Mt. Shasta Summer 2014

Many people have been asking me what mountain I am climbing next,

well its Mt. Shasta this July.

 

I first started on my hiking journeys several years ago. I was inspired by a friend who showed me the fun, beauty and satifisfaction in the process of identifying a mountain/challenge, training for it and going for it. This is an annual winning formula for me!

 

Since June 2012, I have hiked the Haute Route, climbed Mt. Toubkal and Mt. Whitney, ice climbed the Gunks, completed the Spartan Race (give or take 90 burpees) and enjoyed many many day hikes with my family and friends.

 

I am inspired, intimidated and thrilled by seeing and learning about everyone's adventures, obviously there are people that have trekked further, climbed higher, and lived out life more dangerously than me, I love it all!

 

I like to search out new excitements, mix in a little danger and try to push my mental and physical limits but always experience the same respectful, excitable nervousness and fear for each one.

Mt. Shasta seems to hit all the above for me and more!

I have respect for the mountain, mother nature, my guides, the climbers before/after me and the ones I climb with!  I am never a know it all and my nervousnes and fears leading up to and on my adventures usually pertain to performance anxiety and the new unknowns.

 

I have worked myself into a Mt. Shasta tizy over...

Am I in my peak shape? Will i slow my fellow climbers down?

Will I be able to carry an 80L pack? I am carrying everything myself this trip,

no mules, no sherpas.

This is the most technical climb i have ever done, crampons, ropes, helmets, ice axes...

Should I rent all this stuff or just buy it?

Will I get my usual heel altering blisters?

Will the altitude affect me like usual? (Even with diamox)

Will I be able to take a deep breath, relax, enjoy and admire 

the ride all the way up and down?

AND...is this, as advertised, high intensity trip really my bag? Will I be ok? I am going on this adventure solo, meaning, my usual hiking buddy already knows this trip is not her "bag" and I am off to climb with with six people i do not know...

Check out Mt. Shasta:

 

Next up...training and packing pix and complaining... :)

Follow me on my Mt. Shasta 2014 adventure on twitter too - @hiking_mama 

Mt. Whitney (6 days) Badwater Basin (6 hours) 2013

We get comfortable and take for granted the many luxuries we have at our finger tips, such as caring family, safe secure shelter and clean and running water.

I don't think this years's Mt. Whitney hiking was physically harder than the Haute Route nor Mt. Toubkal but it was mentally harder. Perhaps because of where i am in my self reflecting stage of life, being on this hike on my own or perhaps because it's been many many years since i called a one person tent home for more than one night, didn't sleep (out of fear and altitude) nor shower for days. No matter though, every hike opens a new door of

insight for me. The people, the sites, our guides, the food, and the extremes made this trip most memorable.

Enjoy some pix.

No matter what hike, nor how challenging, the sites are majestic!

The USA National Parks are natural wonders! 

Where should i hike next????

Day 1

Woke up at 4am...don't know what has me more anxious, the tent mate prospect, the weight of my pack and bag, the WAG bag concept, the 100 degree weather, or the altitude...no matter, it will all be great! 

Leaving Dow Villa for a healthy breakfast @ alabama hills...then to meet the group to start our journey...

Up up and away - the trip of extremes!

Off to the EXTREMES...Mt. Whitney and Badwater Basin in Death Valley!

Getting on a plane to LAX then driving 4 hours to Lone Pine, CA.

Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain in the 48 contiguous states @ 14,505 feet (Alaska has Denali! and a few more taller than Mt. Whitney). This will be on average 8-10 miles a day, we are takin' the long way round...Supposedly the snow is all gone. It's a pack in pack out adventure.

Badwater Basin, Death Valley, CA is the lowest point in the United States @ 282 feet below sea level and second lowest in the Western Hemisphere.

Going to try to blog on this trip, but have been forwarned, cell service non existent and there are no "plugs" to recharge...

Stay tuned for pix either way! Onwards and upwards my friends!!

First half of Day 1 - Mount Toubkal Hike

After we finished breakfast at eight am, with the snow covered mountains in sight, we drove from Asni to our starting point in Imlil (1680m) to meet our mules and guide. There is one Chief in each village, he manages the workload schedule of every mule used for mountain treks.

Looking and feelin' happy!

The people were always very nice, main language, arabic, Berber in these parts, french as a second language with some english words here and there.

Off and trekking we go. Our guide was most amazing. (His contact details to follow)

Our friends, Lara and Remy joined us.

We had 12 miles ahead of us and 2000m of altitude to gain.

On the initial ascent there are many stores and convincing salesmen, if we stopped every at each one or bought every item we liked we would have never made it out of the gate! There are shops from Imlil to the last one about 2200m.

We stopped for tea at, what i used as a land mark, "white mosque village". Look at the solar panels!!!

Pre hike prepping...

After a long day of traveling, flight from JFK to Madrid, Madrid to Marrakech (9 hours) and 1 hour drive from Marrakech airport we arrived at Kasbah Tamadot, a welcomed luxury!

Next few pix - donkeys, camels and storks oh my...lots of flora and fauna en route to Asni via Marrakech.

Met with our guide...hmmm look ma' there's still snow! So much for hiking daddy's sources!!! 7am start tomorrow.