Back to reality!

While Terry and Scott were battling the elements in the Adirondacks, I was casting about Phoenix looking for something, anything, to climb between appointments. This pic is of Bonnie on the Camelback in the middle of town, which is pretty good value for urban scrambling. It was 19 degrees above when we climbed it last night and now we're back in Canmore where it's going to 19 degrees below tonight! J

We're Published in the ACC Gazette!

Check out our article that was just published in the Alpine Club Of Canada's Magazine, "The Gazette". We're on Page 28 & 29. Here is the link

Adirondacks 11-11-11 11:11:11

On this trip we were joined by Dave & Scotia who are planning to climb Kilimanjaro in December as a Father/Daughter trip! Scott's Daughter Kaylee also joined us, and wow, these girls can really climb!

Here is a great example of the weather we had all day as we neared the summit of Mt. Cascade, NY. We stood on top at exactly 11:11:11am on the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year. Following this we descended to a col and then pushed up to Mt. Porter's windy summit before retreating to the shelter of the trees.

After making back to the truck we had a 3.5hr drive back across the US/Canada Border before a hot shower and eventually collapsing in bed. Another great road trip!

More photos are on our Facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.158401230925677.32304.144556035643530&type=1

No Snow in Phoenix!

Lots of cacti though! McDowell Sonoran Reserve - Sunrise Trial

Snow in the 'Dacks

Arrived in Lake Placid to a *Snow Storm*! White fluffy stuff will make for great photo ops on our Mt. Cascade climb tomorrow. #kili4cancer

Tanzanian Fun Fact

Tanzanian Fun Fact: Giraffes give birth standing up. What a way to drop into the world!

Caution Ahead

An average day on Tanzanian roads & highways: 45 Injuries & 15 Deaths. Gads. I'll walk thanks.

Hamish gets worried

After reading posts about training since last May, going on the wagon, filling packs with rocks .... well, I suddenly felt inspired to actually get off the couch! Winter has arrived here in Canmore so it's getting harder to scramble about. I did hike up Sulphur Mountain last Friday only to discover that my brand new boots can double as "super slider snow skates"; so I'll have to find ones with a better tread or bring along some crampons. Yesterday was the season's first skate ski up the Moraine Lake road. It was cold, but blue bird, with a great view of the east face of Mt Temple above. Ice climbs are in and folks are poking about looking to link the first powder turns of the year. That will provide a good opportunity to get back up into the alpine now that most scramble routes are out of condition.

Cancer Facts (Why we're climbing)

> Around the world, nearly 13,000,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2008

> Breast cancer rates are highest in richer countries where women give birth later in life and have fewer children

> Colorectal cancer, linked to diets with more meet and processed foods in affluent countries, is less deadly when caught early

> Cervical cancer kills more women in countries where the human papillomavirus is common and screening rare

> Live cancer is linked to the hepatitis B and C viruses, more prevalent in nations like China, South Korea and Mongolia

> Lung, Liver and Stomach cancers are deadliest in Western Pacific countries

> Breast and Colorectal cancers are deadliest in Europe

> Prostate and Cervical cancers are deadliest in Africa

> Death rates are down for 14 of the 19 most deadly cancers in the US but globally the disease is rising

Over $1,000 Raised So Far!

In one month we've raised over $1,000 - HUGE thanks to everyone who has pitched in. This is excellent, but we need more awareness and help if we are going to make $5,895 in under 3 months. Please help get the word out there.

Rocks in Packs

Call 'em crazy but Scott (@adventure_guy) and Terry (@TerryLipovski) are training for Kili by loading rocks in backpacks and doing laps on hills. This unorthodox and. controversial method of strength training was perfected by legendary Pro Canadian BMX Racer, Pete Zablotney from the GT Factory Team in the 1980s and was rumoured to have been inspired by the movie Rocky. They don't really expect it to help much or make a difference but it sure makes for a cool story in the bars! Yup, they're nuts.

"The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective." — Al Neuharth.

"If everything's under control, you're going too slow" - Mario Andretti