Bob Salem will attempt to make history next month by crawling up Pikes Peak, a Colorado 14er, pushing a peanut eleven miles up the slope with an undisclosed “contraption” taped to his nose.
As part of Manitou Springs’ 150 Year Celebration of city life, Salem is hoping to be the first person in the 21st Century to push a peanut up 14,115-foot Pikes Peak with a contraption taped to his nose. This is no easy feat, but with support from the community and region at large, this peanut pusher can cement his place in history. The Peanut Push will begin on Barr Trail on July 9th and is tentatively scheduled to finish no later than July 17th.
Oddly, three individuals have already managed the nutty task of pushing a peanut up the steep slopes of Pikes Peak to its omnipresent summit.
Bill Williams was the first in 1929, and he did it on a bet, which he won. The Texan accomplished his peanut push in 11 days. In 1963, Ulysses Baxter, the most notable person to perform the Peanut Push, completed the push in a record-breaking eight days.
Salem spoke on this history-making feat and stated, “There is no city like Manitou Springs.” He continued, “I am excited to be the one to bring around this bit of history to celebrate Manitou Springs’ 150th Celebration. I hope everyone takes the time to visit and indulge in the rich history the Pikes Peak area represents. You won’t want to leave.”
According to Wikipedia, Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America. The ultra-prominent 14,115-foot (4,302.31 m) fourteener is located in Pike National Forest, 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. The town of Manitou Springs lies at its base.
