12-year-old Moniz reaches high points of all 50 states in record time

Last Friday, July 16th at 1:55pm, Hawaiian time, Mountain Hardwear Youth Athlete Matt Moniz and his father Mike ran to the top of Hawaii’s Mauna Kai (13,796-ft), setting a new speed record for summiting the 50 highest points in all 50 U.S. states. The new 50-50 record set by the Moniz duo is 43 days, 3 hours, 51 minutes and 9 seconds. Just as Matt’s summer vacation heads into the final weeks and days, Matt and his father Mike take a break from climbing after another successful father-son expedition. Representing the Outdoor Nation, Matt will heading to the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City. Stop by Mountain Hardwear booth (#26001) to meet this fantastic kid on Thursday, August 5th from 11:30-12:30pm.

Mike reflected upon the past weeks, “From Florida to Alaska and Katahdin to Mauna Kea, Matt and I marveled firsthand at both the cultural and geographic diversity of our great nation. It seemed daily we were confronted with complexities ranging from high winds and snow to mosquitoes and bears; challenges that served to strengthened our resolve and our already close father-son bond. The expedition was an adventure of a lifetime and will most certainly provide a lifetime of memories.”

Mauna Kai was latest of many mountains that Matt and his dad climbed over the last two summers to raise awareness about pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Matt is also raising funds for his best friend, Ian Hess, who suffers from the disease. PAH restricts blood flow to the lungs, resulting in breathlessness and fatigue. Last summer Matt climbed fourteen of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks in 8 days raising thousands of dollars for the cause. This summer, on June 3rd, Matt and Mike summited Alaska’s 20,320 ft. Denali. Since, they have been moving from state to state scaling the highest peaks in each of the 50 states.

Matt, his twin sister Kaylee, and their parents are spending the next several days relaxing in the Hawaii sun after an amazing summer adventure.

To find out more about Matt’s fundraising efforts for PAH visit climb7. Information about Matt can also be found on Mountain Hardwear’s blog.

About Mountain Hardwear:
Mountain Hardwear, Inc. makes cutting edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories for ultimate performance in extreme conditions. Established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans, Mountain Hardwear is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company based in Richmond, Calif. Mountain Hardwear distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers throughout the United States and over 40 countries worldwide. Mountain Hardwear has won numerous product and customer service awards since its inception, reflecting the company’s commitment and passion toward innovation. It’s our relentless drive to create the absolute best that makes us who we are. Mountain Hardwear. www.mountainhardwear.com