HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED

Hello and thanks for visiting my climbing blog!

My name is Scott and I live in Atlanta, GA. I always had an interest in climbing mountains, but never really knew how to get started. In January of 2005, the company I was working for decided to open an office in Memphis and I volunteered to move and help get things kicked off. When I arrived in Memphis I only knew one person, whom I met a few years prior at a wedding, so I gave him a call. He agreed to meet me that evening, but couldn't stay out late because "...he was heading to Africa the next day." Upon meeting him that night, I learned he was leaving the next morning to try his hand at climbing Kilimanjaro.

The next morning, I was talking to my mother and telling her about the conversation from the previous night. During this conversation she asked me if I realized my Uncle Steve had been a climber for years. "No," I responded. She gave me his phone number and the following weekend I made a call to a relative I hadn't spoken to in years. Little did I know how much that call would change my life!

In the 6 years since, I've been to Africa (Tanzania & Kenya), Russia (Moscow & Mineral'Nye Vody), Mexico, Georgia (The country, not the state), and South America (Chile & Argentina), summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus, and Mt. Rainier, made two attempts at Cerro Aconcagua, an attempt at Ixta, made quick stops in London and Quito, Ecuador, met an endless number of extraordinary people, and developed a new relationship with my uncle.

The blog entries, pictures, and details below are my attempt to share my adventures with the rest of my friends and family. I hope you enjoy!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Day 2: Good Morning from Ashford, WA

Its about 7am and Im sitting outside on the front porch of my hotel restaurant. Its about 60 degrees and not a cloud in the sky- Its nice to sit outside in the cool air eating some breakfast, and enjoying the weather/temperature, while not breathing in smog or hearing any traffic.

Today we are all gathering up at 8am and then taking the RMI bus over to Paradise (Just under 3,500 feet I believe), one of the main trail heads for Rainier. We are going to hike about an hour out onto the glacier and practice some of the things we learned yesterday. There will also be heavy review of basic mountaineering techniques - kick stepping, rest steps, pressure breathing, walking with crampons, and, my favorite, self arrest with ice axes - normally this wouldnt be too much fun, but I'm sure it will be entertaining watching these guys do it for the first time (especially now that I know how NOT to land on the axe!) Haha. Ive got my flip video handy so Ill try to get some good videos.

We'll probably spend about 5-6 hours out on the glacier and be back later tonight. When I return Ill toss up another post.

Also, I think I finally figured out the whole sat phone arrangement! I had to register the blogger email address with the software company (Ive course this wasn't in the instructions I got) and when I did a test post last night, it went through (You can see it just below this posting). If for some odd reason it doesn't work, they send me a backup URL and I know the satellite is sending my messages there, so Ill send that URL too.
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Ok, gotta go pack for the day and get my lunch. Talk to everyone later.

Off to the mountain!
Z
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3 comments:

  1. MomJuly 24, 2010 at 10:30 AM

    Keep the axe away from your shoulder please. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jessica ZanniniJuly 24, 2010 at 10:42 AM

    It sounds so nice to eat outside and not sweat to death. Current temp at 10:30AM is 87 and feels like 95. Last night the waiter asked if we wanted a glass of water or just wanted to suck the water from the air. Even I'm hot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Babu'-ismsJuly 25, 2010 at 11:26 AM

    At what elevation do you anticipate snow covering the ground? At what point do they start using crampons? And for my sister's sake don't forget to wear clean underwear just in case you're involved in a car accident on the way to the trailhead... NOT!

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