A dog and his girl

Last Wednesday, I took my beloved 6.5 year old Welsh Springer Spaniel - Milo - to the veterinarian for a series of routine vaccinations. While there, the vet tech took his temperature and pronounced him feverish when it came up at 104 F. Thinking back, I realized that far from being the quirk I thought it was, Milo's sleeping on the bathroom floor was an attempt to keep cool. As well, he had been coughing and even throwing up a bit over the last week. The vet came in and explained that what I thought was JUST runny eyes, was actually sinus drainage for a dog. He diagnosed Milo with the highly contagious canine influenza which has been widely reported in the New England area. Poor Milo!!

Because of his fever, he wasn't able to receive his vaccinations but he did walk away with a shot of penicillin and a prescription for 5 days worth of antibiotics and a recipe for chicken and sweet potato cooked plain, in the crock pot. (Lucky dog!)

What does this have to do with climbing Mt. Washington?

Well, it's just a small example of how quickly things can change.

Thursday, for me, was a day packed with activity as I tried to organize work at our new office building, prepared my son's bags for his school trip to Quebec, arranged a place for Milo to stay, did some grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning AND tried to get all the elements together for our trip to New Hampshire. By evening, I was exhausted. Friday morning after seeing the school kids off I finally relaxed - right into a head cold and fever.

So we cancelled our walk up the rock pile.

In some small way one has to wonder if this was my body's way of saying, "She's not quite ready yet."

The downside to this (as if being sick wasn't bad enough) is that we might have to wait until April for our next attempt at Mt. Washington because we have to move our company from Seattle, WA across the continent to New England. Time and money are going to be prohibitive; but at least I will be able to train a little longer.

In the meantime, Milo and I are spending the weekend in bed with lots of orange juice and water, a box of Puffs Plus with lotion, the remote control and a sense of gratitude that this is the first cold we've had in about a year.

"When in doubt, turn around."

Last year, the February 2009 issue of National Geographic had an article about Mt. Washington that once again gives me pause as we plan our weekend "hike." But I know I have to trust that we will make the right decision if there is anything about the weather, our physical conditions or our preparation that gives either one of us pause. So, for your further entertainment, I have linked the article here: CLICK ME TO READ. And a great series of photographs here: CLICK ME TO VIEW.

Oh boy...

This should probably be a tweet!

Except, I don't Twitter!

We have a date for Mt. Washington ("Home of the World's Worst Weather") Climb #2.

Our 12-year old son goes on a class trip from January 29th - February 1st. Ron will return from Seattle on the 28th and we will head to New Hampshire on the 29th to make "base camp" in a cheap hotel, with a hot tub. (Ron, that's a hint for you.) Our climb will begin fairly early on Saturday the 30th. If we manage to remember all necessary gear and the weather conditions are not working against us, we should summit and be down early that evening. Then, we can have Sunday the 31st to relax, do some gentle hiking and maybe even hit some of the outlet stores. Woot! However, if for some reason we don't summit on the 30th, we can try again on the 31st.

So, I have 8 more days in which to train for this. I think I will continue to do my treadmill-stair master-treadmill regimen but I want to increase my time from 35-minutes per segment to 45 minutes each on the treadmill ends and 30-minutes on the stair master, for a total of two-hours at the gym. Woof. I'm going to have to start bringing two water bottles!

If you're interested in keeping up with the weather on Mt. Washington, especially on the days we plan to climb - click this link: http://www.mountwashington.org/

Training day

I'm going to begin this segment with some random, hilarious quotes about exercise and fitness. These are funny, often true and unfortunately, they clearly represent many of my feelings about exercise... not activity in general but methodical, regimented gym / class exercise.

"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical,

emotional, and mental states."

~Carol Welch

"I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing."

~Marsha Doble

"A bear, however hard he tries, grows tubby without exercise."

~A.A. Milne

"I really don't think I need buns of steel. I'd be happy with buns of cinnamon."

~Ellen DeGeneres

"My idea of exercise is a good brisk sit."

