Sedalia's Paul Musslin, 71, aims to climb California mountain Tuesday

For the last 22 years, Paul Musslin has been running, walking, biking and lifting weights. In the last five months, he has ridden about 21 miles per week on a bicycle and walked eight miles per week, which may not be unusual for most athletes, but Musslin is 71. His healthy lifestyle and training are taking him 14,496 feet high Tuesday to visit the peak of Mount Whitney in California.

“Mainly because of my age, so many doubt that I will make it. I may not be able to go as fast as I want to, but I’ll make it,” Musslin said.

Musslin recently finished a 100-yard dash in 17 seconds and is looking forward to participating in the Firecracker Mile again this year.

“Get in a gym, work out and eat right — that’s the key to a good life,” he said.

This is not his first climb. In 2008, while attending a NASCAR race in California, he decided to climb the Camelback Mountain in Arizona.

“The training was grueling,” he said.

Musslin is not making the trip alone. He is bringing his son, Jonathan Musslin, 38, and friends Jim Aller, 64, and Quincy Dirck, 38, all of Sedalia.

“Our legs will be ready,” Paul Musslin said.

Mount Whitney is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Sequoia National Park in California. It is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states.

The group began training for the climb in October. Jonathan Musslin has been running, walking, biking and visiting the gym nearly every day to get in shape.

“I think it’s always a challenge to press yourself beyond your own limits and actually grow,” he said.

The hike is 11 miles each way and the group may encounter bears, mountain lions and patches of ice and snow.

“The only thing I am concerned about is 10,000 feet and up,” Paul Musslin said.

The reduced amount of oxygen as elevation increases can cause acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. These can cause headaches, nausea, hallucinations and death if not treated promptly.

Jonathan Musslin said he is confident that everything will go smoothly. All the people in the group are focused.

“My dad is in excellent shape. He is not like most 71-year-olds,” he said.

The group began eating two to three raw potatoes and six bananas Sunday to prepare for Tuesday’s hike. The potatoes help lubricate the joints in their knees and the bananas help prevent cramps. The hikers will arrive home Thursday.

“You try to do your best and that’s all you can do,” Jonathan Musslin said.