Click here to view this hike in the summer.
So my second hike was a shoe shoeing summit, and my first time snowshoeing! I was so excited to snowshoe. I had wanted to try snowshoeing for a long time. The building manager where I work has brought photos to our office and I was just drooling. It looked like so much fun.
Snow shoeing is hard work! I wouldn’t recommend that anyone first shoe shoeing be anything with much elevation gain. Being the very ungraceful person that I am learning how to walk with giant things on my feet climbing up a hill at a 45 degree pitch was not the brightest idea. But I made it! After pulling my groin from having a foot slip down the hill and my planted leg stopping my fall. Ouch!
The view at the top was well worth it though. Looking out at our challenge for June was great.
The down hill was much more fun and scarier. The snow was a lot softer on the way down, everyone was having trouble staying on their feet, and I went down the final steep bit on my butt! That was fun, but only because I meant to got on my ass.
Shoe shoeing again sounds good, just not on a crazy hill!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
My First Hike
Check out the Hike
On March 24th 2007 the Reach the Summit team hiked a trail called Wauna Point. The hike is almost 12 miles round trip and rises nearly 2,800 vertical feet. We started at the parking lot and headed up a closed forest road for about 2.5 miles before hitting the main trail and a tributary of the Tanner Creek at about 1,200 feet above sea level. From there, we wound our way up to 2,800 feet before not descending to Wauna Point, due to the crummy weather and trail condition. Then we descended back to the parking lot. The hike was HARD. I've been hiking whenever I could since Adam and I moved to Portland but I guess that every time we walked slow and easy.
The trail was pretty, but not the most beautiful. It was mostly just wooded views, but the point is supposed to be fantastic. Though hiking in winter in spring in the NW can be great, the trials can be a little extra challenging.
The not so fun thing about the hike is that my asthma has returned with a vengeance. I threw away my out of date inhaler before we moved to Portland, but I had to borrow two different inhalers for a total of 4 puffs to make it up the hill. NOT FUN. So I’ve been to the doctor and now have a new inhaler that I get to use on my training hikes.
I made it thought the first one. I’d say that’s a good start.
On March 24th 2007 the Reach the Summit team hiked a trail called Wauna Point. The hike is almost 12 miles round trip and rises nearly 2,800 vertical feet. We started at the parking lot and headed up a closed forest road for about 2.5 miles before hitting the main trail and a tributary of the Tanner Creek at about 1,200 feet above sea level. From there, we wound our way up to 2,800 feet before not descending to Wauna Point, due to the crummy weather and trail condition. Then we descended back to the parking lot. The hike was HARD. I've been hiking whenever I could since Adam and I moved to Portland but I guess that every time we walked slow and easy.
The trail was pretty, but not the most beautiful. It was mostly just wooded views, but the point is supposed to be fantastic. Though hiking in winter in spring in the NW can be great, the trials can be a little extra challenging.
The not so fun thing about the hike is that my asthma has returned with a vengeance. I threw away my out of date inhaler before we moved to Portland, but I had to borrow two different inhalers for a total of 4 puffs to make it up the hill. NOT FUN. So I’ve been to the doctor and now have a new inhaler that I get to use on my training hikes.
I made it thought the first one. I’d say that’s a good start.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Hello Everyone
I’m excited to announce that I have committed to climb Mt. Hood!
Since I moved to Oregon one of my goals has been to climb Mt. Hood, but I didn’t know how I was going to accomplish this incredible feat. With the help and to the benefit of the American Lung Association of Oregon (ALAO), I have found that this dream is now within reach. I have committed to participate in the American Lung Association of Oregon’s Reach The Summit of Mt. Hood program. This June, I will be attempting to reach the highest point in Oregon at 11,239 feet to support the American Lung Association’s ongoing efforts to fight lung disease. In 2000 I found out how difficult life becomes when you don’t have enough breath to manage a flight of stairs.
My issues began shortly after staying at a very nice bed and breakfast that had been crafted from an old church. The owner was kind enough to show Adam and I around and tell us all about the renovations he had undertaken. His great frustration was the old style steeple was infested with pigeons. We didn’t know this at the time, but pigeon droppings anywhere can contain toxic fungal spores. We breathe them in, and the growth of these spores in your lungs emulates flu like symptoms when you’ve had only a small exposure.
