One week to go!

Just one week to go and I am on my way. I made all of my last minute purchases this evening and I now have everything I need. I think? I am so excited. In some ways it feel like I am dreaming. Every year at this time I am reading and rereading all of the blogs and websites I can just to climb vicariously through others who are headed to Everest. This year is different. I am the one who is climbing Everest. How cool is that? My physical training is done. I am now resting my body, allowing it to heal from any minor irritations, and just enjoying my last week with my family before I begin a wonderful journey.

For those who are interested in following along on my blog as I attempt to climb Mount Everest, my goal is to update this blog directly from the mountain every couple of days. I will try to provide up to the minute photographs for you to enjoy and a little story as to what has been going on. Thanks for following along. Please keep my wife, son, and I in your thoughts and prayers over the next 2 months. Safety is paramount and will not be recklessly compromised.

Climbing in the weather and feeling under the weather

I truly am blessed to be able to live in the beautiful State of Colorado. Even more so to live within walking distance of some of Colorado's most beautiful hiking trails. Last Saturday saw Gavin, Nick and I hiking to the top of Goat Peak in Waterton Canyon. Although only 7,800' high, this little peak boasts 6 false summits so there is a lot of up and down just to get to the top and back. We did the usual 50 pound packs and 2 1/2 pound ankle weights. Add to all of that snow that was over my waist and we had a fantastic challenge.
Unfortunately, that is the last bit of exercise I have done for this week. It is allergy season in Colorado and my allergies are acting up big time. Couple that with my pesky lower back and I have been sidelined for this week. Oh well. All I can do is try to take care of myself and get better. I have a doctor's appointment today for my allergies and I have started tostretch more for my lower back. I need to be more disciplined in this activity.
On a brighter note, just 3 weeks until I leave for my dream climb of Mount Everest. The guy I have decided to go with, Phil Crampton of Altitude Junkies, is already in Kathmandu working on the final logistics for our fast approaching climb. Wow! I am excited. I can't wait.

Everest is quickly approaching...

Just a little over 4 weeks until I leave on my expedition of a lifetime. Climbing Mount Everest will demand a lot from me. It is best that I be completely prepared. I have been training in full force when it comes to the physical and mental aspects of my climb, but what about training with the gear I will be using while on the mountain?
There is so much specialized gear needed if I am to get up and down Mount Everest safely and successfully. This will be my 15th climbing expedition and each trip I declare that I already have all the gear necessary for a safe climb. Each time, though, I review my current climbing gear and I find something that has holes in it, is slightly broken, not functioning properly, and a host of other things that have happened to my stuff. I begin the process of determining what I can just get by with and what needs to be brand new. I need certain gear to be in mint condition and free from all defect. I just don't want to show up on Mount Everest with all new, shiny climbing gear. I have been climbing for a number of years and I don't want to appear as the newby or rookie climber. Oh well. C'est la vie! Everest has a way of humbling even the most proud soul. Am I humble enough to climb Mount Everest? I sure hope so.

Training at 14,000 feet

As a climber, living in Colorado has many benefits. The ability to hike to over 14,000', even in winter, with relative ease, is just one. This weekend I decided to take my training for Everest to the Front Range of Colorado and Mount Bierstadt. Standing at 14,060' A.S.L. Mount Bierstadt is one of Colorado's easier 14ers. Even with the deep snow pushing the "winter" trailhead much lower than the normal "summer" trailhead, I figured this peak would be a great place to sneak in a quick winter camping trip. The object was to try and hike as high as possible and set up a tent for the night. This little mini-adventure would not be complete without some fine company. I turned to a new-found climbing mate, Gavin, who is training for his own springtime adventure - Denali. All said and done we set up our tent at 13,900', just a mere 160' below the summit. We quickly built a wall around our tent made from blocks of snow. This wall of snow was to protect us from the inevitable wind found at these elevations, especially in the winter. With the sun just about to set we figured we would hike the final 10 minutes to the summit and enjoy the view. We were treated to one of the more magnificent sunsets I have ever witnessed. Watching the sun set from the summit of a 14er is something I have witnessed only one time prior. How awesome! After a quick jaunt back to the tent and then melting enough snow for drinking water and dinner we were ready to call it a day.

The rest of the overnighter went well and we were up early for the hike out. This trip proved to be beneficial because I was able to dial in my systems for Everest. More to come on this subject later.

All said and done my training for Everest is going well. I still believe that mental tenacity will be my greatest challenge on this adventure. Will you keep me in your prayers? I hope so.

Everest training continues

Wow! It is amazing to think that it has been a month since my last post. On one hand the past month has cruised by quickly. On the other hand, usually while thinking about climbing Everest, the time has crept along slowly.

