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Kipling Van Horn, 8, beat the heat last Sunday by going mountaineering on Mount Shasta's notorious Avalanche Gulch Route.

This was his third attempt at summiting the 14,162-foot mountain, since 2009. Mount Shasta is the second highest volcano of the Cascade Range; only Mount Rainier, at 14,414 feet, is higher.

On July 31, Kip ascended up the route to 12,800 feet to a peak above the Red Banks, reported his father Kimothy, who accompanied him.

"Just after stopping for a few minutes to re-fuel and re-hydrate, high winds and a whiteout came in over the ridge which prevented continuing further on to the summit," said Kimothy Van Horn.

Kip recently completed the second grade at Vintage Hills Elementary School. He also enjoys art and is a member of Cub Scout Pack 938.

— Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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