The 18,491 feet summit crater of Mexico's Pico de Orizaba dwarfs climbers, barely visible on the lower left.

Most teachers look forward to summer as a time to wind down and relax.

Jason Hardrath isn’t like most teachers.

Instead of planning lazy days at the beach or nights kicking back with a beverage, Hardrath, a physical education teacher at Bonanza Elementary School in Klamath County, will be heading out for yet another adventure — the Rocky Mountain Grand Slam. It’s a challenge that involves climbing 120 mountain peaks, all at elevations of more than 12,000 feet, in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

“It’ll be a really big summer,” says Hardrath, who hopes to beat the existing 60-day record by making the assault in 50 or fewer back-to-back days and nights. To accomplish his goal he’ll frequently have to summit four or five peaks in a day.

“I feel I’ve got something left,” says the veteran climber. “There’s something magical about going high and far.”

The 34-year-old Hardrath has gone high and far. As told in the documentary, “Journey to 100,” in 2021 he climbed Washington’s 100 highest peaks in 51 days, shattering the former Fastest Known Time (FKT) of 410 days.

Because of his teaching job, he squeezes his climbs into the summer or the Christmas-New Year’s and or spring break holidays. Last summer’s non-teaching hours and the 2022-23 holiday breaks were used for some “easier” outings — climbing California’s 14,000-foot-plus mountains last summer and completing an Infinity Loop around Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba this year. At 18,491 feet, it’s North America’s tallest volcano.

In climbing terms, an Infinity Loop involves climbing and descending a mountain summit, then climbing the summit a second time by a different route, and finishing the around-the-mountain loop. The Infinity Symbol, which looks like a sideways figure 8, is a mathematical symbol representing the concept of infinity.

The Pico de Orizaba loop tested Hardrath. He originally planned to make a solo attempt during the 2022-23 Christmas-New Year’s break. But three days into becoming acclimatized, he began coughing fluids, a medical condition called HAPE, high-altitude pulmonary edema, a lift-threatening edema that occurs in otherwise healthy people at elevations typically above 8,200 feet. He returned home to Klamath Falls.

Undaunted, Hardrath returned to Orizaba last March, joined by another climber, Nathan Longhurst, and a film crew. Blending “strong moments” with searching for sometimes nonexistent trails in the dark, he and Longhurst completed the loop in 23 hours and 40 minutes.

Hardrath hopes to create FKTs on Ojos Del Salado and Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest volcanos in South American and Africa. “Those are the two I want to go for.” The other tallest volcanoes on other continents include Mount Giluwe in Papua New Guinea and Mount Sidley in Antarctica, which are prohibitively expensive, while Damavand in Iran and Mount Elbrus in Russia are in countries hostile to Americans.

But those are future goals. For now, Hardrath’s focus is on the Rocky Mountain Grand Slam. It not only involves climbing — or more realistically running — up and down 120 peaks, but also requires careful planning and logistics. The list includes 58 peaks at elevations of 14,000-plus feet in Colorado, 35 13,000-plus summits in Wyoming and 27 12,000-plus peaks in Montana. While some have maintained trails, many are remote and require traveling over glaciers. Nearly 20 require technical rock climbing on terrain “where you can’t make a mistake.” Based on the existing 60-day record, the total hiking-climbing distance will exceed 1,000 miles with a total elevation gain of more than 400,000 feet.

“I’m old enough that I realize I’m not 24, but I’m also old enough to feel that I’ve got something left,” says Hardrath, who has already overcome a litany of injuries, including a near-death automobile accident, mountain bike collision with a deer, and battle with ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactive disorder) along with HAPE.

When he talks about his goals, Hardrath emphasizes his desire is to serve as an inspiration to others, especially his P.E. students in Bonanza.

“Not only do you have to be physically ready, you have to be emotionally ready,” he says of preparing for unknowns and dealing with unexpected challenges.

“It’s about aiming high and inspiring others.”

Hardrath admits that others frequently question his sanity. “I get that ‘crazy’ line all the time,” he laughs, countering by explaining he defines “crazy” as “doing little or nothing.”

“Other athletes respect what I do and the values I have — and the teaching I do,” he says, noting his FKTs and adventures have resulted in sponsorships with Athletic Brewing, Vuori clothing, Norda shoes and Precision Fuel & Hydration.

“My goal,” he emphasizes, “is to teach and inspire my students, and others, to do everything they can do, the ongoing human endeavor to do something better. I get to bring these stories and sense of purpose back to my students.

“And,” Hardrath adds, a wide smile fanning across his face, “I love being out there.”