‘Today’ show weatherman Al Roker does his gig from Four Corners National Monument

Monday, Nov 9, 2015 1:41 AM Updated Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015 8:26 AM

Rokerthon 2 forecast from four states at once helps boost him toward spot in Guinness Book of World Records

“Today” show host and weather man Al Roker takes a “selfie” with the crowd during delivery of the nation’s weather Monday from the Four Corners Monument as part of his “Rokerthon,” an effort to set a Guinness Book world record by delivering live weather reports from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in one week.

Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Fort Lewis College Student Body Vice President Evan Wick braves Monday’s predawn chilly temperatures to see NBC “Today” show host and weatherman Al Roker deliver the nation’s weather from the Four Corners Monument.

Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

“Today” show host and weatherman Al Roker delivers the nation’s weather Monday morning from the Four Corners National Monument.

Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

Preparing to ride off into the Colorado sunrise, NBC “Today” show host and weatherman Al Roker delivers the nation’s weather from the horse-drawn carriage of Rodney Carriker, from Cortez and Canyon Trails Ranch.

Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald

NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker takes a "selfie" of the crowd and himself between his delivery of the nation's weather from the the Four Corners Monument Monday as part of his "Rokerthon" to set a Guinness record by delivering live weather reports from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in one week. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

Preparing to ride off into the Colorado sunrise, NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker delivers the nations weather from the horse drawn carriage of Rodney Carriker, from Cortez and Canyon Trails Ranch. Roker was at the Four Corners Monument broadcasting for the Today Show Monday as part of his "Rokerthon" to set a Guinness record by delivering live weather reports all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in one week. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

Awaiting his time in the spotlight, Rodney Carriker, from Cortez and Canyon Trails Ranch waits for NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker to climb into his wagon to deliver the nations weather and ride off into the Colorado sunrise. Roker was at the Four Corners Monument broadcasting for the Today Show Monday. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

As a member of his crew steadies a monitor with his image and Navajo Nation Royalty watch, NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker delivers the nation's weather from the the Four Corners Monument Monday. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker speaks to the crowd on hand for his delivery of the nations weather from the the Four Corners Monument Monday. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker delivers the nations weather from the the Four Corners Monument Monday as part of his "Rokerthon" to set a Guinness record by delivering live weather reports from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in one week. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

People fill the Colorado section of the Four Corners Monument during the predawn hours Monday to watch NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker broadcast the nation's weather as part of his "Rokerthon". Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

An iPad image is made by a spectator on hand to see NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker deliver the nation's weather from the Four Corners Monument Monday. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

Caroline Dixon from Mancos waves a sign saying hello to her mother that she hopes will make the national broadsat of NBC Today Show host and weatherman Al Roker's weather report from the Four Corners Monument Monday. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

Fort Lewis College's Vice President of Student Body, Evan Wick, braves the predawn chilly temperatures to see NBC Today Show host and weather man Al Roker delivery of the nations weather from the Four Corners Monument Monday as part of his "Rokerthon" to set a Guinness record by delivering live weather reports from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia in one week. Photo Shaun Stanley/DURANGO HERALD

FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT

Before the sun had crept above the horizon Monday morning at the Four Corners Monument, NBC’s “Today” show weatherman and world record-breaker Al Roker had already been up for hours in pursuit of his next Guinness Book recognition: fastest time to report live weather forecasts from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

It was freezing before 5 a.m., but the anchor looked warm with a wide smile and furry earflap hat. Roker gave himself one week to hustle cross-country with the weather report after kick-starting his journey Nov. 6 in Hawaii. The nationwide trek, “Rokerthon 2: Taking America by Storm,” is Roker’s second effort to set a world record by doing what he likes best: being America’s stalwart weather guy.

Four days into the jaunt, Roker was greeting the southwestern sunrise where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah converge with hundreds of early risers. They flocked around the monument, eager to score their 15 seconds in the spotlight as cameras panned over their faces and, of course, flaunt state pride.

“I’m so excited to see the Colorado quadrant is one of the fullest,” said Colorado Tourism Office spokeswoman Carly Holbrook. “This is a great way to show state pride in front of a national audience.”

Durango’s representation wasn’t short on pride. Fort Lewis College junior Connor Deleon’s voice was muffled from within the electric blue feathered suit he sported as FLC mascot Skyler the Skyhawk, but he could still be heard praising Roker.

“I used to watch this with my grandma,” Deleon said. “I told her to watch the TV for the Skyhawk.”

A snow gear-clad Jessica Russell, who attends Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, concurred: “We’re big-time Roker fans!”

Others also wore ski and snowboard gear, headdresses to honor their native tribes or frantically waved flags for Roker to see.

Last year, Roker set a new Guinness World Record by reporting the weather for 34 hours straight, raising $70,000 to benefit United Service Organizations in the process.

This year’s ambitious expedition, carried out on the verge of Thanksgiving, is to raise money for Feeding America, a nonprofit food bank.

“We’re not only trying to set a record but also feed the hungry,” Roker said. Donors can give to the cause at www.today.com/series/rokerthon.

So far, Roker has visited nine states. He knocked out four at once by visiting the monument six miles north of Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, and has an additional nine just on Monday’s itinerary. If all goes well, he’ll be back at Rockefeller Plaza on Nov. 13, but attendees were happy to have Roker in the Southwest on Monday morning.

“It looks desolate here, like there’s nothing, but it’s a wonderful life out here,” said Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, resident Edmund Watson, who said he was “excited” to have Roker visit the place he calls home.

“We watch the ‘Today’ show every morning before school,” said Bloomfield, New Mexico, woman Janie Walter, who came with her husband and two girls. “Missing a little bit of school to come out here this morning is worth it.”

Walter’s 7-year-old daughter Briseis agreed: “I like how he’s funny!” she said of the weatherman.

As the sun began to rise just before 7 a.m., Roker gave a rundown of Colorado’s predicted high temperatures for Monday from his seat in a horse-drawn wagon. Colorado’s Trout Steak Revival gave Roker a bluegrass goodbye as the anchor rode off into the Colorado sunrise, bound for the rest of America.

jpace@durangoherald.com