OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:32.3998
Longitude:-90.1469
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:10/24/2008 11:07:25 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.3998,-90.1469&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:31.5626
Longitude:-89.5106
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:10/24/2008 08:22:12 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=31.5626,-89.5106&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:31.3235
Longitude:-89.3817
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:10/23/2008 11:10:25 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=31.3235,-89.3817&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:31.3393
Longitude:-89.3524
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:10/23/2008 10:45:43 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=31.3393,-89.3524&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:30.7227
Longitude:-86.5696
Nearest Location: Cracker Barrel Dr, Crestview, FL, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:10/12/2008 11:53:59 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.7227,-86.5696&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:31.6611
Longitude:-89.5787
Nearest Location: United States Highway 49, Collins, MS, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 18:07:56 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=31.6611,-89.5787&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:32.2231
Longitude:-90.157
Nearest Location: United States Highway 49, Richland, MS, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 17:18:56 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.2231,-90.157&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:32.8415
Longitude:-90.0504
Nearest Location: Vaughan, United States
Distance: 4 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 16:29:03 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.8415,-90.0504&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:33.3591
Longitude:-89.7727
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:10/10/2008 16:05:28 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.3591,-89.7727&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:34.1728
Longitude:-89.9235
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:10/10/2008 15:20:39 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.1728,-89.9235&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:34.9627
Longitude:-89.9997
Nearest Location:not known
Distance: 2 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 14:30:22 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.9627,-89.9997&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:34.9627
Longitude:-89.9928
Nearest Location:not known
Distance: 2 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 14:13:58 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.9627,-89.9928&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:35.2858
Longitude:-90.2403
Nearest Location: I-55, Sunset, AR, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 13:43:49 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35.2858,-90.2403&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:35.7502
Longitude:-90.0149
Nearest Location: New Salem, United States
Distance: 3 km(s)
Time:10/10/2008 13:15:02 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35.7502,-90.0149&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:38.7997
Longitude:-89.8941
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:09/06/2008 17:54:10 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.7997,-89.8941&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:38.9264
Longitude:-89.8565
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:08/29/2008 15:30:33 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.9264,-89.8565&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:38.9263
Longitude:-89.8565
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:08/29/2008 15:14:51 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.9263,-89.8565&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

More Pics.....

Exhausting!

Can I just say that was probably the most difficult thing I have ever done! Conditions were perfect, but my conditioning was not. I still had a blast. I made it to around 9000ft before throwing in the towel. I saw an amazing amount of wildlife as well. There were Elk, Mountain Goat, and Marmots. Here are a few pics. Pic 4 is Mt. St. Helens, Pic 5 is Mt. Adams on the Right and St. Helens on the left. The last pics are my battle wounds.

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:46.7854
Longitude:-121.7345
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/20/2008 20:05:22 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=46.7854,-121.7345&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:46.8016
Longitude:-121.7347
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/20/2008 12:55:27 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=46.8016,-121.7347&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:46.7847
Longitude:-121.7417
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/20/2008 10:25:13 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=46.7847,-121.7417&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Mt. Hood

Well I got up yesterday morning around 3:00AM to head up to Mt. Hood. I made it to the mountain around 5:30 and get registered and headed out. It was a gorgeous day from climbing. Weather was nice and there was a slight breeze. The snow was heavely snow cuped. There was a couple of open cravasses on the way up but they were easily avoidable. I had a crystal clear view of Mt. Jefferson and the sisters. I made it up to Hogsback and then decided it would be suicide for me to attempt to go any further. All in all it was an AWESOME day.

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3059
Longitude:-121.7127
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 12:05:09 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3059,-121.7127&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3305
Longitude:-121.7085
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 11:44:55 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3305,-121.7085&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3526
Longitude:-121.7021
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 10:47:17 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3526,-121.7021&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3526
Longitude:-121.702
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 10:44:56 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3526,-121.702&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3494
Longitude:-121.7024
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 10:04:31 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3494,-121.7024&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3419
Longitude:-121.7071
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 09:01:35 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3419,-121.7071&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.3306
Longitude:-121.7086
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 07:56:54 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.3306,-121.7086&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.5189
Longitude:-122.8072
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/17/2008 06:16:19 (US/Central)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.5189,-122.8072&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Here at last!

As you can tell by my SPOT checkin below I am now in Portland!!! It has be eventful getting to this point. Last sunday I set down at the computer to check the progress of some climbers there were climbing Mt. Adam. I then ran accross a headline that Mt. Adams was on fire! 30 Acres were ablaze. An hour latter 300 Acres, 4 hours later 1000 Acres, a day later 6000! This is not good I thought. Sure enought the south climb trail head was right smack in the middle of the fire. After talking to the Ranger district I found out that the TH would be closed for at least 2 weeks! Ouch time to come up with plan B. I am now planing on tomorrow heading to mount hood and I am going to try to at least make it up to hogsback. Then on Sunday we are going to head to Rainer where we will see how far we make it! But I am jumping ahead. I was suppose to fly out on Tuesday @ 7:15. I had a training class in St. Louis which I got out earlier from @ 4:00PM. That gives me 3 hrs to get to the airport and catch my flight! No problem right? WRONG! No sooner had we left training and got on the hwy, we came to a complete stop were we sat until almost 6:30. Unfortunaly there was a horrible wreck which was litteraly .5 mile infront of us. We got diverted to a side road and finally made it to the airport by 7:00 15 min before my flight. As you guess I missed my flight. They were able to get me out this morning at 6:00AM so all was good. So tomorrow I start my big adventure. Wish me luck. I will be posting SPOT messages all along the way. Stay tuned!