~Phyllis Diller

Reading these, you probably get the idea that I am not a very active person but really that's not the case at all though I am less active than I desire to be. My preference is doing things: kayaking, hiking, bike riding, swimming walking with my dog, yard work, digging ditches etc... as opposed to going to a gym and doing the same work out over and over and over, which tends to make me feel like a gerbil on a wheel. That said, I actually joined the gym close to my house last week.

After our mini-climb a couple weeks ago, I thought it might be best if I actually attempt to get into some kind of shape for these climbs. We did manage successfully on the hardest part of the Lion's Head Trail and I wasn't absurdly sore the follow days. So I think creating some sense of muscle memory for climbing isn't a bad idea. I really don't want to be the only liability on these climbs (isn't being a novice enough of one?) and I definitely don't want to kill myself trying.

I am not unhealthy but I could be more fit. I carry a bit too much weight but I am strong. I eat well but could benefit (who couldn't?) from healthier choices. If you don't mind the swearing, I have the fortitude and stamina to do just about anything I set out to do... like my workout yesterday: 30 minutes on the treadmill at maximum incline and moderate speed followed by 35 minutes on the stair master, intensity level 4 of 10 and then another 30 minutes on the treadmill at a low incline and moderate-then-low speed. I did some stretching (yoga poses) after. I was exhausted last night but felt great all day today. I will be back at the gym tomorrow.

My gym goal is simple: from now until our next climb, get there every other day. As long as I manage to get there, I will work out. I will use a treadmill and a stair stepper at their maximum inclines, at fairly moderate speeds to simulate climbing. I will rest as needed. I will (eventually) start wearing a back pack doing this, to prepare for carrying one when we climb. I will sweat and I will swear; I do those things anyway. I simply want to get my body used to doing long term strenuous activity. After the next climb I will reevaluate and revise my gym plan. As the weather turns from winter to spring, I will definitely want to move to an outdoor activity fitness regime.

So, if you are a fitness buff or have any interesting thoughts/tips or advice on training for mountaineering, please leave me some comments, some links etc. While I might not take your advice, I am certainly grateful for it and will consider your experience.

Looking for motivation to move... how's this? Click Here. Or, click here.

Nothing up my sleeve...

Things aren’t always what they seem.

Cooking for people, feeding them, is often an expression of love while random, out of control eating can signal boredom or angst. Ten year old boys might signal their “appreciation” for a member of the opposite gender by pulling her pig-tails or shooting spit balls. Poison dart frogs have appealing brilliant colors that ultimately signal their toxicity. One might shop or clean or exercise when frustrated, a way to blow off steam. All of these things have a dual personality - appearing to be one thing, one way but also encompassing another.

Climbing Mt. Washington (“Home of the World’s Weather”) isn’t just about climbing Mt. Washington. For Ron and I it’s an opportunity to get to know one another again after spending a majority of the last 15-months living on opposite coasts, several time zones apart. It’s time spent doing something we both enjoy, together. It’s an exercise in trust. These climbs are away to dig ourselves out of a rut, a 15-year rut. It’s pushing us out of our comfort zones and forcing us to explore our drives and desires as well as explore other possibilities, for us personally, as a family, and for our hiking and climbing.

We’ve now spent many years together, growing apart. We’ve developed different interests, read different books, participated in different hobbies, and acquired many different friends. As of the end of 2008, we spent a majority of time living on in different time zones – and time zones are a relationships worst enemy. That 11:30 pm call (when it's only 8:30 pm on the other end of the phone) is so much more than just a call. It is the companionship and the connectedness. It is the meat and bones of a relationship with the absence of warmth, smiles, smells, touches and all the wonders of non-verbal communication. But is so important too.

It’s time for a change; a change of scenery and a change of attitude.

These 12 months of climbing - really, it's therapy but cooler.

One Week Ago

One week ago we did our first winter hike on Mt. Washington. We opted for the Lion's Head Trail (winter route) as Ron suggested this would afford the easiest winter ascent combined with spectacular views and a "touch of weather." I don't know if this is correct but I trust Ron.

