Wrapping up the Coleman 50/50 Adventure: Mt Rainier WA

I had been closely following Zach's 50 States / 50 Days Challenge , and joined in the fun when the guys arrived in Washington state. I had been planning to meet then in Oregon when my WaMu job wrapped up, but the guys were crazy far ahead of schedule. On July 19 I left to hang out with Zach, Mike, Lindsey and Jordan (the rest of Coleman challenge crew) at Casey & Melissa's cabin in Ashford WA, near the entrance to Mt Rainier National Park. After borrowing some climbing gear, on July 21 I accompanied the crew on a five-hour hike up to Camp Muir (10,000 ft). Jordan, Lindsey and I rested briefly and turned back to the parking lot as the guys suited up for the summit ascent. Most climbers take 2-3 days to reach the top, but not our guys. They roped up and headed for the top and made it back down to the parking lot just a few hours after the rest of us.

The Mt Rainier climb gave me just a tiny taste of what Zach had been living through since his departure for Alaska in late May. Though the mountain was really beautiful and I enjoyed being outdoors exercising, the experience confirmed that I'm not meant for mountaineering. I felt absolutely no compulsion to reach the top, to face the dark and driving cold, to prove that I could endure the mental challenge, etc. I was perfectly content to rest in the heated guide tent with a mug of cocoa, use the enclosed privy, and head back down while it was still light enough to see. The guys headed for the summit would have no such luxury. More power to 'em.

Photos: Mt Rainier July 2008

A Rough Outline of the Next Year

Yesterday was my last day at WaMu. Following is a rough outline of what I expect to do for the next year or so. This blog will provide updates throughout the year.

July 2008

• Meet Zach and friends in Ashford, WA then climb to Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier
• Fly to Hawai'i's Big Island to summit Mauna Kea and then hang out for a week

August 2008

• Spend a long weekend with friends on Sinclair Island in Washington's San Juan Islands
• Fly to Laguna Beach, CA for a wedding
• Pack up a U-Haul with all of Zach's possessions and drive it to his Dad's place in Columbus, OH

September 2008

• Hang out for a few days at Zach's family cottage in South Bristol, Maine
• Visit with Zach's Mom in Winsted, Connecticut until Zach departs for Holland
• Explore New England a bit then head back cross country to Seattle

October-November 2008

• Chill out in Seattle for a bit and catch up with friends
• Fly to Holland to visit Zach and his brother Matt for a week
• Pack up my apartment in Seattle

Mid-November 2008 – Mid-May 2009

• A six-month volunteer trip to Latin America, starting with seven weeks in Guatemala
• Volunteer and travel in Honduras
• Volunteer and travel in Nicaragua
• Volunteer and travel in Ecuador
• Volunteer and travel in Peru

June 2009

• Find a home (location TBD)
• Look for a job (profession TBD)
  

A new beginning

On June 19, I was notified by WaMu (WM) that they no longer need my services. My last day working for WaMu was July 18, 2008.

Fortunately, I was not surprised by the announcement. I've been able to simplify and save enough to take a decent sabbatical before looking for another "real" job. I intend to spend the summer relaxing and traveling in the U.S., and will depart for a six-month volunteer mission in Latin America though Global Vision International beginning November 15.

This blog is intended to capture and share my experiences during this life transition.