In our case we were both as sick as we can ever remember being. After a week and a half Adam started getting better, I did not. This began a nine month process where I learned more about the human lung then I’d ever cared to. My Pulmonologist (respiratory doctor) told me that the vast majority of people show scars from these lung infections in chest x-rays, but aren’t aware that they’ve ever had anything other then the flu. After several different kinds of biopsies, and extended periods on steroids I finally started recovering. I learned the hard way that our lungs are very precious and thusly I’m very proud to be doing something to help the American Lung Association of Oregon.
The first challenge I face is building back enough endurance to get to the summit of Oregon’s tallest mountain. To prepare for the climb, I’ve already begun a regular schedule of weekly training hikes with the rest of the Reach The Summit team, lots of walking the dog, stair climbing, etc.
The second challenge I face is raising $3,000 on behalf of the Lung Association by May 1, 2007. I need your help to reach that goal. Your generous and tax-deductible contribution to the American Lung Association of Oregon on my behalf will not only secure my place on the REACH THE SUMMIT climb, but most importantly will help those struggling to breathe easier. In order to reach my goal, I am asking everyone to donate. If everyone who receives this letter donates $100 I will surpass my goal. However, any amount will go a long way to help.
Please express your support the following way:
You can donate online: go to http://www.reachthesummit.us/, click on “sponsor a climber” and type in “Emily” to get to my donation page. Deadline: May 1, 2007
Click Here to go directly.
Many companies match their employee’s charitable giving – ask your employer to match your gift!
I truly appreciate your support.
Thanks,
Emily
P.S. 100% of the donation is tax-deductible and a donation receipt letter will be automatically sent to you for donations over $50.
I’m excited to announce that I have committed to climb Mt. Hood!
Since I moved to Oregon one of my goals has been to climb Mt. Hood, but I didn’t know how I was going to accomplish this incredible feat. With the help and to the benefit of the American Lung Association of Oregon (ALAO), I have found that this dream is now within reach. I have committed to participate in the American Lung Association of Oregon’s Reach The Summit of Mt. Hood program. This June, I will be attempting to reach the highest point in Oregon at 11,239 feet to support the American Lung Association’s ongoing efforts to fight lung disease. In 2000 I found out how difficult life becomes when you don’t have enough breath to manage a flight of stairs.
My issues began shortly after staying at a very nice bed and breakfast that had been crafted from an old church. The owner was kind enough to show Adam and I around and tell us all about the renovations he had undertaken. His great frustration was the old style steeple was infested with pigeons. We didn’t know this at the time, but pigeon droppings anywhere can contain toxic fungal spores. We breathe them in, and the growth of these spores in your lungs emulates flu like symptoms when you’ve had only a small exposure.
In our case we were both as sick as we can ever remember being. After a week and a half Adam started getting better, I did not. This began a nine month process where I learned more about the human lung then I’d ever cared to. My Pulmonologist (respiratory doctor) told me that the vast majority of people show scars from these lung infections in chest x-rays, but aren’t aware that they’ve ever had anything other then the flu. After several different kinds of biopsies, and extended periods on steroids I finally started recovering. I learned the hard way that our lungs are very precious and thusly I’m very proud to be doing something to help the American Lung Association of Oregon.
The first challenge I face is building back enough endurance to get to the summit of Oregon’s tallest mountain. To prepare for the climb, I’ve already begun a regular schedule of weekly training hikes with the rest of the Reach The Summit team, lots of walking the dog, stair climbing, etc.
The second challenge I face is raising $3,000 on behalf of the Lung Association by May 1, 2007. I need your help to reach that goal. Your generous and tax-deductible contribution to the American Lung Association of Oregon on my behalf will not only secure my place on the REACH THE SUMMIT climb, but most importantly will help those struggling to breathe easier. In order to reach my goal, I am asking everyone to donate. If everyone who receives this letter donates $100 I will surpass my goal. However, any amount will go a long way to help.
Please express your support the following way:
You can donate online: go to http://www.reachthesummit.us/, click on “sponsor a climber” and type in “Emily” to get to my donation page. Deadline: May 1, 2007
Click Here to go directly.
Many companies match their employee’s charitable giving – ask your employer to match your gift!
I truly appreciate your support.
Thanks,
Emily
P.S. 100% of the donation is tax-deductible and a donation receipt letter will be automatically sent to you for donations over $50.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Hello All
I've started this for all of you that want to here about my Summit attempt. I'll try to share all my training and story with you here.
Looking forward to getting the ball started!
Looking forward to getting the ball started!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
