With less than one quarter of school remaining (9 weeks) and exodus fast approaching, its time to start planning for the summer. I'm totally stoked about phase one- climb Mount Rainier! What began in a brief conversation with my "best man" is actually coming to fruition. Its been way to long since Kevin Shon and I had an adventure together, thus a plan was formulated. While I've spent the last 6 years tromping around Alaska, Kevin has been spent several seasons in Patagonia. Beyond just temporary work with Outward Bound, Kevin has really invested himself and become passionate about this new land. Investing chunks of time into serving others and learning how to be a better steward of the land. So, we knew our next adventure had to be somewhat on the scale of Alaska and Patagonia. Not that just getting together wouldn't be enough, but as a friend of mine likes to say- "go big, or go home".
This past week I mailed our permits to the National Park Service office in Washington. They open for business April 1 to start issuing permits, but allow them postmarked by March 15. Also along for the climb will be my wife Gretchen, our best friend Amelia Payne, and a good friend of Kev's, Dino.
For now, we have two months to train and "get in the best shape of our life"(as the guidebook suggests). Our hope is to summit before Memorial Day weekend. I anticipate that as a high time for visitors with excessive traffic on the mountain. So we'll have to leave home as soon as school gets out. Originally I really wanted to remain in the park and hike the Wonderland Trail. But, as I've been reading several hikers blogs it sounds like large sections of the trail are still covered in snow as late as June. So, we'll consider returning later in the summer to complete our "Rainer Double Header".
As for the rest of summer, my canvas is still blank, waiting to be filled with colors of adventure. I'm thinking maybe some sea kayaking. I'm hearing the Brooks Range calling. And of course, a requisite visit to McCarthy. The theme for the summer will be endurance. I'd like to trek further then ever before. Staying out longer, traveling lighter, and seeing new places. So, stay tuned to my blog for updates, videos, and of course photographs.
This past week I mailed our permits to the National Park Service office in Washington. They open for business April 1 to start issuing permits, but allow them postmarked by March 15. Also along for the climb will be my wife Gretchen, our best friend Amelia Payne, and a good friend of Kev's, Dino.
For now, we have two months to train and "get in the best shape of our life"(as the guidebook suggests). Our hope is to summit before Memorial Day weekend. I anticipate that as a high time for visitors with excessive traffic on the mountain. So we'll have to leave home as soon as school gets out. Originally I really wanted to remain in the park and hike the Wonderland Trail. But, as I've been reading several hikers blogs it sounds like large sections of the trail are still covered in snow as late as June. So, we'll consider returning later in the summer to complete our "Rainer Double Header".
As for the rest of summer, my canvas is still blank, waiting to be filled with colors of adventure. I'm thinking maybe some sea kayaking. I'm hearing the Brooks Range calling. And of course, a requisite visit to McCarthy. The theme for the summer will be endurance. I'd like to trek further then ever before. Staying out longer, traveling lighter, and seeing new places. So, stay tuned to my blog for updates, videos, and of course photographs.
These photographs were taken in 2005. Kevin rode along with me as I drove from Virginia to Washington, reporting for duty my first days as a Lieutenant. Later, while working on Fort Lewis, I got a weekend pass and went hiking in Rainier National Park. Hoping someday to return and climb this awesome mountain.
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