Long Beach Accountant Completes 211-Mile John Muir Trail

LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty-three-year-old Paul Scholz, Certified Public Accountant and Managing Partner of Onisko & Scholz in Long Beach, California recently completed a twenty day, 220-mile trek along the John Muir Trail (JMT), nine more miles than the scheduled distance due to closures. Mostly by himself, carrying a 40-lb. backpack, and with virtually everyone in his family against the whole idea.

The John Muir Trail, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passes through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks, with the most southern point located on the summit of Mount Whitney.

Scholz had backpacked part of the trail as a kid with his dad and grandfather, whom he lost in recent years. He saw friends with health issues and had his own fair share. The trail was a reminder of better times, and the JMT found itself on the accountant's bucket list. When Scholz saw the movie Wild, the notion became an epic personal challenge.

Scholz trained with hours of research and practice hikes in local mountains wearing boots and backpacks of varying weights, which could not prepare him for what he would encounter. "It's hard to increase red blood cells at sea level to be prepared for three weeks, all above 8,000 feet in altitude," said Paul Scholz.

The hardest part of the trek was the first four days. Smoke from the fires in Yosemite made breathing difficult, and on the fifth day, Scholz's hiking partner bailed. He considered quitting, thoughts centered on the seven mountain passes that loomed — with the hardest elevation rise at the end.

Along the way, he had one bad fall, which challenged his resolve. With cell service non-existent, nature's vistas stretched the silence with occasional breaks from other hikers. Scholz's Garmin inReach GPS, which works through the Iridium satellite network (the only civilian, global two-way communications network), kept him connected with family and friends via satellite texting. The next hardest day was the last day, covering a challenging elevation change up Mt. Whitney, and the brutal stretch of 99 downhill switchbacks.

"As an accountant who has helped people and businesses with their finances for over 25 years, the fact that I had a long-range goal and a plan to do it was critical," said Paul Scholz. "Whatever it is you seek to accomplish, be it financial, personal, or professional, you can achieve. It takes is a single step to move you closer to your objective, and then another step, and another, until ultimately you find that you have arrived."

About Onisko & Scholz
Onisko & Scholz is a full service CPA firm working with privately held businesses, nonprofit organizations, and high net-worth individuals. Specialties include forensic accounting, estate & trust, charter schools, real estate, construction and advisory services. Visit us at: www.oniskoscholz.com.

Media Contact:
Tamara Coil
Onisko & Scholz
562-420-3100
[email protected]

SOURCE Onisko & Scholz

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