Jim Baker & The Climb
OUR CLIMBER
JIM BAKER -
Jim is the CEO of Dimensional Innovations, Inc. an award-winning, multi-disciplinary fabrication firm located in Overland Park KS.
Not only is Jim a former world champion skydiver with more than 3,500 jumps, a former member of the US free-fall exhibition and world champion US parachute teams, Jim has also participated in two World Team invitationals with top skydivers from 30 countries. Recently, Jim has developed a new passion for adventure that involves really big mountains. Last year Jim summited Mount Kilimanjaro, which is the highest peak in Africa and the fourth highest peak of the "Seven Summits", for the second time.
Note from Jim:
My mountain climbing pursuits began in 2007 when my older brother who at the age of 66 asked me to join him climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The experience was both exhilarating and confirmation that at 55, I was still in good enough shape to climb to that altitude. Two years later I planned a second trip including my son-in-law and one of my best friends. On this climb, we took the most difficult route spending a night at Crater Camp above 18,000’, then summiting the next day.
After my second summit of Kilimanjaro, I knew it was time to plan my next trip, but to which mountain? I knew I wanted to climb higher requiring mountaineering skills. My search resulted in choosing Aconcagua. Friends we made during my first Kili climb has just returned from Aconcagua and while not reaching the summit, they shared the fantastic journey and their sense of accomplishment.
To prepare for climbing Mount Aconcagua, I have been on a yearlong training program. Part of the training included an “Expedition Skills Climb” of Mount Rainier on July 2, 2010. This climb is designed to give you the mountaineering skills necessary to climb glaciers and at high altitudes safely. Leaving for the summit at 1 am, we climbed to the 13,000’ level but were forced to return due to blizzard conditions the guides deemed too unsafe. The picture below is at Camp Sherman (high camp) on Mount Rainier holding the CLIMB4SMA logo signifying the kick-off!
In the fall of 2009, more than a year before my intended climb of Aconcagua, I came up with the idea of using this climb as an opportunity to raise awareness and money to help Tony and Kristin find a cure for their son Jadon. It is hard to describe how moved I was when they both spoke to our company explaining how Jadon’s disease has affected his life and theirs. I knew then that I wanted to do something more to help and this upcoming climb seemed to be the perfect event. Climb4SMA was born.
