The Challenge Starts

This summer I will be climbing Mount Rainier and more importantly, raising valuable funds for breast cancer research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Reasearch Center through the Climb to Fight Breast Cancer. Thanks! (PLEASE USE THE BROWN "MAKE A DONATION" BUTTON BELOW)

Why am I doing this?

My wife is a survivor! She's my inspiration.

I'm highly motivated to participate in this climb! I, like many of you, have had my life affected by breast cancer. Lets get together and make the future for our mothers, sisters and daughters, cancer free. This combined with my love of the mountains....and THE Mountain....it's a no brainer.

The Challenge.

Since this is a charity climb, the stakes are high. I must raise $2500 by April 2nd, 2010, and have a total of $5000 raised by June 3rd, 2010. When I first heard this figures, I thought "no way!". But after talking with Lisa about it, and knowing that I'd have her full supprt, I began to think I really could do this!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Who's ready for some pizza???



Tomorrow is the night! 6-9pm @ Talarico's Pizzeria! (click the image for info on Talarico's)

Talarico's was nice enough to donate a couple of these pies!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Sample Donated Photos...and more!


Please Click here to view 11 of the donated photos!

So far there are 20 items up for auction! Thanks everyone!

Here's some pics of the custom shoulder bag Lisa made for the auction!





Thursday, March 18, 2010

A HUGE thanks to Cortney at Wallflower Custom Framing for donating her time and frames for the Jason Hummel prints!







And, thank you to the West Seattle U-Frame-It for donating a $50 gift certificate! This will go a long way to as a special prize for someone who buys a matted print!





Please click on the images to visit thier respective websites!

TY TY TY TY !

A GIGANTIC Thanks to my wife Lisa! My biggest sponsor! She helped print, cut mats for, made and printed flyers, sewed some art that she has donated for the auction, and put together ALL of the photo packages! A truely fantastic person....that you should all meet at the event!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

...too long


I can't believe that it had been 6 MONTHS since I had gone on a hike with my wife. I think we spend our best times in the woods...lost, but found....and not really lost.

On Sunday we took a hike up the beautiful Middle Fork Snoqualmie River Trail. :)

Please click here to take a look at our trip pics!

West Seattle Herald Article


Click here to read the article that appeared in the West Seattle Herald!

:)

Monday, March 8, 2010

And now a word from my sponsors....

I couldn't be doing this with out the help of...(please click on the logo to visit thier websites.)












_____________________________________
Artistic Framers
5631 California Avenue Southwest
Seattle, WA 98136-1572
(206) 935-8770

_____________________________________


Thank you for the printing! :) :)


ShacknastyJim!


Musical Guest









Artists: Dave Bloomfield, Carina Booyens, Lisa Town :), Karen Crowe, Jason Hummel, Steph Abbeg, ShacknastyJim, Bruce Savadoh, Justin Reznick, Linda Spearman.

And a special thanks to my wife Lisa for matting a bunch of pics...and keeping me on track with this fundraiser! I love you! 2 years! Happy Anniversary!:)



A HUGE thanks to Cortney at Wallflower Custom Framing for donating her time and frames for the Jason Hummel prints!







And, thank you to the West Seattle U-Frame-It for donating a $50 gift certificate! This will go a long way to as a special prize for someone who buys a matted print!





Please click on the images to visit thier respective websites!

TY TY TY TY !

Friday, February 19, 2010

Climb Fundraiser!


Where: Talaricos - West Seattle
When: March 23rd 2010, 6pm-9pm

Art Auction and Fundraiser!

Amazing photo's by the likes of Jason Hummel, Justin Reznick, Steph Abegg.......and more names to be confirmed soon! Just click the names and view the amazing photos! Some will be framed, all will be matted and ready to frame! Look for discounts on framing at the event also!

We just added a beautiful signed and framed print by Jody Bergsma! Donated by Liberty Bell Printing! :)

Monday, February 8, 2010

$2100 ! !


Thanks everyone! $2,100.00 collected so far!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Granite Mountain 1-30-10



I haven't been on snow for a while so I decided to load up the pack and head to the Granite Lookout. The trail is in decent shape, until you hit the 3200 foot mark. At 3000 feet you see the first tiny patches of snow, by 3200-3500 feet you're on a slushy slick trail. Treking poles were very helpful in the slick mess. Micro spikes would have been very nice.

At around 3800 feet the trail crosses an avy gully that goes straight up for almost 2000 feet. The gully was littered with avalanche debris, but everything was very stable all the way up. Conditions got better as I went up, cooler temps made for better snow to kick steps in. About 2/3 up I crossed over some steps kicked in the snow and took advantage of the nice set of stairs made ahead of me. After a few minutes I noticed a group of 3 headed straight up the gully. At this point it was starting to get a little crusty and slick in places so I put on my crampons. I really sped up and caught up to the group in no time, and thanked them for the steps. They where headed in a direct line straight up the gully, and I decided to head climbers left to the ridge. As I traversed back to the right towards the tower, I met up with the 3 climbers, slightly ahead of them.

On the way down it was a combo of plunge stepping and glisading. I also got in some self arrest practice. It would have been much more fun if it wasn't for the bad the snow conditions and the avy debris.

I think and ice axe was a must, it would have been nice to have micro spikes (esp. on the way down on the slushy trail!), and crampons helped out alot at the top.

I saw 6 other people the entire day, it was really nice to be out of any sort of crowd.

Fog obstructed any views, but the tower itself was beautiful with all of the windblown snow stuck to it.

CLick here to view all the pic from my trip up to the lookout!

Playin' in the snow!


A couple weeks ago I took Gavin and Payton out to the Gold Creek SnoPark for some fun in the snow! We hiked a few miles in to the woods, blazed our own trails. The snow had a thick crust of ice over the top from the freezing rain that fell the night before, so instead of making snowmen, we tried to buld an ice fort! Then we hiked further back in the woods, found a nice cozy place and made some hot chocolate!

Great times with the kids!

Click here to view all the pics from our trip!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

$2,000.00 !


Thanks everyone! $2,000.00 collected so far!

Also a thank you to all of those who have left messages with your donations. They are inspiring, and it really makes me feel that I'm training and climbing for you...with you!