First thoughts...

Wow, I am really putting this out there for the world to know and see.

I had made the decision to climb Mt Rainier a couple years back but things and life and attitude got in the way.

Originally, I was prompted to climb by a partner of mine at the time, but it soon changed into a goal to achieve for my mother. I was 46 at the time and I was talking with her about this "idea" of summiting Mt Rainier. She shared with me for the first time her dream to have been a Forest Ranger. I was surprised only because I didn't remember her mentioning this before, but I knew she loved the great outdoors. At the time she shared this with her mother, the times were such that "women didn't do that" even though it was not much longer when the first woman summitted K2. My mother was disheartened because her chance of doing what she wanted to do was pretty well dashed due to her own life experiences and environment.

I tried to encourage her to try it now. She graciously chuckled and honestly said, "if it had even been 10 years ago, I would have done it, but now I am too old and I can't do the things I used to..." My heart sank for her - 10 years previous would have made her 58 and here I am 46 at that time of our talk. I knew I needed to do it for not only me, but for her and her dream that she had missed out on.

Well, here I am now 48 and I was working hard at my training until life kicked me in the gut. I didn't stop training but slowly and gradually my training started to lessen and then it just became a workout, then now it is a once a week venture to the gym.

I had attended one of the guide workshops back then when this first started and I was greatly discouraged at what I heard, which I am sure played into me "allowing" myself to dwindle in my efforts. These thoughts, however, never left my head, so I attended another workshop with the guide service I was truly more interested in. Wow, night and day.

I have a renewed interest, and energy inside that says "I can do this" but something is still trying to hold me back. I am fighting with life - the life changes that involves a new love in my life and some of the things that having another person there will toss out at you.

I have to be true to me, accountable to me, do this for me, and for my mom as a secondary wish.

I have goals, dreams, desires just like everyone else, yet it was too easy to let it get kicked away, so now the battle to conquer a Mountain starts with conquering me....

So here begins the tale of the trails, trials, and tribulations to get to the top of Mt Rainier.