Speaking of trust, I think in our situation copious amounts of trust are necessary for these climbs to work. Ron is an extremely experienced mountaineer/climber/hiker - mountain man - as some of my friends refer to him. He's also very practical and conservative in his choices in "the back country." This is one of the biggest reasons why I trust him. He has walked away from summits, even when in very close proximity, because something made him uncomfortable: a cloud formation, the time of day, a twitch in his eye - whatever. The point is, he will walk away. Being an absolute novice, I appreciate this.

After checking and rechecking our clothing, gear and food supplies, we left home about an hour later than we wanted to, for four hour drive to "the Home of the World's Worst Weather." My partner of seventeen years knows me well and let me sleep while he did the bulk of the driving. We arrived, parked and looked at each other. The looks that passed between us were a conversation of their own:

"We can still turn back."

"There are some neat looking stores in North Conway."

"Driving, taking in the scenery, having lunch - could be a nice way to fulfill the day."

"But we came so far for this."

"Wouldn't it be schmucky of us to not at least try?"

"We don't have to summit."

"We can just walk in the forests and enjoy the scenery."

"The pictures alone would be worth it."

"Well, let's give it a short go."

"Yeah, ok. We can picnic on a snow covered rock or something."

We gathered our gear and went to get organized and dressed, to get ourselves checked in and ready to take our walk. It was then that we realized we were missing two key pieces of clothing and that this alone was going to prevent us from reaching the summit. Somehow, my wind pants, thin gore-tex pants worn over my warm fleece pants to prevent the bitter winter wind from chilling my lovely legs, did not make it into my bag. And Ron's balaclava face mask did not make it into his. This, combined with our 10 a.m. arrival to the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, immediately set the tone for the hike. We would go up, touch the weather and turn back without attempting to summit. We were both good with this.

Starting at Pinkham Notch visitor's area, we ascended via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. This was a slow, maybe 2-hour leg. The trail was very wide with plenty of room for the hikers happily descending and others who were headed up much faster than we were. There were skiers in groups and hikers with dogs. It was all good. Most appeared to be heading for a different trail than we were, because at some point I noticed we were completely alone as a light snow fell. The funniest part of our ascent was when I stepped slightly off trail to allow passage to some skiers and fell into the unpacked snow up to my hips! Ooops!

Two hours up and we turned off the large packed-snow main trail onto a smaller trail in the woods. It was nice. Reminded me of the Frost line "the woods are lovely, dark and deep..." This trail quickly became deep and steep. We stopped to put on our crampons. I'm thankful that Ron was able to help me secure mine. The crampons were wonderfully helpful for maintaining traction and footing in the snow and the ice that was beginning to appear. We needed our ice axes too, to help brace ourselves and push up the hill. This was new to me, I felt a bit idiotic and a bit scared.

Then we reached a point on the trail where the trees suddenly stopped and in front of us was an ice covered rock wall with narrow and very very vertical trail UP. Way up. It looked about 500 feet to me. As we stood there looking at it, considering it, Ron said it was maybe 20 or 30 feet. I trust him. I do. Really. As we stood there looking at this narrow, ice covered and very vertical trail, Ron mentioned that we were close to the end of where our gear, minus the forgotten bits, would take us. Quick up, touch the weather and quick down - we would be on our way back to Pinkham Notch. My trust, momentarily, waned.

Suddenly two young men, led by an experienced guide, were climbing down the icy ravine. The guide instructed them in minute detail, exactly where to place their feet, their hands and when to stretch just a little further. It took them 20 minutes or so to climb down the last 10(ish) feet as we watched. They were clearly relieved when they reached us. Again, I could feel my trust waning.

We discussed it. The ascent, harrowing as it might be for me, really would be the easy part. It was the very necessary descent that was giving me the most pause. Ron had brought a rope and harness with him, for me, in case he/we felt it would be best to tie me in. You can ask him about those details. I don't know. I trust him.

In the end, we decided this was the point on this hike, to turn back. Ron was perfectly fine with this and my trust renewed. All the way back to the the visitor center, filled with the energy that relief brings, we discussed/planned our next ascent and how we will handle this section. We will make a list and check it twice. We will get an earlier start. We might even drive up the night before and stay in a motel. Ron will tie me in and I will rappel to descent -- with this I am very comfortable.

