Dusty Fisher and Geoff Green during The Summit season 1 episode 1 “To the Summit.”
Sean Beale/CBS Broadcasting
Douglas High School graduate Dustan “Dusty” Fisher recently joined 15 other contestants to tackle the dangerous terrain and unforgiving winds of New Zealand for a share of $1 million on CBS’ show “The Summit.”
Hosted by New Zealand native Manu Bennett and produced by Endemol Shine North America, “The Summit” premiered Sept. 29 on the CBS television network.
The contestants include the Douglas athlete, a stay-at-home mom, a Trader Joes’ employee, a 29-year-old trauma nurse, a 33-year-old Air Force service member, and other walks of life who trek the Alps of New Zealand.
“Some of us have no previous climbing or camping experience and have little expectation of what we might face,” said Fisher.
“The Summit” is a test of character and endurance as the group face challenges such as, rope balancing from one side of a canyon to another, a rickety bridge, storms, and more they never imagined as they attempt to reach the peak of a distant, towering mountain all while meeting certain check points along the way.
“It takes some skill and its physically and mentally challenging,” said Fisher.
Fisher said though he stays in good health, regardless of what he has going on in his life, he had little time to prepare for the competition.
“It was only like two weeks to spare,” he said. “But I felt confident to participate. We were just truly thrown in and not sure what to expect.”
After hearing about the competition through social media, Fisher said he jumped into the opportunity, regardless of what the outcome of the competition would be.
“I got this social media DM, not really thinking anything of, but decided to respond and ended up interviewing for it,” he said.
Fisher said the experience of being on the show was one thing, but who he met and what he saw along the way, was an experience he won’t forget.
“I am very lucky to be able to do this. If I didn’t answer that message, I wouldn’t have had such an amazing opportunity.”
Fisher was born and raised in Gardnerville. While at Douglas High School, he played football and baseball and was part of Leadership. Now, he is a Real Estate agent in Boise, Idaho.
“It’s great to be able to represent both places and I am proud to,” he said. “I think I have a lot of people who will be proud to have me represent them, but my biggest goal is to make my parents proud.”
The Summit contestants vary in age, backgrounds, personalities, and experiences coming together in an all-or-nothing game where the group succeeds or fails as one. Each is carrying an equal share of $1 million and have 14 days to reach the summit while the “Mountain Keeper” is tracking their every move, challenging the trekkers with moral choices and complicating the already grueling journey.
As the trekkers hit the halfway mark on their journey in episode 5, they face a 500-foot vertical rock face, a divide emerges within the group, and they learn they have broken one of the fundamental rules of The Summit; the group must travel together at all times.
The Summit airs 9:30-11 p.m. Wednesdays and is available to stream on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Episode 5, “Succeed Together, Fail Alone” airs Oct. 30.
Visit https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/the-summit// for more information on The Summit and the trekkers.
