The Deep to the Peak Charity Challenge: Dan Weikel

A 22-Mile Open Ocean Swim, A 22 Mile Mountain Summit Up The Tallest Peak in the U.S. for Charity - Feeding Everyday Families and Seniors In Need

The Deep to the Peak Challenge comes from the idea that the impossible can be possible by taking small steps forward towards a goal every day.

I am a regular 46-year old father of two young girls from Thousand Oaks, California attempting to swim 22.1 miles in the open ocean August 22nd.

The swim starts around 8 o’clock at night from Catalina into the next morning. I hope to reach the California shore the next day on Friday, August 23rd.

On September 15th, I am following my swim across the 3,000 ft. deep Catalina Channel with a 22 mile trek summiting the tallest mountain peak in the U.S at 2.75 miles high (14,505 feet elevation - - *Lower 48 States).

My First Ocean Swim

About a year ago, I was on a beach watching the waves rolling in.

I wondered if I could swim across the ocean that I was looking at. The idea frightened me instantly.

A voice popped in my head discouraging me from trying it. I wasn't a swimmer. I was out of shape.

More reasons came to mind.

Don't try it. You might be embarrassed. Other people watching on the beach will laugh. You might fail.

Eventually, I went out and tried swimming the length of the bay.

I didn't get far. My shoulders hurt. My eyes burned. I sneezed salt water. Some seaweed touched my ankle and made me jump. It wasn't an amazing triumph.

But, it was progress. It was a start.

The next day, I tried again. I swam a little further. I didn't get across the beach the second day, but did eventually.

The idea of the Deep to the Peak Challenge started on those first humble ocean swims.

Why Do This?

People ask me that all the time. The truth is that I still don't completely know.

But I’ve come understand over the years that life is for living. Embracing challenges.

Sometimes, we all forget that in the mad hustle of life. I know that I did.

We get so busy taking care of others, paying bills, checking things off our daily to do lists, that we forget to create important milestones, set real personal goals, and put aside time to pursue our dreams.

Be Better to Ourselves and Others

I hope that the Deep to the Peak Challenge inspires people to be better to one another.

Most of all, to be better to ourselves. To be brave facing the best and worst that life throws at us as friends, partners, parents, family, workers, and humans. To not be afraid of chasing something remarkable.

Now more than ever, I feel like we need each other through the ups and downs of this crazy life. Our Deeps and Peaks.

Living Outside Our Comfort Zones

In the daily grind, we forget that life is short. We sometimes forget to put ourselves out there. Living outside our comfort zone is where we find true happiness and fulfillment.

By creating the Deep to the Peak Challenge, I want to put myself to the test and not hide from life. Life finds us no matter what.

I've trained hours and hours and days and days at this point. No matter what happens, I plan to test my limits succeeding or failing spectacularly.

I hope that others are inspired to do the same in their own special way, whatever that is. We only get one chance at this life.

My hope in my own small way is that people see Deep to the Peak and are inspired to wake up tomorrow trying to be better than they were yesterday.

THE DEEP - Catalina Channel

The Catalina Channel is 3,000 feet deep and 22.1 miles wide across the Pacific Ocean solo. Swimmers all over the world come to attempt the channel. Swimmers are allowed to wear goggles, a swim cap, and swimsuit. No wetsuit.

THE PEAK - Mount Whitney

At 2.75 miles high (14,505 feet), Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states. The legendary 22 mile hike features 99 Switchbacks scaling up to the highest point of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

To My Family, Friends, Community - Thank You!

Training is lonely. I couldn't do it without you all.

Setting aside hours to prepare is hard. Lots of early mornings and late nights.

First, to my wife and two girls, thank you for being so understanding. Love you all so much.

To my friends, thank you for cheering me on. I consider many of you to be family at this point.

So many other friendly people have come up to me curious about what I am doing and have been so kind and supportive. It's made a huge difference.

And to my dear friends Luke, Nick, and Chris, thank you for backing me up on August 22nd crewing the boat alongside Captain Harvey with kayakers (Patrick, Aaron) watching out for me on the water. Holder, thank you for the swimming gear!

And finally, to the accomplished solo swimmers (Dan, Steve, Tyler) and hikers (Jonnie, Ryan, Chad, David) that have given me such valuable advice and volunteered their time, I thank you sincerely.

The volunteers at the Catalina Swimming Federation have also been absolutely fantastic: David, Barbara, Krista, Angela, and more.

Infinite appreciation, gratitude, and respect to you all!

Charity Challenge! Helping Feed Everyday Families and Seniors In Need

So many people have come up asking about what I am doing, and how they can support this crazy Pacific Ocean swim and climb up the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Many of them suggested and offered to support a charity. So, I thought about that. How could we work together to help people?

Inflation Is Real - Let's Help Our Community

Over the last year, I've seen that inflation is real. More and more people are feeling stretched covering the simple basics of life.

Everyday families are hurting. The elderly living on fixed incomes are getting hit particularly hard by high prices.

More and more good people are in need, struggling.

That’s why for the Deep to the Peak Challenge, I am partnering with Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise to help support the following charities.

100 percent of all donations are going to support these good causes below. None goes to me.

I have volunteered at or directly donated to these local 501(c)(3) charities and can speak to their good works. The positive change they have made helping the Conejo Valley and Southern California is a source of pride.

Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank

Founded in 1971, the Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank is a very special food bank in my home town of Thousand Oaks that distributes more than 225,000 lbs. of food a year to the community. Their efforts help feed on average 180 families per month here in the City of Thousand Oaks, and local residents and families in need can get the food they need.

For more than 50 years, Manna has helped feed local residents that are struggling with a job loss, underemployment, disability, or fixed incomes. The grocery store on site operates at no cost to residents in need.

Started when the local area was in a recession and families were facing food insecurity, Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank remains just as relevant today as it was when founded five decades ago.

Senior Concerns

Since 1975, Senior Concerns is focused on serving the elderly in the Conejo Valley region. With many seniors living on fixed monthly incomes, rising prices have hit this group incredibly hard.

Senior Concerns not only helps feed the elderly, but cares for them by improving their quality of life.

Through the Meals on Wheels/Home Delivered Food programs, Senior Concerns addresses food insecurity for the elderly all year long, providing them with fresh, healthy meals.

So many seniors face issues like mobility and need help with basic care. Senior Concerns provides home visits and check ins, while offering a point of contact while providing them with the dignity and standard of life that they deserve.

Rotary International

Founded in Chicago more than 110 years ago, Rotary International is an organization that features chapters all over the country and world, including in the Conejo Valley. Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million people dedicated to helping our communities and world by helping others

I am proud to be part of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise, a group that has been making positive change in the Conejo Valley for forty years. A huge thank you to my Rotarians for encouraging me to include a charity cause for this challenge.

Working together with Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise, charity donations that we collect will be earmarked for Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank and Senior Concerns via their network.

100% of Donations Go to Charity

100 percent of Deep to the Peak donations will go to charity to be distributed by my local Rotary Club. All donations received by Rotary International via Deep to the Peak giving will be given to charity focusing on Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank and Senior Concerns.

Together, we can make a real difference in our Conejo Valley and Southern California Community feeding people and making a real impact in their lives. Let's pick each other up. We all need that sometimes. Please give what you can. Working together, even a little can go a long way. Thank you!