CRANBERRY TWP — Dustin Ondo recently climbed to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the highest mountain on the East coast.

And that was just a warm-up.

Ondo, 25, of Cranberry Township, plans to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,663-mile mountain trail that covers three states and goes into Canada. He hopes to do so sometime in 2016.

“I figure to take about four months to do that one,” Ondo said. “I’m planning to build up enough time to get a leave from work.”

Ondo does not have much of an athletic background. He is a 2008 Seneca Valley graduate, but did not compete for any sports teams in high school. He did play Legion baseball for Cranberry Township.

But mountain climbing has been a lifelong ambition.

“Since I was a little kid, I’ve wanted to do it,” Ondo said. “Mount Washington was my first climb and I loved it.

“I want to do a few more mountains — maybe down in Virginia and out in Colorado — before doing the Pacific Crest Trail.”

His yearning for hiking and experiencing the outdoors was further fueled during his sophomore year at Drury (Mo.) University. He took the time to drive across the country that year.

“I did some backpacking in Yosemite Park, Yellow Stone Park, and just loved it,” Ondo said. “I knew at that point I had to do more.”

Ondo climbed Mount Washington on Feb. 24. The trek began at 2,500 feet above sea level and ended at 6,200 feet.

The snow was waist deep at times and the temperature at the summit was 30 to 40 below zero.

‘The weather’s known to be brutal there,” Ondo said. “You’re never quite sure what elements you will encounter as you near the summit.”

Mount Washington formerly held the record for strongest wind gust in the United States at 231 miles per hour. The temperature at the summit was 80 below zero the day before Ondo got there.

“I began the climb with a guide at about 7:30 a.m.,” Ondo said. “We reached the summit at about 1 p.m. and got back down to the bottom at around 3:30 p.m. It’s about four and a half miles or so.

“The first portion of the climb is on a trail where the snow is pretty much padded down by frequent hikers.

“To reach the summit, you go off the trail and have to climb over ice and rock. That’s when you encounter a few feet of snow,” Ondo added.

Ondo plans to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone. He will begin in California, go through Oregon and Washington and wind up in Canada.

“I’m thinking maybe starting next March or April,” he said. “You have to plan it out so the elements don’t affect you too much.

“Hikers can stay in a motel each day if they want or you can stay in a tent. I plan to bring a tent. I might stay in a motel twice a month, just to freshen up, get a hot shower and hot meal.”

Most hikers average 20 miles per day when doing the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail is considered part of hiking’s “Triple Crown,” joining the Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide.

The elevation of the Pacific Crest Trail peaks at 13,153 feet. It runs through 25 national forests and seven national parks along the way.

“There are small towns and post offices along the trail that you can send food to yourself,” Ondo said. “There’s a lot of planning involved.”