I have written about my own personal hike up the great Majestic Lady, Pike’s Peak. That trek was a pre-event to the Ascent Race, which is why I went up the mountain in the first place. Doris and I were there to assist in running an aide station. After the summit climb, we met with our team captains, Amy and Jeff Solverson, got our camp made, and had a very welcome dinner. There are a number of aid stations on the mountain for the Ascent and the Pikes Peak Marathon. They are designed to support the racers with water, Gatorade, fruit, candy, and medical help, which is given by the El Paso County Search and Rescue teams. Everything that is needed for that support is packed in from the top or the bottom of the mountain and then back out when the races are over. There are pounds and pounds of Gatorade powder to bring in, water purification equipment, food, cups, bowls, the all important duck tape, trash cans to hold the water, Gatorade, and of course, trash. Volunteers are crucial to the success of these two interesting races. I have realized after this experience – volunteers make the world go round! Continue reading
Month: August 2006
Doesn’t seem possible that summer is winding down already. It has been a very busy time for me at work. I have been transferred over to the Systems Engineering department at ITT and have some new and demanding responsibilities. It has required a fair amount of overtime and travel recently.
Several trips to Ft Huachuca, AZ (south of Tuscon) to setup a system for security testing and a trip to Ft Meade, MD to brief NSA.
Have not accomlished any camping trips and only a few hiking trips this summer (bummer).
Back in school again taking a course in Systems Analysis, Design, and Modeling.
Sold our old Jeep and bought another one just like it. We had such good luck with it I decided to try for seconds. This one is green and only has 92K miles but is identical otherwise.
Josh and Kristina relocated across town when their lease ran out on the townhouse. They like their new place a lot better but it’s a longer commute.
Thats’ all for now.
As you already know, I turned 50 this year. Not a milestone that everyone wants to herald but I see it as a threshold to the banquet that is my life. Five decades! WOW! How cool is that?! There were a few things that I wanted to accomplish this year since it is a “significant” birthday year. Only one of my goals appeared to be manifesting. These are the “special” goals I had for this year.
1. Make a trip to the Grand Canyon to hike and camp. We made a plan with our small group to go together since several of us had decade birthdays.
2. Climb a ‘fourteener’ one of the 54 mountains in the state of Colorado that is 14,000 ft or more. It meant being disciplined and training.
3. Decide what God wants me to do with the rest of my life, now that I am truly grown up.
I figure if you aren’t grown up at 50, you have a challenge that may need professional help! There will always be a kid inside but I am trying to be grown up on the outside, just to make those around me feel more comfortable. It is a hard thing at times! Continue reading
