2013 - Resolutions and the Great Outdoors

2013 is now underway and I've been starting to think about what do I want to do this year.  No, I didn't make any resolutions on New Year's Eve, but I have ideas in my head of some of the things I want to accomplish this year and here's to hoping I can make them work out.

Doing Good for a Cause - Big City Mountaineers

In 2012 I was determined to give back more which I did, but not as much as I wanted.  So in 2013 - I've committed myself to Summit for Someone and doing a benefit climb with them and Backpacker Magazine to support Big City Mountaineers.  I'll be raising $4,000 to help out some well deserved at-risk youth gain opportunities to have a one-on-one mentoring experience in a wilderness experience.  In my opinion, it's two-fold, not only will these kids come out with an experience that will provide them some great skills to help them get through school and become leaders to their peers, they'll also get a great experience in the wilderness, which is something I hold close to my heart.

And in return as I'm doing this through Summit for Someone, I'm going to get to climb Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous 48 states, meet some new people and hopefully make some new life long friends.

Summit For Someone

More Training - Wilderness First Responder

Last year - I invested time into becoming Wilderness First Aid certified to make myself more readily available when I'm out in wilderness settings.  It made me feel more confident to take other people out hiking and camping and getting them to experience what I really love.  This year I plan to take it another step further and get the Wilderness First Responder certification.

Why?  Because I really love being in the back country and experiencing life unlike the majority of the people I know.  And I would really love to take some of the people who want to see this part of the country / world with me.  But doing so requires me to be prepared to take care of not only myself, but those who have placed their trust in me as well.  By getting certified - I get trained on standards and protocols to follow to ensure that if someone gets hurt, they'll be in good hands until I can get them out or get emergency personnel in.

Driftless Area - Wisconsin

Yes - I do have more to explore.  In 2012 I found the Black River State Forest where you can go backpacking.  I hiked a few trails in the forest, but didn't get time to go back and do any backpacking.  In 2013, I'm determined to get back there and take the dogs on a weekend backpack trip in the forest.

And I would like to go back to the Kickapoo River Valley area and do some backpacking on the trails along the river.  This was probably the most magical of the Driftless area I found in 2012.  It was just amazing.

Kickapoo River Valley area.  Wisconsin's "mountains".

So I'm extending an offer to anyone who reads this to join me in 2013 to visit one of these area's with me.  Don't worry if you don't have the gear - I know where we can get it.

Exploring Beyond Wisconsin

I have a few ideas of ideas I would like to explore in 2013 beyond Mt Whitney (not sure what, if anything I'll actually get to do yet).  

• A trip back out to Colorado and Utah to do some mountain biking, climbing and backpacking.  Specifically I would like to get out to SW Utah and check out Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.
• Head back out east to explore - haven't gone in that direction in a number of years.  West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness, the White Mountains of New Hampshire or something else.

That should keep me busy most of the year beyond camping in and around Wisconsin's State Parks.  And exploring my own backyard in Milwaukee.  Looking forward to a good 2013.  Join me if you want.  

2012 - A Year Outdoors

Great Outdoors

Never realized when I titled my blog the Great Outdoors that literally I'd be spending so much time in the outdoors.  And 2012 has proven to be just a bunch of experiences enjoying life outside.  I'm so glad I have the ability and opportunities to experience what I do and look forward to doing more of it in 2013 and bringing more people along for the hike.

Mt Kilimanjaro

January and February, I trained, trained and trained some more as I got ready to tackle one of the seven summits - Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.  It was quite an experience.  To not only climb 19,340 ft (5895 m), but to meet some great people, experience a different culture and throw in a safari to boot.  

Uhuru Peak - Mt Kilimanjaro

42 Nights of Camping

Yes, 42 nights - that's a lot (12% of nights in 2012).  I beat 2011 by 2 nights.  I don't intend to beat 42 in 2013.  Some experiences were great, some ok and some stressful (when you lose your phone).  The majority of the best nights in a tent came with a backpacking experience.  But also - a few camping experiences allowed me to get people out camping with me and help them (or most of them) gain an appreciation of the outdoors.  And finally I got to explore a lot more of the Driftless Area of Wisconsin.  Hiking and camping in state parks I'd never been to.  I think I now have the entire driftless area covered for state parks.

Backpacking

The first night in a tent came back in February 2012 with a snowshoe trip up in the Kettle Crest Range in northern Washington.  Hanging out up in the mountains overnight in the winter was incredible.  Not only was I the first one to sign in to the log book on Wapaloosie Mountain for 2012, but from the top we could also see into Canada.  

