Do Something Every Day

Most good goal setting strategies follow this principle. Do something every day that will move you forward.

Yesterday, I went to a Backpacking Clinic held at the Seattle REI store. For those not from around here, it is an outdoors-person's mecca. I could truly live there, and I'm no "granola" by any stretch. It's really everything I love about the outdoors and it's full of gadgets, which I am an absolute sucker for. I'm also a bit of a shoe junkie, an addiction they do a great job of supporting. The day fashion and function fell in love was a day to rejoice, in my opinion. There is nothing better than an adorable shoe that does a job. OK, enough about that. I could probably write a blog on that one topic alone.

So, I had learned of the clinic from a calendar at the Redmond store, but also online through Meetup.com. I've joined several area hiking groups that have very well attended hikes. This was on one of the calendars, so I RSVP'd and headed into the city after my normal Wednesday workout.

The clinic was good, in that it helped get me in an outdoor mindset, but it was definitely a backpacking course. I need to know all of that info, but for now, I'm training via conditioning and day hikes. Down the road, I'll need overnight experience, but I hope to do much of that on or near the mountain in classes through one of the mountaineering companies local. I'll need multi-day treks under my belt for the sheer experience of carrying a heavy pack for dozens of miles, and how to handle the elements at night, but for the time being, day hikes it is. It's my version of baby steps.

I did get lots of info on packs, tents, and sleeping bags, which are good to know no matter what. I also got the "Ten Essentials", which I need to have regardless, even for a plain vanilla hike up Mt. Si. With a little one at home, I can't afford to go out ill prepared.

In the zone, I wore my new hiking boots yesterday in a desperate attempt to work at breaking them in. So, I was at a backpacking clinic with my boots on.

It lasted 2 hours and the speaker kept it interesting, but I left as soon as he was done. I was hoping he would discuss GPS, mapping software (or maps in general), and compass use.

Most people don't know that I considered Cartography as a career path for college and even looked into it in the Forestry program at WSU. I was pretty obsessed with topographical maps at one point, so I'm OK with those...but I have no idea how to adjust declination on a compass or get a sight reading...or how to use a GPS unit.

These are all things I'll be trying to learn and/or teach myself. If there's anything I do well, it's becoming a geek in whatever it is I do... I obsess over every tiny detail of a travel destination, an interest, a task, a purchase, etc. I know for a fact I get it from my mother, who should have been a researcher or an event planner. It's in my DNA. If I can't learn everything there is to know about something, it's not worth doing. Maybe not entirely true, but it sounds good.

What was my "do something" today? Ian and I went to REI (the small store near my house) and I picked up a couple of items for my 10 Essentials (mostly for my first aid kit) but I also got a whistle, which I personally think should be on that list, and a quick dry towel. Ian loves REI and goes straight for the bikes. He also likes the tents and sleeping bags, and the "pretend jeep" they use to show how car storage and racking systems work.

I am also in the process, as we speak, of loading mapping software, which is more detailed and trail specific than "street/trip" mapping programs. I also picked up waterproof printer paper. See, I'm a total geek in the making.

Below are several pics of the Seattle REI store. They have the tallest indoor climbing structure in the country, which I would like to try out sooner than later.

A Journey Begins With a Single Step...

This is my first post in what I expect to be many. I have made a mental and verbal commitment to myself that I will climb Mt. Rainier on or near my 40th birthday.

I've gotten reactions anywhere from eye rolling (which the person must think is invisible because it's followed by something like "oh, neat"), to huge enthusiasm- and everything in between. One person gave me a really encouraging response of "well, it's no Everest". Thanks. I'm sure most people think I'm talking about a leisurely hike, but I'm actually talking about a major climb here...and Mt. Rainier is no joke. This is why I'm giving myself 4 years.

I'm ashamed to say that I've lived in Washington my entire life and have really ignored the beautiful scenery of our area. Sure we hate the rain and cold, damp, ickiness that goes along with it, but few will argue that late Spring to early Fall is flat out gorgeous here.

Also sad is the fact that I live in Snoqualmie, which puts me less than 30 minutes to literally thousands of trails. Ridiculous that I haven't gotten up and out more. Instead, I've gotten bogged down in the rat race and motherhood and forgotten to put myself back on the list.

I did my share of hikes into mountain lakes and streams to fish with my boyfriend in highschool, but never really got into it as a true hobby.

For months now, I've been researching everything possible about it and decided that Shawn isn't the only one who can have an outdoor hobby. Where's my extreme sport? I guess I have to go out and invent one. No one's going to come knocking and ask if I want to climb a mountain, now are they? Since there's no extreme sport in reading paperbacks by the pool or shoe shopping, I guess this is the next best thing.

So here I am, attempting to put myself as a priority again. I'm so frigging selfish, I know. Ian won't notice...and by the time he does, he might just want to go with me. What better example can I set for him than to be a mom with goals...and not the goal to watch as much TV as possible. He is bound to be a healthier and more well rounded kid because of us (Shawn and I). It's our job to make that happen.

I have nothing else to say at this point other than if you're actually reading this, you either know me or are trolling. Either way, welcome. You'll be faced with at least a year of nothing but talk about cardio & strength training and discussions about hikes. I'll try to keep it interesting!

If you do choose to comment, please keep it positive. Although this is a public blog, criticism is not welcome, but encouragement and tips are.

Thanks for stopping by. Come back soon to see if I've been able to tear myself away long enough to actually do my "one thing every day" toward my goal: Mt. Rainier 2013.

Below are a few pics I found that gave me both the "ahh, this is good" and "holy shit, what am I doing" feelings. I guess I need a little of both in order to pull this off. Forgive me for not knowing the specific regions and landmarks on these pictures. One day, I hope I laugh at the fact that I didn't know the name of a particular ridge or peak.

The cliche picture that makes Mt. Rainier one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.

Above the clouds

Don't know that I could imagine anything more beautiful

This is cheating since it's from an airplane...but still beautiful.

Looking north toward Mt. Baker and Adams (what's the 3rd? I should know this!)

Wow

This picture made me pee my pants just a little

And if I didn't pee a little in the prior pic, this one made me a little sick to my stomach. OMG. This is the route to take when the elevator's broken, right?