From Mountain to Great Big Mountain

The odyssey that is this week begins! Tomorrow, its off to Scottsdale Arizona for the Freddie awards, the penultimate awards show for travel loyalty programs. GO SPG!!!!!!!!!!!

While there, we have an event with an agency where we will have a healthy breakfast and then go hike up camelback mountain. Fun!

On Friday, after a hopefully hugely successful night (GO SPG!!!!!! -- did I already say that?) i get on a flight at 7:35 am and fly through Cleveland to Manchester NH on Continental. I then rent a car, drive 2 hours and get to North Conway NH at about 8:30.

Saturday morning, we meet at EMS, plan the weekend, hike in and camp below tree line overnight. Sunday, we wake up and go PEAK BAGGING!

This time, I will be smarter and not drive home sunday night, but I will head to the best nacho place ever where we had brisket nachos last year. Wax and I then drive home on Monday.

What a week!

A psychological look at the amassment (is that a word??) of gear

First of all, I have no idea if its legal or not to use the REI logo. But, if I was them, I would love the fact that people want to add their logo to blogs! Being a brand marketing person, I would love that!

So, what is it about climbing and hiking that makes you want to amass gear? I am at a strange point right now. I get daily gear mail from REI and EMS, but I honestly don't think that there is anything left for me to buy!!!! OY!!!!!

I recently bought a -20 sleeping bag from EMS for my upcoming NH trip and my Rainier trip in August. Thats about it! Aside from a tent for camping with the kids, I don't need anything else. Is it time for a new hobby?

Just kidding. David Brashears started a facebook group called why we climb. Its interesting in that a) he is world famous and extending himself into social networking with the likes of yours truly and b) for a middle aged mountain climber it forces me to look inward into why I decided to take up this hobby.

My answer? The solitude. There is nothing that I can think of that disconnects you from everything as well as being dependant only upon your self, carrying everything that you need, and trying to overcome a big challenge and return safely!

Campus Tolerance

A break from climbing posts. My mom has started a group, Campus Tolerance, that tracks bias incidents on campuses in an attempt to expose colleges and universities that have bias issues. Read this, its from the facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Campus-Tolerance/15798722323?ref=nf)

There is more bias and hate on college campuses than people realize. We set out with a pilot study to develop a tolerance rating, that allows prospective students to gauge how comfortable they will feel in a university environment and which universities they may want to avoid. We have just started releasing results and are looking to scale the research from 3 to 200 schools.

If you are interested, please become a fan of the facebook page and spread this around.

Thanks!

Ode to the Presidentials

So last time we climbed in the Presidentials, we had a severe lack of respect for Mt. Washington. Leading up to it, I worked out for a week and expected to summit and walk into the gift shop to buy souvenirs on the summit jockeying in line with tourists in shorts and hawaiian shirts. We were so wrong that my favorite Dillonism was uttered after he had completed a marathon about 3 months earlier. "Marathons are for P_ssies".

So, no more lack of respect. I jumpstarted weight loss with South Beach. My wife finally yelled at me for not eating carbs 10 days into it so I am now on brown rice too. I was "not" myself. I am also working out again hiking and walking on max incline on my treadmill while wearing my 35-40 pound pack. And, most differently, I am on a homeopathic cleansing protocal that I don't understand but my wife tells me to do it and I am smart enough to just shut up and listen. I will tell you though, that Arnica does wonders on your back pain.

Check out this new web browser!

so, I downloaded this new browser today.  Its AWESOME!!!!  Its called Flock (www.flock.com).  It allows me to track all of my friends while I surf, view any media streams I choose, customize feeds, publish to my blog, etc.  Climbing mountains is getting easier every day!  Thanks Flock!

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Conquering Mt Treadmill in the Family Room

Last Friday, my climbing partner Mark and I did a conference call with the nice folks at the EMS climbing school in North Conway NH. We decided on the weekend of April 5-6 and are going to do a hike up to below treeline, a night camping in the snow (i am hoping for a miserable night with tons of snow) and going peak bagging on the next day across some more of the presidential range, including Mt. Madison and others.

So, I have to drop at least 10. South Beach Diet, here I come!! I have also been working out with my pack, until, I slipped on the stupid F'ing dog toy on the stairs and broke/sprained my toe. OY!!!!

