Airmen climb Mt. Elbert for nationwide challenge

A group of cadets and airmen from the Air Force Academy are climbing Mount Elbert as part of a plan to fly the Air Force flag from the highest point in every state.

The team of about 40 people ascended the 14,433-foot mountain near Leadville on Saturday as part of the Air Force’s 50 Summits Challenge. Other peaks in the challenge include Wyoming’s Gannett Peak, California’s Mount Whitney and Alaska’s Mount McKinley.

The Air Force says the goal is for airmen to explore the outdoors, increase camaraderie and test their physical fitness.

Mount Elbert is located in the Sawatch Range in central Colorado, which includes many of the state’s other highest peaks.