View from camp in the Kettle Range Mountains of Washington 

Other memorable backpacking experiences of 2012:

• Yellow River State Forest in Iowa - the hilly area of Iowa.  Very pretty, quiet.  May 2012
• Superior Trail in northern Minnesota - what a beautiful area.  Need to get back here again.  Labor Day weekend.
• Kokanee Glacier National Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Beautiful and quiet in mid-September.  But sad to see the glacier is receding.  Hopefully they get a lot of snow pack this year to help build it back up.

Other Great Experiences

View from Mt Kit Carson, Spokane, WA

• Timms Hill - Wisconsin's highest point.  Not quite the same as Kilimanjaro, but still another one of the USA's 50 highest points picked off.  (1500+ ft)
• Christmas in Washington - got to visit my brother in Newman Lake and take in some great hikes and snowshoeing in the area.  Finally got to go to Mt Spokane State Park and get to the top of Mt Kit Carson via snowshoe.  (And had the peak to myself)
• Dogs - Jasmine and Wailea made it another year - ableit a few surgeries to fix a torn ACL (Wailea) and remove a ~7 lb tumor and her spleen (Jasmine).  The dogs managed to get in 33 nights in a tent and traveled to 6 states.  Hopefully both remain healthy enough to continue in 2013.  

Backpacker Magazine, Mt Whitney and 2013

Mid-year 2012 I found out Backpacker Magazine was offering up to its readers an opportunity to climb Mt Whitney with their editor, Jon Dorn.  So in July, I wrote and submitted an essay, wrote my "I Want to Climb Mt Whitney" blog post and had wonderful friends support me via posts to it to try and get to selected to join Backpacker in their Mt Whitney summit attempt.  

After what seemed like forever, I got a response.  I was lucky enough to be selected to join Backpacker Magazine to climb Mt Whitney and support a great organization - Big City Mountaineers via Summit for Someone.  

Which brings me to 2013.  This climb is in April 2013, but I've started training and am really looking forward to this opportunity.  I'll get to the highest point in the contiguous 48 states (and highest point in CA), experience mountaineering, meet new people and make new friends, help some under-privileged youth get a great experience as well and finally get to the Sierra Nevada's.  I can't wait.  I'm sure this will be one of my highlights for 2013.

Special Thanks

Thank you to everyone who has joined me and supported me in all the adventures of 2012.  And if you didn't join me - feel free to join me in 2013.

Hiking in the First Snowfall

This December again seems like crazy weather.  Last weekend it was warm enough to camp in my 3-season tent with my dogs.  This weekend it was cooler and north of Milwaukee there was snow.

Snow

Yes, I said snow.  It may have rained all day in Milwaukee, but when I woke up in the morning, I knew that there would be snow today in Wisconsin.  Like a kid waiting for Santa to come, I jumped out of bed, went straight to my computer and Intellicast.com and looked at where the snow line was.  West or north?  Kettle Moraine North or South?  Where was I going to hike today was all I could think of.

Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest

Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest it was.  Snow would be there.  Yeah!  After breakfast I threw the dogs in the car and off we went.  Old hiking boots, Gore-tex jacket and pants, and blaze orange in the car.  Driving to NKM I was a little nervous.  The snow line seemed to not be where it was on the map.  As I drove up 41/45 it kept raining and the thermometer in the car said 37 for quite a while.  Finally after the 41/45 split and passing Cabela's I started to see snow in the farmer's fields along the side of the road, but it was still raining.  By the time I hit West Bend though - there it was SNOW!

By now I was giddy with delight and the dogs were still sleeping in the car (probably thinking I was crazy).  I was going to get to go hiking in snow today.  So I opted to head to the Mauthe Lake area and head out from there on the Ice Age Trail, probably my favorite trail to hike in Wisconsin.  I was not disappointed when I go there.

Ice Age Trail in Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest

I love hiking in snow.  Snow always seems to make hiking seem magical and peaceful.  Today's hike was no different.  I never saw a person until about 2 1/2 miles into my hike and then I never saw another person again.  The majority of the time I was breaking the trail in the snow while listening to the snow fall off branches and the birds sing.

Fresh snow on the Ice Age Trail

The streams that I crossed were just beautiful.  Catching the freshly fallen snow.  I could have just sat there all day watching the snow fall on the water.  Each snowflake melts into the water and moves on to another place, just magical.

One of the streams on the Ice Age Trail in Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest

What a great day I had with the dogs hiking.  Nature is just an amazing thing and winter nature is the best.  There's no better place to be than in nature, taking in the fresh fallen snow, the sounds of the birds and the peace and tranquility it provides.  Especially when it's the first snowfall of the season.

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.  John Muir

Camping in December

When I think of December, I think the start of the holidays, cold days and SNOW.  Not camping with my dogs.