So stay tuned because February is fast approaching!

(And next climb, we will take pictures.)

What's on your list today?

Shopping is not training.

You know that, I know that, we all know that.

However, shopping is sometimes essential to preparation; think of the shopping that is done in advent of a large dinner party or the birth of a new child, or for an impending move... Shopping requires taking stock of what one needs and compares that to what is already owned and/or can be borrowed. Preparing for our first climb on Mt. Washington, my very cautious husband began laying out our gear two-weeks ago. He found flaws, he found holes, he couldn't find certain missing items. We began to develop a list. We decided to go shopping!

An avowed shop-a-holic, I felt it was perfectly good karma for starting this series of climbs. No, not eating right, disaster planning or endurance training - but shopping!

In order to keep the financial out flow to a minimum, we wanted to limit our purchases to things that would be useful throughout four seasons of climbing or to items necessary for survival on the "Home of the World's Worst Weather" in the dead of winter.

Between us we owned one gore-tex wind shell, one pair of ski goggles (Jr. sized, belonging to our son) and a variety of ten-plus year old base layers and men's heavy ragg wool socks. We both needed new hiking boots. Clearly we were going to be laying out some cash for this expedition.

Unfortunately, in the midst of preparations for our epic gear shopping trip, my husband was called away on an emergency business trip to Seattle - BUT - we all know that there are mountains (and mountains of climbing gear!) in Seattle. Ron went to a second hand gear store and scored tremendous bargains on two fantastic items: a second gore-tex shell and a down vest. My darling, wonderful husband bought these two items to keep me warm on the mountain, during our premier alpine ascent on the "Home of the World's Worst Weather." He purchased these items with me in mind and he purchased them ONE SIZE TOO SMALL! (This is where my middle-aged woman's heart swoons with passion - because he thinks I am smaller than I am!)

Oh sure, we laughed about it. We even decided to keep these items anyway, under the presumption that these items will fit 12-yr old son wonderfully in a year or so and that he will want to do some winter, alpine climbing. Yes. Yes indeed.

We decided that Ron could wear the slightly small for him gore-tex shell and I can wear the shapely and snug down vest as a warmth layer under the older, x-large purple gore-tex shell. No problem. (Remind of this later.)

We completed our shopping back in New England. Two new pairs of waterproof, cramp-on ready, sub sub-zero rated, hard soled hiking boots. Two sets of ultra performance capilene base layers (wicking and quick-drying and wind resistant - oh my!) smart wool socks, a new pair of crampons, wind blocking fleece jackets/sweaters, extra hats, gloves and balaclava face masks and a shiny, new, sharp, pointy ice axe (in a pear treeeeee...)

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My dear husband inventoried all the gear and made two piles: one for each of us. He made a third pile of "extra, emergency gear" to go in the pack that he'll carry. He has plans for us to wear our new boots to walk around the state park by our house and to practice walking up and down snowy hills in the crampons.

We shop therefore we prepare!

And now for something completely different

Welcome 2010.

2009 had to have been the worst year of my life. It was indescribably bad. My husband, 12-yr old son and I spend more than 15 months (yes, reaching back to 2008 even) 3500 miles apart. Not because we wanted to but because we had to, for a variety of reasons that are ultimately, unimportant.

With the advent of the new year we decided to take stock of what was left and challenged ourselves to do something(s) to recharge and renew ourselves and our relationship. We ended up deciding to climb Mt. Washington - in the White Mountains of New Hampshire... Mt. Washington - with it's lovely dramatic scenery, ski resort towns, woodland trails, waterfalls, and wildlife. Mt. Washington - with the claim to fame, from their Observatory website is "Home to the World's Worst Weather."

Oh but that is not the end of this story. We decided that we would climb Mt. Washington - "Home to the World's Worst Weather" once each month this year (2010) and that we would attempt to reach the summit 12 consecutive times.

That's where this blog comes in... we want to keep a record of our planning, training efforts and then our attempts on the mountain. When the going gets rough we want to be able to remember exactly why we're doing this thing because, for all practical purposes, there is no good reason to throw one's self on the "Home to the World's Worst Weather" - is there?!