Welcome to Spring! According to the weather forecast we’ll have a good day for the first fit2climb hike this year.
We have a mix of experienced and new hikers/climbers and given the size of the group we’re going to have a group led by John Colver and Brian Tschider that is designed for newcomers, people hiking for the first time in a while and we’ll hike at a pace similar to what we’d do on a guided Mount Rainier climb. Leaving at 9.15 we’ll take around 2 hours to ascent, take a (weather permitting) snack break for 20-30 minutes before heading down. Total time on trail – 4/5 hours.
For directions to Mt Si click MAP
For more information on Mt Si click HERE
If you are looking for a fast pace (not kidding) group travelling light and breathing hard- there’ll be a few folks galloping up that hill like Seabiscuit on a good day! However for the main group: The hike is designed as a chance to ease into the mode of steady paced mountain climbing and the chance to practice appropriate skills: Packing, walking efficiently (We’ll practice the ‘mountain step’ or ‘rest step’ as many call it) and we’ll practice the ’skill’ of taking recovery breaks each hour.
What to bring?
- Hiking boots or shoes (given the warm winter we will not encounter snow in the trail).
- Long hiking pants
- 2 Breathable under layers (one short sleeve one long sleeve is ideal)
- Warm fleece or soft-shell jacket
- Hat
- Gloves
- Rain Jacket
- Any personal meds (i.e. for asthma or any other condition)
- 2 water bottles or camelbak pack 2 – 3 pints is good (we recommend one water and one sports drink – gatorade or such)
- One sandwich or lunch snack
- 2 energy bars or similar
- Sunglasses
- Spare shirt.
- Spare socks (optional) Sweaty socks can lead to blisters so if this happens it’s nice to have dry socks to change at top.
- Small backpack – ALWAYS line your pack with a plastic bag – ‘Trash compactor’ bags are good as they are thicker – often need to look at a hard wear store or Fred Meyer. A good question to ask is, “If I drop this in the river will my stuff inside stay dry”? In mountaineering, wet gear can lead to big problems. In addition to lining the bag it’s handy to have gallon-sized Ziploc bags for smaller items that may go in the top or side pocket of your pack.
If you do not have any of this gear, just let us know and we’ll dig some up for you.
Other: Gaiters – optional – you’ll want them for some hikes but not this one. Crampons/traction devices will not be needed.
Poles (optional) We recommend some hikes with and some without. Poles help but it’s good to go without sometimes to develop balance skills.
Will we eat or drink all of the food/drink? No but it’s always good to have extra food and drink.
Will we need all of the clothes? Maybe, maybe not. It could be warm, calm and sunny or it could be like winter on top.
John and Brian will have a first aid kit, navigation equipment & cell phone. Feel free to bring anything you want but don’t overload your pack unnecessarily. In fact it’s good practice to see how little you need. In the weeks ahead we’ll add more gear and weight but this hike is designed to be a chance to ease into the training season.
We have over 40 people planning various climbs and hikes, like Mt. Rainier, Mt Adams & Mt Kilimanjaro to name three. For several folks this is the first time and everyone will benefit from the collective experience within the adventX group. We look forward to seeing you.
Thursday evening 6.30 – Second Ascent/adventX: Private Sale event and Technical mini-clinics
Don’t miss this great event hosted by our friends at Second Ascent in Ballard. adventX members and friends are invited to this sale where there’ll be great deals on hiking, climbing, outdoor fitness and cycling gear. Bring your friends. click here for directions
Also addition there will be the following mini clinics:
6.30 Cycling - Basic Bike maintenance; including how to change a flat tire
7.00 Mountaineering - Dress for success; how to layer to stay warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm.
7.20 Caring for technical gear: Keeping (or restoring) your gore-tex so it breathes well and keeps you dry.
7.30 Mountaineering, hiking backpacking: Perfect pack packing; stay organized, keep your stuff dry and get your pack comfortable.
- When: February 25th 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
- Where: Second Ascent – Ballard
- Cost: Free to adventX members & guests
Second Ascent is a unique outdoor outfitter based in Ballard, Seattle. An independently owned business they have served the Outdoor community with new, pre used, sample and rental gear since 1996. This is a private event. In addition to mini-clinics on the selection and care of gear as well as training topics, there’ll be snacks, a slideshow and door prizes. If you are gearing up for training, hiking, climbing or cycling – don’t miss this great event.
PS: Kings Hardware @ 8pm for refreshments!
Interested in joining our team?
Check out our expedition blog at http://adventxkilimanjaro.wordpress.com
Tasty and good for you. Click here to find the recipe from 
Sports Nutrition Clinic – January 28th 6.30 p.m. adventX Queen Anne
Join adventX nutrition coach Sally Hara, MS, RD, CDE, CSSD – for our first Sports Nutrition clinic of 2010
An author for the American Dietetic Association, Sally is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. However, as much as she looks at nutrition from a scientific approach, her talks are chock-full of practical ideas along with simple methods to figure out what and how much to eat for top performance. Whether your goal is to build endurance, strength, gain or lose weight – you’ll find something interesting in this 1 hour clinic.
