Ain’t no mountain high enough for this 83-year-old U.S. Senate candidate and ex-Marine.

True to his promise, Republican candidate Don Krampe of Murrieta last week scaled Mount Whitney — the lower 48′s highest summit — to call attention to his campaign. Mount Whitney rises 14,505 feet; the campsite from which he made his ascent last Wednesday, May 23, is at about 10,000 feet. He returned from the 22-mile hike last Friday, May 25.

It’s safe to say that none of the other 22 candidates challenging U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in next week’s primary went to such great lengths – um, heights.

“We are running a grassroots campaign with a very small budget, this was the best way I could think of to get publicity for our campaign,” said Krampe. “The people in Washington are irresponsible with the taxpayers’ money and are in the pockets of lobbyists. When I get there, I will not sell out to special interest groups. My plan is to spend just one term in office and then come back home.”

Krampe said his priorities are balancing the budget, removing burdens on small businesses and securing the border.

And he said that although he’s in fine shape, the hike would’ve been more fun at age 40 or 50. Only Krampe and one other Senate candidate — Atherton Republican Greg Conlon, 79 — are older than Feinstein, 78.