SGPT Interviews Pico Cristobal climber Hector Robles

We are always looking for warriors who step up and take on challenges that most people only dream about. Today we sit down with Hector Robles—an athlete, climber, and all-around grinder who has tested himself on some of the toughest terrain in the Americas.

Hector’s not just a weekend hiker. He’s trained through CrossFit-style workouts, endless rucks, and even completed the SEALFIT 20X Challenge in Puerto Rico—a gut-check event that forged his mental toughness and prepared him for the mountains. That same mindset carried him into Colombia’s Sierra Nevada range, where he set out to climb Pico Cristóbal Colón—one of the tallest peaks in the Western Hemisphere, buried deep in snow and surrounded by jungle.

This interview is about more than just climbing a mountain. It’s about preparation, endurance, and learning how to push through when the weight is heavy, the altitude is high, and every step feels like a battle. Hector shows us how to train the body, protect the feet, fuel the mind, and keep moving forward when the mission gets tough.

Let’s jump in.

SGPT: Tell us about yourself? Where are you from and where do you train?

HR: I am 64 years old. I have lived in Puerto Rico for the past 38 years. I was born in Colombia and grew up in the Northeast US. I have been training in Puerto Rico.

SGPT: Did you have an athletic background growing up?

HR: I was on the cross country track team during high school and played racquet sports.

SGPT: Tell us about the climb? Where was it and how did you decide to climb this big mountain?

HR: The climb was in Colombia Pico Cristobal Colon located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the northeast of Colombia close to the border with Venezuela. Our group met in Santa Marta, Colombia a seaside beach town.

I have two mountain guides I have worked with for many years. My guide from Colombia invited me to join the expedition. I typically do two expeditions to the mountains per year. July is in Peru and December is Colombia or Ecuador.

SGPT: How did you train for the ascent of Pico Colon/Cristobal?

HR: I trained using a Crossfit modified training program and weekly rucking with an objective of a 1500 ft elevation gain in a local mountain range near my home.

SGPT: What was the hardest part of the climb?

HR: The approach to the base camp (10 days round trip of 12 hours/day hikes up and down mountains) and the actual climb got very difficult due to deep soft snow making progress very slow.

SGPT: You also completed SEALFIT 20X Challenge in Puerto Rico a few years back.

Tell us about that event and how it helped you with your climb of Pico Colon/Cristobal?

HR: The SealFit 20X was a life changing event. It showed me what one could accomplish individually and the value of having a team. After completing this event I began searching for a challenge that could provide a similar sense of accomplishment and significant challenge.

Sealfit helped me to develop mental toughness that becomes essential in a mountain climb. Learning to control your thoughts and having a why to enable you to move past the pain to endure 12 hour days , rest and do it again the next day.

SGPT: What kind of trail shoes/boots did you use for the climb? For training?

HR: I use La Spotify brand boots Nucleo high GTX. Soft Leather boot with Vibram sole that accepts crampons. I used this same boot for training.

SGPT: Did you use double socks or body glide on your feet to prevent blisters? How did you prepare your feet?

HR: I used single merino wool socks. I have three types. A light weight merino wool sock a slighting thicker and a very thick thermal sock for the climb.

I protected my feet by using Desitin ointment that I applied each morning. At one point I had to apply Rock tape to the ball of one of my feet. I had to play with the tightness and form of lacing to avoid blistering.

SGPT: What is one thing you wish you would have done to get ready for the ascent of Pico Colon/Cristobal?

HR: I wish I would have been able to bulk up prior to the expedition. I lost over 10 pounds and tried to eat as much as possible during the event but we were just burning way too many calories each day.

SGPT: Any tips for up-and-coming athletes that want to do a big mountain peak?

HR: Yes; check out these tips.
1. I would begin by testing out your capacity to handle high altitude. The capacity to handle altitude is not directly related to your physical fitness. Fitness helps but your ability to function in a low oxygen environment is a physiological aspect that you can develop but it needs to be taken a step at a time.

A suggestion could be to go to a city like Bogota at 8,000 ft or Quito 9,000 ft and spend some time there and train and see how you feel. Denver is only 5,000 ft BTW.

Ruck in the mountains looking for the highest attitude gain. Practice as well descending. Descending is often over looked and you need to train to gain confidence.

We are planning July 2025 to go to Peru and do 4 days of the world famous Huayhuash trek to acclimatize. Each day going up higher and returning to base camp. Altitude would be in the range of 13,000 to 17,000 ft. Subsequently we would climb two mountains that are still to be determined.

SGPT: What good book are you reading now? Are you listening to any good podcasts or audio books you can share?

HR: At the moment I am not reading a book but recent favorites are Breaking History by Jared Kushner and Ending the Vietnam War by Henry Kissinger

I enjoy Mark Divine’s podcast as well as Dr. Peter Attia

SGPT: Many thanks for the interview Hector. We greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge and impressive ascent on Pico Colon/Cristobal.

HR: Thank You Brad and thank you for being part of our Sealfit 20x event.