Space is limited to 20 people – RSVP to john@adventx.com
6.30 p.m. @ adventX Queen Anne in conference room -3rd floor 1817 Queen Anne Ave N
Fruit and Turkey Pilaf is a simple and healthy recipe that combines dried fruits with a rice mix and ground turkey.
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3/4 lb. ground turkey
- 1 onion, chopped
- 6 oz. pkg. quick cooking long grain and wild rice mix
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
- 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
Heat olive oil in large skillet; add ground turkey and onions and cook and stir until turkey is no longer pink. Stir in water and seasoning packet from rice mix and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 14-19 minutes until rice is tender and mixture is hot. 4 servings
Calories: 245 - Fat: 4 grams - Sodium: 200 mg - Carbs: 37 grams
| Monday, January 11, 2010, 7:30 – 9pm |
| Downstairs at Town Hall; enter on Seneca Street. |
| There’s probably something to that old carrot-on-a-stick motivational tool—if you’re trying to motivate a horse. But for us bipeds, says bestselling author Daniel Pink, the true secret to high performance and satisfaction lies in deeply and uniquely human needs: to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. Pink, author of Free Agent Nation and A Whole New Mind, as well as his latest Drive, exposes the mismatch between what science knows and the innovative motivational approaches businesses use, and how that affects every aspect of our lives. Presented by Town Hall with University Book Store.
LEARN MORE: |
The words ‘Adventure of a lifetime’ can easily roll off the tongue, yet after 25 years on the trail I was privileged to lead the September 2009 IMG Kilimanjaro expedition. Along on the expedition were local adventX team members Christy Wallace and Tony Hoskins. After an 8 day expedition that put us on the very roof of Africa and truly in the diminishing snows of Kilimanjaro we flew to the Serengeti National Park. After touching down on a red dirt runway we were treated to three days of amazing scenery and wildlife under the leadership of our guide, Emanuel. We slept in a tent amongst the wildest animals we’ve ever seen (and heard) travelled miles in our Toyota Four Runner stopping to watch Lions, Giraffes, Zebra, Wilderbeast, Jackals, Buffalo, Antelopes, Hyenas, Cheetahs, Leopards, Elephants, hippos, hundreds of exotic birds and even a Rhino and cub. On our last night at the famous Norongoro Lodge Tony and I encountered a buffalo 20 yards from our hotel room!
An unexpected side trip we made was to a wonderful center for street children called Msamaria. They have a website click here . Msamaria means Samaritan in Swahili. Dennis Kanutti one of our Kilimanjaro guides (over 300 summits at only 25 years old) is a volunteer at Msamaria and arranged for Tony, Christy, Barb and myself to visit. What we were greeted with has left a deep and lasting impression of the beauty, warmth and community that is present in every day Tanzanian life. Dennis working as part of a small staff led by Mr Folkward Daniel Mapunda, a highly qualified social worker supports the center which provides housing, food and school tuition and uniforms for children who are homeless and have turned to the street for survival. The staff care for and rehabilitate the children through building community, with sports and arts, education and games while providing medical care. They become the family for children who have none.
What we experienced at Msamaria is hard to put into words. Defying seemingly unsurmountable problems and hinderances the success taking place seems hard to imagine in a developed country and the commitment to the goals they have set have had a staggering effect on the way I see my world.
In conversations over the past few months it has become clear that a relationship is developing that can utilize the connection between there and here and to develop ideas and small projects that can fuel the efforts of the center, the children and staff. We have decided to begin some fundraising efforts and to tell the story of Msamaria here.
For our September 2010 visit to Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro and see the Serengeti we will organize an opportunity for anyone who wishes to participate in spending a few days at the center, working under the direction of staff to help with some exciting projects that will further add to the self sufficiencies that the center is developing. This may include some simple building projects; chicken coop, area for a dairy cow or goats, school room or dormitories. Depending on our skill sets we can also teach games, sports and provide a chance for children to spend time with us playing or learning.
The cost of the Expedition is $5400 plus airfare. Any involvement with the Msamaria is purely on a volunteer basis and working with staff we will identify projects and needs. As an example – to travel three days ahead with a donation of $500 and a bag full of school supplies, clothes and first aid items will provide for the needs of the children for several months. We have been working on a plan to provide accountability and measurability and to build the relationship between Moshi and Seattle.
One exciting opportunity we see is to have Dennis Kanuti come to Seattle both as an ambassador for Msamaria but also to realize his dream of climbing on Mount Rainier. Tony, Christy and I have all had the privilege to spend time with Dennis who aside from his involvement with the children of Msamaria and as a guide on Kilimanjaro is also a runner. His marathon time — 2 hours 32 minutes.
For anyone interested to learn more; we’ll be doing a slideshow at our Queen Anne Workspace on Thursday January 14th at 6.00 p.m.
If you are reading and have ideas or wish to support Msamaria – please let me know. john@adventx.com
Welcome to our new online venue for adventX news and updates. Here you’ll find up to date information about adventX events and classes, as well as intersting articles and tips that we’d like to share. We’re in the process of authoring this new online format which will be completed on January 1, 2010.
Happy Holidays from the adventX Team!