This past month has been filled with constant training - both physical and mental. What an undertaking. Am I crazy for trying this? What kind of person sets off for the opposite corner of the globe just to climb a mountain? Not to overuse a popular expression, but Mount Everest is more about the journey and not just the destination. I will be blessed to experience so much in the upcoming months. I truly am blessed!

As far as physical training goes the only new thing I have incorporated in the last month is the use of ankle weights. I have a set of 2.5lb ankle weights that I try to wear all day - everyday. In my mind I have reasoned that this additional 5 lbs is similar to the weight of the climbing boots I will be wearing on Everest. If I can get my body more used to the additional weight now, then, hopefully, I will be a little stronger on Everest. My pack weight has stayed at 50 lbs but with my regular hiking boots, plus the ankle weights, I feel I am really making great progress.

Over the next 2 months, before I leave, I will embark upon fattening up. No, I won't let myself get fat and out of shape. I will still work out just as hard, if not harder. It is just that I will try to eat more so as to put a little extra weight on. It is a known fact that on Everest a climber can burn up to 15,000 calories a day. There is no way I can eat that much so I will obviously lose weight while on Mount Everest. To the best of my ability I would first prefer to lose "fat" rather than "muscle". Who knows? Only the good Lord and to Him I remain ever thankful for the ways I have been blessed and for this grand opportunity. Cheers!

Beautiful views on Bear Peak

Bear Peak, overlooking Boulder, was to be my next mini-objective for the week. I really enjoy hiking Bear Peak and by combining that with a quick jaunt over to South Boulder Peak, I knew that I would get some decent exercise. This climb was to be just another training exercise and a tune up for my main objective next Spring - Mount Everest! Standing at just over 8400' it was not the altitude I was training for this weekend. Colorado has many points higher in elevation. Some that are still accessible even when considering the added logistics necessary for deep winter snow cover. This weekend I wanted to get some descent elevation gain (turns out 3,855') and some descent mileage (7+). I also had to include some added weight to my pack (45 lbs). I increase the weight in my pack by 10 pounds per month until I leave for Everest in March. By March I will have 75 lbs in my pack! No, I don't expect to be carrying a 75 lb pack on Everest but 45 lbs is not out of the question and with the shedding of 30+ lbs from my pack I hope to make my climb up Everest a little less strenuous. I also try to hike in as minimal of clothing as is safely possible. Very light shirt, no hat and no gloves. Of course I am not in -25F but with the temps around freezing and with a stiff wind I am training my body to adapt to and work efficiently in the cold. Hopefully, this will translate into an easier adjustment to the extreme cold found on Everest. Last but not least I decided upon climbing Bear Peak because the trails up and down the Peak are very popular with hikers and runners. No I was not looking for a "social" outing but I was, indeed, looking for the super slick, icy, snow packed conditions the trails would be in from all of the previous foot traffic. Many people use YakTraks or similar cleats which allow better traction when hiking on snow and ice and on Everest I would be in crampons. However, another objective of the day was to work on speed and balance while carring a heavy pack and encountering these conditions.

The whole idea behind my thought process of training for Everest is to try and SAFELY make my training conditions harder than the ones I will encounter on Everest. I can then help cultivate the mental and physical prowess necessary for the great demands of Mount Everest. Who knows if these things will provide an advantage. That will be determined in April and May of 2010.

Of course nothing provides great training like elevation training. Therefore, this weekend I am heading to climb a Colorado 14er, a peak in excess of 14,000' a.s.l. Combine that with a beautiful ski down for cross training and hopefully I will feel the happiness and fatigue that only comes from testing myself in the great outdoors.

BTW - Many thanks go out to Mike Smith for accompanying me on this great outing and for providing the wonderful pictures. I enjoyed the day!

100 day countdown begins!

Wow! Just 100 days until I leave for Mount Everest. I am so excited, scared, and concerned all at the same time. This attempt upon Mount Everest's lofty summit will be a chance of a lifetime. I am so fortunate and blessed to be able to have this opportunity to live out my dream.
There is still so much to do in preparing for this major expedition. Spiritual, physical, and mental training continue to be the focus because this little sortie to the highest real estate on earth will prove to be a major challenge. How will I do? How will I react? How will I conduct myself when situations really get tough? This all remains to be determined and yet one thing is for sure. The summit of Everest is the gravy on top of the entire experience and obtaining it would be a dream come true. However, more importantly is safety and returning home to my family. As Ed Viesturs, America's most famous high altitude mountaineer, has said, "Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory."
What a mystery that awaits me. One wrapped in -40 degree temperatures, snow, ice and some of the best views on earth.