Training 2: Iron Mountain

Michelle, Melissa and I got up early last weekend and headed to Poway, just Northeast of San Diego, for our second training hike. It took us about 3.5 hours round trip from the lot at the base, and all three of us felt good throughout. Michelle & I tested out our new socks and both of us loved them. No rubbing or slipping and overall just very comfortable.

We have a couple more hikes planned with the guys before Mount Whitney, but with busy schedules, we're all training on our own and hitting the gym, as well.




Michelle & Melissa cold at the trailhead before we started.




The three of us at the top! Looking West towards the ocean.




Looking East about halfway down.

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Location:Poway, CA

To the Roof of Africa and the Bottom of the Barrel: A Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser

I am extremely excited to announce that we have set a time and date for our Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser. The event will be held on Sunday, August 14th, 2011 at WineStyles here on Coronado. Tickets are $20 per person and $35 for a couple and include 4 wine tastings and a toast of champagne. All proceeds will go directly to the National MS Society to further research in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis.

The guest of honor, my Mom Beth Bennett, will be flying in from Canada with my Dad for the event.

Also, the USMC Band will be playing at Concert in the Park just 2 blocks away from WineStyles starting at 6 p.m. Come join us for some wine and then walk down to the famous summertime event.

For more information on the fundraiser and to purchase tickets, please go to our Facebook event page, or email KiliMSFund@gmail.com.

Thanks for your support and we hope to see you there!

Getting the Gear

After our training hike this weekend, our crew headed over to REI for it's big anniversary sale. Michelle wanted to get some hiking boots for our Mount Whitney expedition and I needed to get Rich's backpack (my anniversary gift to him from back in February).

When we got there, we were both pleasantly surprised to find excellent sales throughout the store. The backpacks Rich & I wanted were marked down $60 and $70! So, rather than just getting his, I grabbed both and just like that, our registry is nearly completed.



His & Hers has a whole new meaning! Our new bags :-)

Upstairs, Michelle and Melissa were trying on different styles and brands of hiking boots. Michelle wanted something that would work for Mount Whitney, but also be wearable for local hikes-- nothing too heavy duty that she'd never wear again! After trying both ankle and calf height boots, she decided on these ones:


Michelle modeling her new hiking boots (and muscular legs!)

Overall it was a very successful trip and a lot of fun...now to break in our gear!

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Location:Encinitas, CA

First Training Climb Down!

The Mt. Whitney crew got together to do our first training hike in San Marcos. Our friend Kelly brought the BOB and Dexter along for the hike so it was nice to catch up with them. It was a 2-hour hill intensive hike. Hard to get much altitude training locally, so we settled for uphill the whole way. There was a nice park at the top, but it sure was windy! We grabbed a quick picture and headed back down. Here's our motley crew:


Chance, Melissa, Michelle, Kelly, Me and Dexter riding in style down in front!

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Location:San Marcos, CA

Psalm 121

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook tonight and I thought it was the perfect prayer not only for our journey over the next few months, but also to remind me of God's guidance in my life. God is SO good and his faithfulness, protection and love keep me humbled in His Glory. I have no doubt He will be right there beside us every step of the way as we embrace our training over these next few months and eventually find ourselves reaching the roof of Africa. Thank you Lord!

Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
 ³ He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
 ⁵ The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; 
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Let the Training Begin...We Got Mount Whitney!

East Face of Mount Whitney
seen from the Whitney Portal

Mount Whitney here we come! I'm excited to share that we were granted our permits and will be kicking off the mountaineering this summer with some serious elevation in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

A few months ago my dear friend Melissa mentioned she was entering the lottery to climb Mount Whitney with her husband and in-laws this summer. My interest was immediately peeked, as I knew Mount Whitney was one of the most accessible training options from San Diego. Standing at just over 14,500 feet, Mount Whitney is the tallest peak in the contiguous United States and is about a 6-hour drive from San Diego. Needless to say, Whitney is the perfect training hike to get Rich and I into some serious elevation prior to heading to Africa. Unfortunately, you can not just show up and climb Mount Whitney-- you need to apply with your group for a permit. So, Melissa was very sweet and offered to coordinate our groups' application, and we just got word that we got the permits! Our climb date is set for July 24th, 2011. We're still working out the details in terms of when to head up there, where to stay and just exactly what we need to make the climb, but I'm definitely glad to be going with a group, especially since Melissa and her in-laws have attempted Whitney before. Unfortunately they had to turn back last summer due to a build up of snow close to the summit that they weren't planning on, so we're hoping this year the weather is better and we can all reach the summit together!

Michelle and I at the closing
 ceremonies for the 3-Day Walk

In addition to climbing with Melissa and Chance, our good friend Michelle will also be climbing. Michelle and I did the 3-Day for Breast Cancer walk together and she's one of our best friends. I'm excited to be taking on another adventure with her and also looking forward to long training sessions together again... you'd think we'd be sick of each other after 60 miles of walking, but I guess not!

Anyways, not only am I pumped to be getting in such a great training opportunity before the big Kili climb, I'm also thrilled to be doing it with dear friends. Mount Whitney was one of the things on my California "bucket list" of things to do before we move in September and I'm so glad it's worked out. I'll definitely post updates as we begin to plan the training and equipment search!

Melissa & Chance, Rich and I, and Michelle and Justin on NYE 2010...who knew 7 months later we'd be climbing Mount Whitney together!

Test-Run in Thailand

I had the priceless opportunity to meet up with Rich in Thailand during one of his port visits. It was only for a few days, but it was absolutely well-worth the travel to have that precious time together and I am so glad I went when I did. Since then, all port visits for the rest of his deployment have been cancelled due to the earthquake in Japan as their MEU is on-site flying humanitarian missions. But back to Thailand...The trip was also a great test-run for how Rich and I will manage Kilimanjaro and travel to Africa together. Rich and I have never traveled internationally together other than heading to Mexico on our honeymoon and to Canada for holidays (neither of which I really consider international). From my own experience, I know that finding someone you can travel with that doesn't drive you absolutely insane is often a difficult task. I was delighted to learn, however, that Rich and I make great travel partners!

While in Thailand, we had the opportunity to go zip-lining, ride elephants and ride in the back of an ox cart--All completely new adventures for both of us. Obviously we were also trying them out in a country neither of us have visited before. In addition, while I consider myself adventurous and not easily scared of trying new things, I found myself very nervous taking those first few steps off the platform 100 feet in the air when we were zip-lining. Luckily, I have an amazing partner in Rich and he was able to help me trust in the line and the harness and take a leap of faith. After the first one I couldn't get enough!

This trip taught me so much about Rich and about how he interacts and responds to foreign cultures-- I must say, for a farm boy from upstate New York, he was very open-minded and gracious to all that we encountered. I can't wait to see that side of my husband again in Africa!