At the IML Blog, we love discovering tweens who are out there doing something a little unique...something cool and challenging and inspiring. Like 12-year-old mountain climber Matt Moniz, who spent last summer on a trek with his dad to climb the highest peak in all 50 U.S. states in 50 days.

Since then, Matt has become dedicated to encouraging other young people to get outdoors, explore, be active, have fun, and possibly amaze themselves. He recently shared his experiences and advice with IML.

IML: When did you start mountain climbing, and how did you learn "the ropes"?

Matt: I started climbing big mountains when I was nine. My first major expedition was a trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Along the way, in addition to seeing awesome mountains like Ama Dablam and of course Mount Everest, I visited amazing monasteries and the Sherpa Hillary School.

I developed a lot of my core alpine skills while climbing mountains and learning from guides and Sherpas. Last spring I spent my break taking a six-day mountaineering course in Alaska. That helped me prepare for the challenges of climbing Denali this past summer.

IML: How did you and your dad come up with the idea for the 50-state expedition?

Matt: We both really enjoyed traveling around the world climbing peaks in Russia (Mt. Elbrus), Tanzania (Mt. Kilimanjaro) and Argentina (Cerro Aconcagua). In 2009 we were thinking that it would be fun to explore our backyard here in Colorado. Colorado has many high-peaks, known as the 14ers because they are at least fourteen thousand feet high. Out of that came the idea for the "14 Fourteeners in 14 Days Expedition" to raise awareness for a rare disease my best friend Iain has called Pulmonary Hypertension.

The climb was a success.  We were able to climb them all in just eight days and we raised over $20,000 for the PAH fund and awareness! So to continue the theme of exploring the world we decided to attempt all fifty state high points in fifty days, "50 States, 50 Peaks, 50 Days Expedition". Again, we were successful and completed the journey in 43 days setting the new world speed record.

IML: You and your dad spent a lot of quality time together during this adventure! What was that like? Did you get along?

Matt: I loved spending time in the mountains with my dad. We always bring out the best in each other. It would be hard for some kids to imagine that we got along great after spending so much time together in tents, on trails, sitting in the van and airplanes -- but we did!

Maybe the reason why we did do so well together is that we relied on each other on the climbs. A good example of that was one time on Denali, my father lost his footing while descending the steep headwall above basecamp. He was connected to me by a rope, and I remember just immediately dropping down and planting my ice axe in the snow and stopping his slide. All my training and experience just kicked in without ever thinking about the situation. Reflecting on my journey this summer with my dad, I think how lucky I am to spend so much time together and I know that if we can overcome these extreme challenges together, there is no mountain too high.

IML: We would imagine that reaching the summit is the most rewarding part of a climb. But were there moments on the way up or down that were also rewarding?

Matt: Sure, we had many wonderful moments along the way to and from the summits, like lying out in my sleeping bag gazing at awesome night skies with millions of stars. Glissading, or sliding on your rear down steep snowy slope, was also really a blast. Maybe the most rewarding was all the wonderful people we met along the way who shared stories about their home state and lives that really made the expedition more interesting.  

IML: It sounds like you did a lot of your 50 state climbs pretty fast, without much rest before or after. How do you fuel up your body for maximum energy when you're going to do something physically tough?

Matt: Eating in the cold and at high altitude can be kind of a challenge. It's not much fun trying to chew a frozen candy bar when you're cold and don't have much of an appetite. I tried to find foods that I knew I would like no matter what the conditions. My favorites were potato chips, salami, hot chocolate, chicken and pita bread and of course candy bars. Between climbs I would try to eat as much as I could. One time before climbing Kings' Peak in Utah, I ate a steak that was almost as big as me!

IML: Visiting a lot of different states in a short period of time must have been eye-opening! What was the most surprising thing you discovered about a state? What was the funniest?

Matt: I never really expected that the Texas highpoint would be that interesting. I was wrong! At almost nine thousand feet in elevation Guadalupe Peak was incredible. Rising above the plains the mountain has ominous share granite walls and is covered in nearly five hundred different species of plants. The coolest is the brilliant red-barked madrone tree that looks like it is from another planet.

Funniest was driving through Pigeon Forge, Tennessee after climbing Clingman's Dome and seeing so many tourist attractions including the Titanic Museum, which has a gigantic replica ship complete with water splashing on the bow that looks so real you think it is going to come crashing across the road!

IML: Tell us about the organization Outdoor Nation. How can other kids get involved?

Matt: Outdoor Nation is about getting young people outdoors and, most importantly, that they learn how they can help protect our public lands and ensure recreation access for generations of kids to come. Just like other kids, I love watching movies and playing video games, but we need to be careful that we don't spend too much time in front of screens - it's easy to do, especially with all the great games and shows available. So get outside and ski, bike, hike, skate, play or do whatever makes you happy - you'll have a blast and feel better than sitting around in the house. You can join Outdoor Nation by going to www.outdoornation.org.

IML: What's your advice for kids who would like to get outdoors but don't have the access, the training, or the gear? What are some easy ways to just get and stay active, especially in the winter?

Matt: Good question! First bit of advice is just to get outside, look around and explore your neighborhood and local parks. During the winter I like to find projects to do outside like making a snow fort or building a ski jump to practice tricks. To keep things interesting, I like to go for a swim at the pool or climb indoors at our local rock gym. The important thing is to have fun, be active and appreciate how lucky we are to have so many parks and recreation choices.
 
A fun way to keep it interesting is with a little gizmo called a GeoPalz, a pedometer and website that keep track of how much you walk. The more you walk the more points you earn that you can exchange for fun prizes! You can combine the GeoPalz with hikes and new sports like geo-caching which is where you use a GPS to play a game of "high-tech hide and seek" outdoors. I took one with me during my climbs and it was really fun to see how many steps I was taking to climb the peaks!
 
I'd just like to say to other kids that you don't need to climb a mountain to have fun (although you certainly can). There are so many opportunities to find your passion for outdoor sports. Non-profit organizations are all over the country that can help introduce you to new ways to have fun and excitement in the outdoors. A few cool groups are Big City Mountaineers, The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, but you can do your own research, I'm sure you'll find many options. Reading tales of high adventure can spark you into action as well -- my favorite book is "No Short Cuts to the Top" by Ed Viesturs.

IML: Thanks, Matt! And good luck with your next adventure!

Matt: Thanks!