Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest, was asked why he wanted to climb that formidable peak. He answered, "Because it is there."

On a cold January day in the Hidden River II subdivision of Parker, Colorado, I found a similar compulsion urging me to be the first to climb Mt. Ridgeview, named for the street on which it was created. Following the huge snow buildup of the Holiday Blizzard and the subsequent bitter cold and snow of early January, front-end loaders had been used to clear the neighborhood streets. A convenient space at the south end of Ridgeview Lane, at the Woodside Lane intersection, was used to pile snow and ice in a formidable hill, lovingly referred to by locals as Mount Ridgeview.

With camera and flag in hand, I attempted to reach the summit from the less technical north face. Cold winds, bitter temperatures and treacherous footing posed a challenge. I was aware that weather conditions near the summit could change unexpectedly. Eventually, after testing my physical endurance for two or three minutes I proudly raised the American flag on the frozen summit.

In case my achievement would be questioned, I took several photos of the momentous event. I post these here in honor of the heroic mountaineers who have gone before. These photos are being submitted to National Geographic Magazine for possible publication.