Volo Bog

On Saturday I hiked 6 miles around the Volo Bog Forest Preserve with my weighted pack. My pace was pretty swift, however I was struggling with trying to figure out how to adjust my pack correctly. Out of the hundred different levels and pulleys this pack seemed to have...it was amazing it didn't come with a manual. Note to remember for future hikes...stretch the shins! My shins are killing me.

Link to donate online added

For those of you that would rather donate to the society via online, I have added the website that you can donate directly. You can find the link under my profile on the right side of the screen.

Hike at Volo Bog

Sunday May 6th, we met at Volo Bog for our group training hike. I still need to purchase a larger pack as I didn't make it to REI like I wanted to, so I put only about 10 lbs in my camelbak while mostly everyone else wore their new backpacks [some still had their tags on] and put 30-45 lbs in them. A pretty easy 3.5 mile hike total between the two trails, however the idea was just to get used to carrying a weighted pack. Volo Bog, lucky enough for me was only about 10 minutes down the road, where everyone else had to drive between 45 minutes to an hour and 10 minutes. It was very nice of everyone to make the drive up north so I didn't have to drive very far.

Boxing Day

This week we did not get a training schedule together, so I have been putting together workouts from my past training days for substitution.Been going pretty well. Yesterday Reggie took me through a difficult workout and then after that hour was completed he was like..."ok..now 20 minutes of boxing...I'll go get the gloves." (uhh...ok) So needless to say, I was exhausted by the end of that. Only three months left to go, and I still need to step up my game as far as endurance goes.

3 Day Summit Climb Itinerary

3 DAY SUMMIT CLIMB ITINERARY


DAY 1 (CLIMBING SCHOOL)

7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
Rainier BaseCamp facilities in Ashford open at 7:00 a.m. Climbers may register with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc., pick up rental equipment and purchase last minute items from Whittaker Mountaineering during this time. Pre-ordered trail lunches and meals may also be picked up at Whittaker Mountaineering.

8:00 a.m.
Final check-in. Team assembles in preparation for the day. Please arrive dressed for hiking, packed with your Climbing School gear, and ready to go!



We begin the morning with a welcome and introduction of team members and guides. Guides will offer some final packing and clothing suggestions, and answer any questions. We depart BaseCamp immediately following our initial preparation. Transportation is provided between BaseCamp and Paradise, where your training begins. The entire day is spent on the lower snow slopes of Mt. Rainier, just above Paradise between 6,000 and 6,600 feet.


Our Climbing School offers participants an overview of various techniques which help meet the challenges set forth by this magnificent mountain. It serves as a great introduction or as a refresher if you haven’t been in the hills for a while. You should find that our guides are excellent teachers relaying this information to you in an easy to understand manner. On this day you will be introduced to a number of skills, from the basic techniques of efficient mountain travel (rest-stepping and pressure breathing) through cramponing, roped travel, and ice axe arrest practices.

Our first priority is the safety of our participants. Participation in the Climbing School within the current season is required for joining our Summit Climb. During the School you will be asked to demonstrate that your fitness will allow you to climb safely, and that you are able to perform the new climbing skills proficiently. We will continue to assess each team member throughout the course of the training and the climb.

Following the day of training, the shuttle takes our group back to Rainier BaseCamp.

DAY 2 (SUMMIT CLIMB)

8:00 a.m.
Check-in at Rainier BaseCamp. Team assembles in preparation for the trip to Camp Muir.


Immediately following a short team preparation for today’s events, the shuttle departs for Paradise, and our Summit Climb begins.


Our Summit Climb takes place over the course of two days. On the first day we hike to Camp Muir, and on the second day we make the attempt on Mount Rainier and return to Ashford.

The hike from Paradise (5,400’) to Camp Muir (10,060’) is nearly 4.5 miles, and will take us most of the day. The hike travels through the spectacular alpine zone and onto the Muir Snowfield, named after John Muir who climbed the peak in 1888. The Snowfield is climbed for some 3,000 vertical feet, opening up grand vistas of the wooded lowlands and flanking glaciers. Groups typically climb for about an hour and then break for 10 to 15 minutes.

Once at Camp Muir, the climb leader will address the specifics regarding the rest of the climb, including route conditions, food, equipment, clothing recommendations, and any further questions you might have. Accommodations at Muir consist of a small mountain hut with bunks and sleeping pads. The Muir hut is locked during the climb, so items not needed for the summit bid may be left behind.

Early the following morning we don ropes, crampons, helmets, and grab our ice axes. Our route begins with a rising traverse across the Cowlitz Glacier, and ascends the steepening switchbacks of Cathedral Gap. This allows us to gain the Ingraham Glacier; one of the mountain’s largest and longest glaciers. We then climb onto the steep ridge known as Disappointment Cleaver, the namesake and physical crux of the route. The remaining slopes and hours are whittled away as we zig and zag through the many crevasses of the upper mountain. It is truly a spectacular climb, and one that you are likely to remember for a while to come. As we make our ascent, we climb steadily for one to two hours at a stretch followed by a 10 to 15 minute break.

The summit of Mount Rainier is spectacular. A large crater dominates the summit, with steam rising out of the cavernous summit vents. The bare ground near the summit will be warm to the touch. We always hope to cross the quarter-mile wide crater to stand on the high point of the mountain, Columbia Crest. At 14,410 feet, Mt. Rainier is the highest point in Washington. After spending some time on top (depending on the weather), we begin the descent to Camp Muir. This takes about half the time of the ascent, and also requires significant effort. (Accidents are traditionally recognized as more likely to occur on descents. Because of this, we ask that your training specifically includes preparations for descending. This will help ensure that your ability to safely descend is not compromised.) Once back at Camp Muir, the group will take a break to pack for the final hike down to Paradise. A shuttle will then take our group down to Rainier BaseCamp. We plan on arriving back at Ashford in the late afternoon or early evening. We will have a presentation of summit certificates and the summit climb will be officially completed.

The duration of the climb depends on many variables including snow conditions, the time of the year, the route conditions, the weather during our climb, the temperature, etc. Those variables often affect our arrival time to Ashford, which might vary dramatically from climb to climb. For this reason we do not recommend scheduling an airline flight before midnight on the last day of your climb.

Nice

On Sunday I was supposed to meet up with the group to train on a ski hill. We were supposed to pack 10 lbs in our pack, and be prepared for some great conditioning training. Now every other weekend, I try to sleep in, but I can't. For some reason.. I woke up and looked at the clock and it was 10:45am. I had 15 minutes to drive about 40 miles. Wasn't going to happen. I grabbed my backpack.. stuck my 10 lb medicine ball in the pack [well...it was 10 lbs :) ] and for 45 minutes I walked up and down the three flights of stairs in my apartment building. It was pretty nice out the rest of the day, so after my "pseudo-hike", I relaxed in the sun.

What won't kill ya, will only make you stronger

I ended up getting quite sick at the beginning of this month, which set me back a week. It was difficult to get motivated and back into the swing of things, but I am...slowly but surely. I am training with Reggie this afternoon to see if there are any areas I need to work on. The schedule says I should rest...but if you know me...I'm a rebel. I know...I don't want to "over do it"...but I guess I just want to make up for lost time from earlier this month. I will need to increase my food intake, as I have found that I am getting very tired throughout the day. So Reggie will also be critiquing that as well. As long as I can still enjoy ice cream from time to time...I don't care. :)