Athlete - Hammer Nutrition
I used HAMMER NUTRITION products on all my climbs and ultras. As a Sponsored Athlete of theirs, they are now generously giving a 15% discount off your first purchase, just use this link. Thanks again Hammer!
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Brand Ambassador
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DeemedFit was created to not only provide high quality gear, but to also build community, start conversations, all while giving back to nonprofits which directly impact the mental and physical health of first responders--to get them Deemed Fit for Duty.
DeemedFit’s mission is to increase mental health awareness and support nonprofits that provide free counseling and mental health services to active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders, such as Tunnel to Towers, Beyond the Badge NY, PS I LOVE YOU, and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. When they were founded in 2023, that earned them Time Magazines’ Clothing Brand to Watch recognition. I’m now proud to be a part of their mission. As you may know this is an important cause for me, and I’m pleased to announce that as a Brand Ambassador, that you can get 15% off your order and know that you have helped the cause as well. Just click this link, and use the coupon code DRCHRISSTOUT at checkout. The gear and the cause are amazing. |
Affiliated Athlete with GoRuck
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Friends know that I enjoy varied ways to improve my performance. In the athletic space, that includes all types of physical challenge events, adventure races, ultras, climbs, cycling, lifting, Hero Challenges supporting a cause and WODs of all sorts, with all kinds of equipment. I have become a big fan and user of GoRuck’s sandbags, plate carriers, vests, and of course, their rucks, so much so that I am now an Affiliated Athlete with them, which I have to say, I am very proud of. If you are looking for a great community and workouts that are challenging, efficient and yield tangible results, then I highly recommend checking out what GoRuck has to offer. (My wife is a fan and avid rucker, too!) |
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Alpinism: The Philosophy & Backstory
Having a penchant for challenges, wanting to help others, having a background in working on international humanitarian aid and medical service projects, and being a tad bit creative and enjoying climbing, I founded Summits for Others. The idea being with every climb I do, I do so as a fundraiser for The Center for Global Initiatives in order to help to raise not only funds, but also awareness. I personally pay for all travel costs, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible.
Someone once said ‘No summit can change who you are, it merely changes the way you see who you are.’ I have learned of the power of the individual and the collective team, the power and the importance of my family and faith, and the many metaphorical climbing and life. After climbing, I bring back the typical trinkets to family and friends, but for myself, I bring back more personal souvenirs of hope, inspiration, and renewal.
I have taken up mountain climbing (as very much the amateur). In doing so, I have set out to do the Seven Summits - reaching the top of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. I have been fortunate to have summited three of the easy ones so far: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa; Mt. Elbrus, Europe (Russia); and Mt. Kosciusko, Australia. I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Adam’s peak (Sri Lanka), Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak.
The Parallels
Mountaineering is quite similar to working on global health problems:
The Goal
We hope to raise funds for food, medications, and educational supplies for patients and orphan children (ages 3 to 12 years) with every climb we go on. We are working to treat malaria, TB, pneumonia, and immunosuppression in collaboration with local doctors, nurses, and staff. We have a particular focus on people with HIV infection and AIDS in the Kilimanjaro Region of the Rombo District.
Someone once said ‘No summit can change who you are, it merely changes the way you see who you are.’ I have learned of the power of the individual and the collective team, the power and the importance of my family and faith, and the many metaphorical climbing and life. After climbing, I bring back the typical trinkets to family and friends, but for myself, I bring back more personal souvenirs of hope, inspiration, and renewal.
I have taken up mountain climbing (as very much the amateur). In doing so, I have set out to do the Seven Summits - reaching the top of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. I have been fortunate to have summited three of the easy ones so far: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa; Mt. Elbrus, Europe (Russia); and Mt. Kosciusko, Australia. I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Adam’s peak (Sri Lanka), Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak.
The Parallels
Mountaineering is quite similar to working on global health problems:
- Both involve big, and seemingly insurmountable tasks,
- Both take the help of others in order to reach the goal,
- Both deal with risks, and
- Both require large doses of planning, team work, concentrated effort, and hope.
The Goal
We hope to raise funds for food, medications, and educational supplies for patients and orphan children (ages 3 to 12 years) with every climb we go on. We are working to treat malaria, TB, pneumonia, and immunosuppression in collaboration with local doctors, nurses, and staff. We have a particular focus on people with HIV infection and AIDS in the Kilimanjaro Region of the Rombo District.
Everest Base Camp Expedition - 2026
It’s Official - I’m Heading Back to the Himalayas!
I just received word from CTSS team that my application to join one of their 2026 Everest Base Camp Expedition groups was accepted. On this Expedition I will be going back to Kathmandu and then trek through Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep to acclimatize. It’s been over 30 years since I was last there, in the Annapurna Range. The goals this time around are to climb Lobuche (at 20,076′ it will be the highest for me yet), then progress to Everest Base Camp (not the rock that Instagrammers turn around at) and ice climb in the Khumbu Icefall, and possibly also climb Kala Patthar or Awi Peak – time, weather, legs and lungs permitting.
You may know that I’ve been an Amateur Alpinist for a while now, having thus far climbed 3 of the world’s Seven Summits, I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak.
You may also know that I founded Summits for Others as an awareness raising and fundraising in support of the nonprofit Center for Global Initiatives as being founded based on my climbing experience of Kilimanjaro. I do this as I really hate asking people for donations, and this seems to make it easier for all parties. 😊
This climb will be in support of the Center and to fund medical or English skills training for an Expedition Worker. The Center’s work supports a kindergarten and 2 hospitals in Tanzania, along with various other projects and initiatives. Here is a link summarizing our efforts and outcomes.
We're an all-volunteer organization, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible. Even just $1 makes a difference: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/218379
I just received word from CTSS team that my application to join one of their 2026 Everest Base Camp Expedition groups was accepted. On this Expedition I will be going back to Kathmandu and then trek through Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep to acclimatize. It’s been over 30 years since I was last there, in the Annapurna Range. The goals this time around are to climb Lobuche (at 20,076′ it will be the highest for me yet), then progress to Everest Base Camp (not the rock that Instagrammers turn around at) and ice climb in the Khumbu Icefall, and possibly also climb Kala Patthar or Awi Peak – time, weather, legs and lungs permitting.
You may know that I’ve been an Amateur Alpinist for a while now, having thus far climbed 3 of the world’s Seven Summits, I have also made it to the tops of Mt. Whitney (the highest peak in the continental United States), Yosemite’s Half Dome, Adam’s Peak (Sri Lanka), Mt. Rainer, and with my daughter (Annika) both Inspiration Point in the Grand Teton National Park and Colorado’s Pikes Peak.
You may also know that I founded Summits for Others as an awareness raising and fundraising in support of the nonprofit Center for Global Initiatives as being founded based on my climbing experience of Kilimanjaro. I do this as I really hate asking people for donations, and this seems to make it easier for all parties. 😊
This climb will be in support of the Center and to fund medical or English skills training for an Expedition Worker. The Center’s work supports a kindergarten and 2 hospitals in Tanzania, along with various other projects and initiatives. Here is a link summarizing our efforts and outcomes.
We're an all-volunteer organization, so every penny donated goes to the work of the Center, and is 100% tax deductible. Even just $1 makes a difference: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/218379
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Ultimate Street Car Challenge - Road America
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Record Setting Land Speed Racing
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100 Ton Club Challenge
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Mr. Health and Fitness 4th Place (age 65)
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54 Mile Ruck in Honor of the Selma to Montgomery 1965 Protest Marchs
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Tank Curling, it's a thing...
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FTC Disclosure Notice.
FTC Disclosure Notice.
