Everyone at the Fire District 7 Station in Snohomish County knew what Bill Ekse was up to during firefighter training. In four to eight hour intervals, the 32 year-old volunteer was practicing to set a new benchmark for stair climbing in the Guinness Book of World Records.
"The Chiefs were very supportive," reflected Ekse.
On the day of the event, standing undercover in oftentimes damp, chilly Washington weather, Ekse cemented himself in recordbook history. Twenty-four hours and numerous Cliff Bars later, he took 66,102 steps of eight inches each -- a total of 44,068 feet (nine miles) straight uphill. The distance could easily hike any mountain in the world.
Cheering him along were fellow firefighters, friends and family members among others. Recalled Ekse, "The wives came down and there was fire in a portable pit. Music and stereos made it like a party. Some stayed 24 hours."
He took pride in this attention, believing it allowed civilians "to see what the brotherhood is all about." He added, "We have a lot of time off and can't blow our knees out. We owe the community to stay in good shape, as most of us are. We don't just sit in recliners."
Despite the festive atmosphere, establishing the record was no picnic for Ekse. The avid stair-climber came down with a rare case of cold feet the night of the event. Unable to carb-load to his usual standards in preparation, he became very shaky with hours remaining. "I couldn't eat," he recalls.
Ekse's routine had consisted of climbing for 90-minute segments separated by five minute breaks. Toward the end, his breaks became slightly longer as hunger and cold gained on him. Fortunately, the gathering crowds energized him to a strong finish, as he completed the final two hours without pause.
The Brier volunteer had a civic motive inspiring his effort. His record-setting feet drew publicity toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- a charity of personal significance to him since his 24-year-old friend, Chris Pettersen, died of lymphoma in 1998. Eske's stairclimb succeeded in raising $12,000 from the hundreds who witnessed the event in front of Central Market on Main Street in Mill Creek between 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 19th and Sunday the 20th.
Raising money for cancer was hardly a first-time stunt for Ekse. He had already established a fundraising page to raise support and awareness of the cause. In years past, he and others firefighters participated in charity climb up Seattle's tallest building, the Columbia Center.
The Guinness fete was an attempt to up the ante from his previous efforts. There had been no previous record for most vertical feet climbed in 24 hours. Ekse's climb was the culmination of a year and-a-half wait following a petition to establish a precedent.
Tazzman Designz donated two helmets for the event.