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:45.5813
Longitude:-122.5735
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/16/2008 12:46:43 (US/Central)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=45.5813,-122.5735&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Almost There!

Well, I have almost made it to Portland. My flight leaves here from Denver in about 45min. It has been a ordeal to say the least to get to this point, but hopefully it is almost over. I will post more later about the Mt. Adams fire, The 3 1/2 traffic jam, etc. I am so close I can almost taste it.

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:38.6498
Longitude:-90.5074
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/15/2008 18:21:24 (US/Central)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.6498,-90.5074&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:38.9267
Longitude:-89.8483
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/12/2008 18:58:17 (US/Central)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.9267,-89.8483&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

15 Days....

Ok, I am down to 15 days. I think I have just about all my gear ready. I am still lacking a few things that I will pick up in portland. Things have heated up in the PNW, but there is still alot of snow. We still have a 3 mile hike to the trailhead, but who knows what can happen in 2 weeks. We also got thrown another curve ball, that are cornices forming on the east side of the crescent ridge, which can lead to avalances conditions, so we might have to find a different route. I am still a bit nervous about glacier travel, even more so after the air rescue on Rainer this last tuesday. Apparently a climber fell 25 foot and got pretty banged up. I am still very excited though. Here is a pic of the my gear so far minus sleeping pad, bag, tent, & clothes. I am hoping to be able to get it all up there on the airlines.... Wish me luck! I was looking at the almanac and noticed that we will be climbing during a almost full moon. This will be awesome because due to the warm weather we will be leaving extremly early in the morning. It will be nice climbing in some moonlight. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we have clear skys! I have been using my SPOT messenger lately, and I am really impressed with it. I think I have the hang of getting messages off, and tracking with it. So I am really excited to see how it does on the climb. Well Happy 4th to everyone!

OK ESN:0-7373465

SPOT Check OK.
ESN:0-7373465
Latitude:38.7181
Longitude:-89.8832
Nearest Location: S Main St, Troy, IL, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:07/01/2008 07:07:43 (US/Central)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.7181,-89.8832&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Workout, Packing, Testing, ETC....

Well 26 days and counting. As you can see but the posts below, I am continuing to test my new SPOT device. So far I am really impressed with it. I spent the day today doing service calls and I had it track me the entire day. Not a single missed message. (A few were late, but they made it) This weekend I started going through my gear getting it ready. I hope I can get everything in 1 bag up to OR. I am planing on buying my last minute stuff from REI, and just have them ship it to the store there in OR. From all the reports it looks like we still have about 4 miles of melt to go before we can get all the way to the trail head. Hopefully it will melt out in the next 3 weeks. I know there were a couple of Rainier trips called off this weekend do to weather. I really hope it all turns around in the next three weeks. Until then I am going to continue to keep running and lifting, and hoping for the best.

30 Days....

So I havent done a great job in updating this blog like I had hoped, but today is the 30 day mark! Training up to this point has been less then stellar, but I think I am in my grove now. I am a bit nervous at this point. Snow has not melted like I had expected. The road is still closed 4 miles from the trail head, so that is going to add some more time for sure. On top of that, they are still getting more snow. As some of you know I got to hear our babys heartbeat this week! Well I wanted to add a little piece of mind for Keva on our trip. I went a purchased a SPOT Satellite Messenger from REI last night. So far I am really impressed with this gadget. I have it setup to automaticlly post OK messages to the blog. Also I will set it up to email or txt message members of our climbs family. There is also a feature on the SPOT to do tracking. Every 10 min it will post current status to "Mt. Adam's 2008 Climb" website. You can click on the link and get the latest pos. every 10 min. Also incase of emergency I can call for assistance or rescue. All this without using Cell Service. I am currently working on trying to get my last minute stuff ordered or purchased. I am thinking instead of trying to carry food, snacks, misc small gear, etc. that I will just order them on REI and have it shipped to a REI up in OR. Save me some room on the plane, plus I cant carry fuel anyway. This sunday I plan on doing a day hike with some weight. I will try to do this a few more times before I leave. I hope to keep this updated from here on till after the trip.

Hawn State Park

Well Kelty turned 5 today, and for his birthday we got him a new backpack. We had summer like conditions this weekend so we had to get out. We head out to Hawn State Park.
As far as MO state parks go, it was gorgeous.
Waterfalls, Rockfield, & Evergreens. It was AWESOME.

Kelty did great with his pack. He is a trooper for sure. He said his shoulders hurt a little but, but he had a good time.

As far as my train goes.... Well I got to break in my MH Trance backpack. After a bit of tweaking I think I am going to like the pack for this summers trip. I was hoping this trip would spark my training, however after 2 days of 70 degrees we are back to being in the 20's and snowing. I am going to start my jogging regiment this week. I am going for 2-3 miles 4 days a week with a 5 mile jog on the weekend.

The Goal!

On July 20, 2008 I plan to set out on an adventure of a lifetime. I plan to climb Mt. Adams via the Mazama Glacier route with one of my best friend. I have 142 days to get prepared for this adventure. Besides getting gear ready, I have some serious working out to do as well as studying. This will be one of my first adventures at altitude. Mount Adams is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Range and the second-highest mountain in the state of Washington. Adams is a member in the Cascade Volcanic Belt and is located in a remote wilderness approximately 35 miles (56 km) east of Mount St. Helens. Elevation is 12,276 ft (3,742 m).

I turn 30 in 1 month and I have alot of work todo to get back into shape. Over the last year I have kept up jogging and weight lifting, but not in regular form. Over the next month I hope to get back into a regular schedule. The plan for cardio is joging 2-3 miles a day 6 days a week and lifting 5 days a week. I hope to keep regular updates here as to my progress.