In celebration of his 46th birthday on July 4th, Health Fitness Revolution founder Samir Becic is hiking 460 miles in Aspen, CO! He is hiking 10 miles for each year he’s been alive (10 x 46= 460 miles) with a 50lbs+ backpack- on rugged, steep terrain (up to 47% incline). Because he lives in Houston, which is at sea level, Samir spent the first few hikes pushing himself as he acclimated to the altitude- he climbed the Aspen Summer Road to Sundeck Aspen 4 times, which is 9.2 miles out and back each time. The employees charged with maintaining the trail, which is not yet officially open, allowed Samir to hike on it after he explained his difficult birthday challenge. He’s now completed the first 100 miles of his 460-mile journey.
I am thankful to the Aspen Summer Road team for allowing me to climb it 4 times (9.2 miles each time) even though it’s officially closed. After I explained that I’m hiking 460-miles with a 50lbs+ backpack in celebration of my 46th birthday, they said “go ahead”! Very challenging! pic.twitter.com/WUw8xCciNl
— Samir Becic (@SamirBecic) June 6, 2022
Samir has also been carrying his son, Ares Max (who weighs 80lbs+), on various portions of the hike, adding to his weight load. As Houston’s Official “Fitness Czar”, Samir is doing this long hike in an effort to encourage and motivate Americans to be more active, walk, hike, and get outdoors.
I finished today 12 miles of hiking. It was short but intense. Today was my off day. however, my son Ares Max was ready for an action today 😄 pic.twitter.com/FPN12JAxIN
— Samir Becic (@SamirBecic) June 6, 2022
I’m in Aspen, CO working on accomplishing a 460-mile (740 km) hike with a 55 lbs backpack to celebrate my turning 46 on July 4th! For each year-10, miles. However, sometimes, I’m forced to carry more weight (140 lbs) while adapting my “Houston lungs” to over 10.000 feet 🦶:). pic.twitter.com/co8C6u7Ujj
— Samir Becic (@SamirBecic) June 4, 2022
This is not new for Samir; in 2020, he was also in Aspen, Colorado celebrating his 44th birthday, and hiked 44 miles (for his 44 years on earth) over the course of 15 hours on July 4th in order to motivate Americans to be more active (and walk 1-2 miles a day). Spoiler alert: while he originally set out to do it over two days, he completed it in one, finishing in the middle of the night, in complete darkness! On that same trip, he hiked a total of 350 miles.
July 4th…America’s birthday…but also mine! As America takes its big hike (to overcome COVID, social unrest, etc), I will also embark on my longest hike of 44 miles (70.8km). I will be hiking a mile for each of my 44 years over two days but will attempt to complete it in one 🙂 pic.twitter.com/LAubWq9n7o
— Samir Becic (@SamirBecic) July 2, 2020
Here are some more photos of his hikes so far:
