Yes, I know that this blog is sadly neglected, but I have not been hiking for quite awhile, owing to the rain, cold weather, and the fact that I am moving and have no days to take off and roam around. This is all soon to change.

Starting in March (guesstimate), I will be making at least a weekly trek up Mt. Si. This is a 3000 foot elevation gain, 8 mile round-trip hike that I am currently in no shape to do. BUT, with a little assistance from a gym, I will get into semi-okay shape and head up. I may suck at first, but I am sure it will get easier each time I go. All of this is in preparation for my August/September 2006 climb up to the 14,411.1 foot tippy top of Mt. Rainier. Yes, you read it here first. I am going to climb Mt. Rainier.

This will be an awesome challenge, something I can always look back on and be proud of myself for, something that will be precious to me and an experience to remember. I am not going alone. The trip will be through Rainier Mountaineering Inc, a guide service that has worked the mountain for over 80 years. They are THE guide service for Mt Rainier, and you cannot go up without them (unless you have ookoo credentials and can prove that you won't fall off if you go on your own, but that is extremely limited). I will have several guides to teach me what to do and take me to the top. I will also have a familiar face along the way. I have asked Papa to come with me, and after some thinking, he is all for it. We are both really excited about our upcoming venture, and hope it really happens! It is not exactly cheap, but definitely worth it. My biggest concern is that I won't be able to get into good enough shape to tackle this, but I am doing my best to keep motiviated and keep on top of it and make this a reality for me.

My training will be Mt Si, as previously mentioned. THis is where the REAL mountain climbers go year round to train for Mt Rainier, and also other mountains across the globe. It is steep, tiring, and long enough to be effective, and located in North Bend, so it is easy to get to and go. I will fill my baby backpack with canned food for extra weight for training, since we will have 40lb packs on for our actual climb. I can rent all the equipment I need for the summit attempt, and they also require that I attend a 1 day mountaineering course to learn how to use an ice axe and crampons, etc. That will be the first day, then we head back down and get up bright and early for our hike from Paradise up to Camp Muir, at around 10,000 feet. We get in our sleeping bags and take a long nap/short sleep until midnight or as late as 3am, depending on how things are looking. Then we set out for the summit, spend a couple hours there, then head down to Paradise again. I must figure out what kind of camera works best up top, I have heard of people having issues since it is so chilly. Not my Canon, but I might bring my older canon, or a film disposable if those work better.

Expect a cell phone call from the top! I am told they have great reception up there!! Wish us luck!!