Local Man Climbs Idaho’s 123 Highest Mountains

Derek Percoski of Hailey, Idaho just did what only nine people have done before him and he’s not done yet. You want adventure? You want crazy? You want to see a guy live, dream, eat, sleep, and become ONE with nature? That guy is Derek!

Photo: Derek Percoski

There’s a special club that only 10 people now belong to in THE history of mankind and Derek is one of those people. It’s called the 11ers. So, what is the 11ers club? To join you have to summit the 123 mountain peaks over 11,000 feet tall and then another nine peaks over 12,000 feet. Derek just did that and he did it in style. With his family!

Photo: Derek Percoski

Derek never was interested in climbing mountains or really climbing anything when he was younger. He took to it later in life when he was on some cross-road motorcycle trips. He kept looking at all the beautiful mountains and started thinking about what it’d be like to climb them.

Well, climb and climb is what he did. Think about it. How long would it take to summit more than 120 mountain tops? A lifetime for most but for Derek, he took time through the pandemic when he didn’t have to go into the office as much to live life the way he wanted to.

Here’s a quote Derek gave to KTVB…

"The idea of the checklist kind of satisfies our modern minds. It's easier to stay motivated when it's like, 'I've got this list, and I can check something off this list, and I can feel satisfied doing that.'"

Last week Derek took his wife and his four-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Remi, and went for that final climb. A hike that would lead the three of them up to the top of Alcyon Peak.

There was no fanfare, cameras, video, or comrades to give him high fives. It was the perfect ending to a perfect journey. Just Derek, his wife, and his daughter.

We’re proud of you Derek. What an accomplishment. Very cool. Oh… and he’s not done. Derek now says he’d like to snowboard down a lot of those peaks and there are more here in our beautiful state of Idaho he hasn’t climbed yet.

Something tells me this guy’s going to keep on going and going and going.