This fat (300lb) old (I turn fifty this month) man is planning to climb Quandry Peek in Colorado and drag lots of radio gear up with him on August 13th, 2006 as a part of the Amateur Radio 14er Event.
Over
a year ago I was planning a trip to climb Quandry. Instead, I became
very sick with a kidney disease and depressed. I still recovering
and suffering from the effects of these problems.
a year ago I was planning a trip to climb Quandry. Instead, I became
very sick with a kidney disease and depressed. I still recovering
and suffering from the effects of these problems.
Starting
in January every year, I take a whole month to set myself a New Year’s
resolution. I have been looking for a goal to commit to since December.
An event I could focus on and challenge myself to get back into shape.
in January every year, I take a whole month to set myself a New Year’s
resolution. I have been looking for a goal to commit to since December.
An event I could focus on and challenge myself to get back into shape.
If my doctor approves, this is my goal.
I have attempted several times to climb a 14,000+ peak in Colorado. The most notable trip was with friends, like Tom Adams, from the Backwoods outdoors store in Oklahoma City. Four friends and I drove to Colorado to make a winter climb of Humoldtin March of 1995. We didn’t summit. We did make it above the tree line.
You can make out where we got to on the right side of this picture.
On
this climb I did most of the leading. We didn’t bring snow shoes for the
trip and I was left plowing through sometimes chest high deep snow. We
reached our highest point at about 1:00pm and then descended. During
the decent we hiked through whiteout conditions for more than an hour.
this climb I did most of the leading. We didn’t bring snow shoes for the
trip and I was left plowing through sometimes chest high deep snow. We
reached our highest point at about 1:00pm and then descended. During
the decent we hiked through whiteout conditions for more than an hour.
What
I remember most was the fleece suit I wore. It was made for me by Tony
Kinnard’s of Kinnard’s Base Camp. It is a heavy dark fleece (purple) and
includes a cap and gloves. With a wind breaker is was very hot. During
the accent, I took off the top half of the wind breaker and unzipped the
coat. On the decent, in the snow ,I turned into the abominable snow man.
Snow clung so badly to my suit I had to take it off at times and ring
it out. It would weigh about ten or fifteen lbs. Then I would ring it out
and it would weigh less then three. But even wet, it kept me very warm.
I remember most was the fleece suit I wore. It was made for me by Tony
Kinnard’s of Kinnard’s Base Camp. It is a heavy dark fleece (purple) and
includes a cap and gloves. With a wind breaker is was very hot. During
the accent, I took off the top half of the wind breaker and unzipped the
coat. On the decent, in the snow ,I turned into the abominable snow man.
Snow clung so badly to my suit I had to take it off at times and ring
it out. It would weigh about ten or fifteen lbs. Then I would ring it out
and it would weigh less then three. But even wet, it kept me very warm.
Now
I need to work out a schedule to drop a lot of weight and build back
muscel. The illness I’m fighting has robbed me of a good portion of my
muscle mass. It’s also been the cause of my weight gain. It’s call “Minimal change disease”.
I need to work out a schedule to drop a lot of weight and build back
muscel. The illness I’m fighting has robbed me of a good portion of my
muscle mass. It’s also been the cause of my weight gain. It’s call “Minimal change disease”.
I
have eight months to get in condition for this climb. So I need to drop
more then ten lbs a month. I’m just now doing the math and see this
will be very hard. I lost this much weight ten years ago but it took me
more than a year.
have eight months to get in condition for this climb. So I need to drop
more then ten lbs a month. I’m just now doing the math and see this
will be very hard. I lost this much weight ten years ago but it took me
more than a year.
I have most of the gear needed, both
radio and climbing. I will need to find a partner. Climbing is like
swimming. Never go alone. This may be the biggest challenge. It would
be nice if they lived in my area so they could help with travel
expenses.
radio and climbing. I will need to find a partner. Climbing is like
swimming. Never go alone. This may be the biggest challenge. It would
be nice if they lived in my area so they could help with travel
expenses.
The radio equipment I have for this is a couple of 2 meter handhelds and an Icom 706. For antennas I have an Arrow antenna for 2 meter and 440. I also have a head set and gel cell battery (heavy). I have used this setup to make satellite contacts.
There are come good omens for this goal. The Event is on the 13th and I learned about it on the 13th. Thirteen is my lucky number. My daughter was born on the 13th.