I am working on it, but staying on the diet and looking forward to the next workout.

What Should I Eat.com/.org/.edu

So, my wife can't take me asking "what should I eat?" anymore so she is trying to get me to register the URL, whatshouldIeat.com but I can't get it. Even on Blogger.

But, 90% of the time, the answer to the question is Nachos. Is there a more perfect food? Carbs, protein, vegetables, melted cheese, all in one perfectly crafter pile of food.

I love nachos so much, that my nutritionist felt the need to call me out. I might have to make her a plate of my famous nachos to convince her to change teams. They are a great training food. Actually, the best nachos I have ever had, were in North Conway NH after last years Mt Washington climb. Brisket nachos, not something to be taken lightly.

Training isn't all climbing

I am trying to look at my training regimen holistically. I went to a nutritionist a few weeks ago to start adopting my diet

I am eating a lot of Lara Bars and Cliff Nectar bars, all fruit and nuts. Of course, I need to be told exactly what to and what not to eat, so I still eat a fair amount of Nachos, otherwise known as Gods food.

I am about to take some tests to see if I am to high in yeast or other bad things. Once I find out, I will go on a strict regimen to accompany my hiking and working out. I will update the blog as my nutritional plan develops. Who says nutrition is boring?

Not all mountains are literal

Tomorrow I leave for a conference of Interactive Marketing execs called iMedia. Its a fantastic conference with a high class list of speakers and great opportunities to meet a ton of people and to learn about what is coming up and what is starting to emerge.

I just found out that my climbing partner, Markzing, is attending the conference as well so we will get to catch up. He works for United Online. We can talk training and our next attempts in either NH in March, or on Rainier in August.

Long time no post

So, admittedly, I am a slacker, but its been a while since I posted. You can see that we had a successful scaling of Nordhoff peak. My brothers in law finally cowboy'ed the F up and climbed that motha.

So now, whats new? New year! and a whole new attitude! With Rainier on the horizon, and a possible presidential range traverse for early march, I have decided to start the Extreme Makeover: Burt Edition immediately. What does that entail you ask? I am playing hockey 1-2 times per week, exercizing a lot more, and beginning to start training again by walking up treadmill, stair climbing, and outdoor hiking (even in 20 degree weather). I also went back to the nutritionist that helped reinvent me about 5 years ago. She is awesome. I am doing some tests to see how to tailor my diet, and I am on a whole regimen of supplements, vitamins, and homeopathic detoxes and remedies. Coming out of this, I should be able to fly, turn invisible, and shoot health rays from my fingers.

men of moore pha-sis

This year we finally did it, the assault on Nordhoff Peak by the legendary Men of Moore. If not familiar, the Men of Moore, in this case, are the sons in law of the vaunted Moore clan of Ojai Ca. Enjoy the video.

Numerous names came out of the summit attempt. Flatulence flats, Tim's Turnaround, Dead Vole Corner, and others.

Stevil at the top of Nordhoff Peak

Stevil posing by the USGS marker on the top of Nordhoff Peak. The hike took 5:15 and was straight up hill. We have talked about it for years but never done it until this year.

The Next Climb

The next climb has been decided. Mark and I spoke after the Baker climb and agreed on climbing Rainier next. We went back and forth on Guide companies. RMI is the classic guiding company on Rainier, but they come across factory like. They also do the skills on the mountain, but only spend one night.

We looked at Alpine Ascents also. They offer a 2:1 guide ratio, and you spend all 3 days and 2 nights on Rainier for a more expedition like experience. We decided to go forward with them.

Of course, I haven't started training yet. We are trying to find something to climb in feb or march, maybe a presidential traverse in NH, but the 20 mile trek above the tree line in NH is a little daunting. Not a definite no, but we are working on it.

My room at the us grant in san diego

What's Next?

Great question. I had such a great time that I will definitely keep going. We are currently discussing another Mt. Washington trip this winter, and either Baker or Rainier in July.

I will keep posting because it amuses me. This is absolutely a hobby I will keep up with. As i told my wife, I am 42, so its either a trophy wife, a sports car, or climbing. And climbing gets me in shape and keeps me healthy!