Camping in December

Who would have thought that on December 1st, 2012 I would have gone camping because it was warm.  Yes, warm enough to camp in December.  Too bad when I made my decision at the split for I39, I90 and  I94 that I decided to go to Devil's Lake instead of Governor Dodge State Park.  As I pulled in to Devil's Lake and saw the campground I remembered they were doing construction during the winter.  My choice was to camp in the group campground with a full house or head up to Mirror Lake.  Even though I decided I wouldn't go to Mirror Lake again, I decided it was a better option.

Camping in December at Mirror Lake State Park

And thankfully, I was right.  It was quiet with only 5 of us camping in the entire campground.  The dogs and I hiked there on Saturday and saw one of the other camper and then Sunday morning we had the trails to ourselves.  What a beautiful way to start the day.

Mirror Lake @ 7:30 in the morning with a little ice.

After packing up - I did drive back to Devil's Lake State Park and do the loop around the lake.  What a great day it was.  The park was dead, but it was warm enough for even some climbers to take on the cold stone walls of Devil's Lake.  (Of course, this was the first time I went there and left my climbing gear at home - stupid me.)  So if I can't have snow in December, I guess weather warm enough to take the dogs camping will do.

Autobiography Title - In Search of Snow

A friend of mine put a post on Facebook asking "if you were writing an autobiography, what would the title be?"  Of course my answer was In Search of Snow.  And I started to wonder, why am I so fascinated by snow.

Snow Fascination

As far back as I can remember I've always waited for the snow to come.  And once it came I was like a kid in a candy store.  Growing up my parents provided us an appreciation (whether they know it or not) of the outdoors.  And I think I just appreciated the time more when there was cold weather and snow on the ground.  We camped, we snowmobiled, we ice fished and more.  I remember building snow forts, snowmen, sledding, and ice skating.  What other time of the year could you be so creative?

Snowmobiling in Northern Wisconsin

As an adult, my love of snow has continued.  I may no longer build forts or ride snowmobiles (prefer quiet sports now), but I still build snowmen and camp and now snowshoe, hike and more.  (Who knows, maybe this winter I'll build a fort.)

Snow Packed Vacations

Since around 2007/2008 snow and glaciers have been a major influence as to where I take my vacations.  Probably 95% or more of my vacations have been to places where I will be in or see snow and/or glaciers.  And now that we're seeing the melt off of our glaciers and snow packs, it's all that more important to me to find these areas.  Capture their essence in my memories and hopefully introduce their importance to others.

Fitz Roy & Torre Glacier - El Chalten, Argentina

I also find spending time outside in winter with the snow one of the greatest ways to unwind and relax.  It's one of the best ways to let your mind open up and let the freshness and newness around you in.  Maybe that's why it fascinates me.

Yes - my autobiography would be called In Search of Snow - and now I feel it's time to start planning that next search.  And then maybe ponder actually writing my autobiography.

Perrito Moreno Glacier

Fundraising, a Humbling Experience

Asking people for anything is not something I've had a lot of experience with.  As I'm preparing for my climb up Mt Whitney with Summit For Someone / Big City Mountaineers, I'm learning a whole new appreciation for anyone who works with, volunteers for or is involved with non-profit organizations.  You all do a very hard job and should be applauded for what you do.

I'm very appreciative of the people who've already donated on my behalf to Summit For Someone, you're all wonderful friends and you're making it easier to reach my goal of raising $4,000 by February.

Next up I'm going to try my hand at creating some fun events to also support the cause.  First I'm working to pull together some great local Milwaukee bands to play a fundraiser at a local bar (that's also a co-op, pretty cool).  Then... still planning.

But for anyone reading this blog - Thank You.  And save the date:

When:  January 11th, 2013
Where:  Riverwest Public House
What:  Live Bands

• Floor Model
• More to come...

Thank You All!!  

Training for Mt Whitney - the Fun Training Day

Mt Whitney Training Schedule

As I'm getting ready for my climb up Mt Whitney next April, I have a weekly workout schedule that Summit For Someone suggests we follow.  The schedule has us working out 5 days a week with Monday's and Friday's off.

The weekday schedule comprises of cross training, cardio and weight training.  Not bad, but now with it being dark in the morning and night, it means training indoors which isn't quite as much fun.  I've been trying to figure out what can I do to make it more exciting.  So I've decided to dig out my Pimsleur's Spanish CD and refresh my Spanish.  So if anyone sees me walking around speaking Spanish, don't be surprised.  Just answer me.  (habla Espanol?)

The weekend training is the best part.  Cross training and hiking.  I specifically like the hiking day.  It's not only good training for the trip, but I have some great friends who are coming along on the hikes and making the day all that more enjoyable.  You almost forget you're out there for a reason.  (Not that I really need a reason to hike.)

So a big thank you to my friends - I'm glad I have you all to make hiking all that much more fun!

Gracias!