Friday, June 29, 2007
The Prep...
So what does it take to climb a mountain like Mt. Rainier?
I suppose it depends on where you're coming from. I have had pretty extensive experience in the outdoors, most of which has been in the realm of long distance backpacking. So this was my "route to the mountain":
:: Read four books Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills (575 pp), The Measure of a Mountain (275 pp), Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue (150 pp), and Mt. Rainier: A Climbing Guide (250 pp) for a total of 1,250 pages.
:: Exercised diligently and intensely for many weeks (you can read more about that in an earlier post).
:: Assembled heaps of gear via purchases, borrows, and rentals. This was the pricey part; I probably spent around $500 in this category.
:: Found some rope team buddies, Mark & Jessica Schmerse, and made my way to the Cascades
There is no question all this was a sizable commitment, particularly in the arena of time. Brooke can attest that there was a period of time for around a month that if I wasn't working or hanging with her I was exercising or reading or online assembling gear - something to prepare for the trip. However, it is more than a hobby for me. It is about setting goals and achieving them. It is about pushing oneself. It is about soaking the most out of this one life of ours. It is about thinking outside the box. A bit of it is about treading where few dare to. There's also shared experiences with friends, incentive to be healthier, and cool pictures to share with friends. Put it this way, I'd much rather spend a week on the side of Mt. Rainier than on a sunny beach somewhere!
I suppose it depends on where you're coming from. I have had pretty extensive experience in the outdoors, most of which has been in the realm of long distance backpacking. So this was my "route to the mountain":
:: Read four books Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills (575 pp), The Measure of a Mountain (275 pp), Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue (150 pp), and Mt. Rainier: A Climbing Guide (250 pp) for a total of 1,250 pages.
:: Exercised diligently and intensely for many weeks (you can read more about that in an earlier post).
:: Assembled heaps of gear via purchases, borrows, and rentals. This was the pricey part; I probably spent around $500 in this category.
:: Found some rope team buddies, Mark & Jessica Schmerse, and made my way to the Cascades
There is no question all this was a sizable commitment, particularly in the arena of time. Brooke can attest that there was a period of time for around a month that if I wasn't working or hanging with her I was exercising or reading or online assembling gear - something to prepare for the trip. However, it is more than a hobby for me. It is about setting goals and achieving them. It is about pushing oneself. It is about soaking the most out of this one life of ours. It is about thinking outside the box. A bit of it is about treading where few dare to. There's also shared experiences with friends, incentive to be healthier, and cool pictures to share with friends. Put it this way, I'd much rather spend a week on the side of Mt. Rainier than on a sunny beach somewhere!
Labels: TravelLife
# posted by pk : 4:35 PM
Comments:
Wow, you really were prepared!
I'm proud of you three for going to get this one. Plus you came back with some breathtaking shots.
nice job.
I'm proud of you three for going to get this one. Plus you came back with some breathtaking shots.
nice job.
I have to admit... (and I think it's no secret)... that I'd rather spend a week on a sunny beach than on the side of an icy mountain :). But, I think you're right about the importance of setting goals that push us and that force us to "soak the most out of life". I feel giving birth to Ava naturally was a little bit like this for me. It took research. It was healthier for me and for Ava. It was an incredibly bonding experience for me and Jeremy. And while I'd rather not share any pictures with friends :), it was a formative event!
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