Photos: 7 Climbs for 9/11 at Mount Trashmore in Cedar Rapids

Mount Trashmore hosted 7 Climbs for 9/11 on Thursday to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Community members set out to climb Mount Trashmore seven times -- the equivalent of the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center towers that day.

Savannah Blake

Sep. 11, 2025 12:55 pm, Updated: Sep. 11, 2025 1:27 pm

Tim Cahill of Lisbon runs down Mount Trashmore while participating in the 7 Climbs for 9/11 event in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members ascend Mount Trashmore during the 7 Climbs for 9/11 in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Rhonda Stallman of Shellsburg (right) hands Jan Albers of Cedar Rapids a popsicle stick after completing another climb during the 7 Climbs for 9/11 in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Jan said she brought her lifelong friend Rhonda to the event after participating last year. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members begin the ascent of Mount Trashmore during the 7 Climbs for 9/11 in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11/2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Rik “The Human EtchaSketch” Zortman of Coralville collects a popsicle stick representing his first climb during the 7 Climbs for 9/11 in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

AMVETS Post 6 president Paul Nelson folds the flag of heroes while presenting colors at the start of the 7 Climbs for 9/11 at Mount Trashmore event in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members and AMVETS Post 6 members gather at the start of the 7 Climbs for 9/11 at Mount Trashmore event in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Veteran Harry Foster of Cedar Rapids holds his hat over his heart during a moment of silence observed at 7:46 a.m., the exact time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower, before the 7 Climbs for 9/11 event at Mount Trashmore in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members walk along the road at the top of Mount Trashmore while participating in the 7 Climbs for 9/11 at Mount Trashmore in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A community member keeps popsicle sticks representing the number of climbs made while participating in the 7 Climbs for 9/11 at Mount Trashmore in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

AMVETS Post 6 secretary Dale “Sonny” DeReus (left) and president Paul Nelson (right) hold out the Flag of Heroes during the playing of the National Anthem at the start of the 7 Climbs for 9/11 event in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Retired firefighter John Conyn of Cedar Rapids poses with half-staff American Flag after finishing a climb during the 7 Climbs for 9/11 in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Conyn helped organize the event hosted by Mount Trashmore to honor the lives of servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Conyn served as a firefighter for 49 years and worked in several states including Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. Conyn also worked as a fire chief at three stations in Iowa. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A community member descends Mount Trashmore during the 7 Climbs for 9/11 event in Cedar Rapids on Thursday. Community members gathered to climb Mount Trashmore seven times, which is equivalent to the distance first responders climbed to reach the top of the World Trade Center Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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