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Kilimanjaro Update

December 3rd, 2011

I am getting deeper into the planning stages of this climb. As you have already read SGT Jacob Birkholz will be coming with me. This climb will be just 1 year after he was in Walter Reed after being evacuated from Afghanistan with near fatal injuries. We need your help to make this a reality. Please click on the green "Support me" button to make a donation, even if you only have a dollar, it helps. We are planning on attempting the 17,057 ft technical Mt Kenya before turning our focus on the 19,341 ft Kilimanjaro.

21 Nov 2011 Update

November 21st, 2011

As some of you may have heard already its official, I will be Instructing at the Northern Warfare Training Center, teaching skiing, mountaineering and survival. I am also planning on attempting Kilimanjaro around New Years with one of my very my best friend Jacob Birkholz who was almost killed in Afghanistan last year. We will not be able to do this without your help! Please click on Support Me to help us get to the top. Please post this to your facebook or twitter to get the word out. Every dollar helps. Every new visitor to this site helps. Thank You!

Kilimanjaro Attempt

October 16th, 2011

I am currently training to become a Mountaineering Instructor for the Army. After this training is over I am going to attempt Kilimanjaro, Dec-Jan time frame. I am going to take my best friend Jake Birkholz with me. He is a Wounded Warrior, nearly fatally wounded while serving as a Flight Medic in Afghanistan last December. We are hoping to summit less than a year from his discharge from Walter Reed. This is an expensive endeavor and we can’t do it without your help. Please click on the support link to help out, even $1 will put us that much closer to this goal.

Aug 31, 2011 Update

September 1st, 2011

So the summer has past and I haven't climbed anything. I did ride the fireweed 400 bicycle race, riding my bike for 32 1/2 hours straight in July. Unfortunately my summer started off on a real low note, my Mom, Jenny passed away in June at the age of 51. Also this summer I had nose surgery to correct my collapsed nasal valve, that seemed at this point to be unsuccessful. Right now I have a standing offer on the table to become reassigned to the Northern Warfare Training Center, but I have to get released from my current assignment. We'll see what happens with that.

Update

May 23rd, 2011

So summer is approaching here in AK. I am hoping to be able to go to Kilimanjaro or Elbrus sometime this summer or fall, but I cannot do it without your help. Please click on the Support tab up at the top of the page to help me out. In July I am going to be once again competing in the Fireweed 400, a trans-Alaska bicycle race. I am hoping to finish and qualify for the Race Across America. I would also like to send a congrats out to my buddy Rod Hogg, who just summited Mt Everest, great job buddy!

Update

March 17th, 2011

So I am back from Aconcagua, my wounds have healed and I am beginning to plan my next climb. I am hoping to climb both Kilimanjaro and Elbrus this summer. I am not sure if I will have enough money to make that happen, only time will tell. I will also be entering the Fireweed 400 Ultra-endurance bicycle race. There will be setbacks, I may have to have two surgeries; another pilonidal cystoectemy and a functional open septum rhinoplasty. Hopefully that doesn't set me back too far. Thank you for taking the time to view my page.

Update from Basecamp

February 4th, 2011

Feb 1 – Today started with me being very tired and unmotivated. Got up at 0500 and checked out to catch my bus at 0600. Took a cab to the bus station, where the bus driver said I had too may bags, so I had to bribe him. The bus ride was pretty cool: we almost killed a guy on a motorcycle, ran red lights, passed in no passing zones, etc. Once we got into the Andes, things were awesome! The mountains got bigger and some were shades of red, some were snow capped, etc. Once I got to Penitentes, I pretty much started my 10 mile hike, immediately, carrying about 60 lbs.

Finally Arrived

February 1st, 2011

I am in Mendoza! The flight here was really long, and very crowded. We had a 7 hour delay in LA that screwed up everything else, but I made it here. Today I secured my climbing permit, and got a bus ticket, and I am on my way tomorrow! I am not sure what the forecast is, but it was close to 100 degrees F today, a little system shock from Alaska! Tomorrow I will be riding a bus to about 9,000 feet and then hiking 9 miles and up another 1500 feet. Sounds like a blast. Well I am going to go enjoy this Argentinan beef while I can... Adios!

18 hours to go!

January 29th, 2011

In about 18 hours I will be getting on the plane and beginning my 8000 mile journey to Argentina. Its been a busy week, I had 24 hour duty on Tuesday-Wednesday, and then Thursday I competed in the 59th Signal Bn's "Arctic Challenge," which consisted of a 400 Meter Humvee Push, a 4 mile run, 4 mile snow shoe w/ 35lb pack and a 4 mile up hill ruck march with that same 35 lb pack. I took 3rd overall. Combine that with all of the last minute stuff, getting my spot to work, etc... its been real busy. The 24 hours on the plane should be a nice break!

Aconcagua Update

January 10th, 2011

In just 3 weeks I leave for Aconcagua. I am in the final stages of working out all of the Logistics, where Ill be staying in Mendoza, how I am getting to Los Penitentes, getting mules, etc. I will be going at this alone. Plan to go up the Vacas Valley (26 miles) to Plaza Argentina and then summit from there and then head down to Plaza de Mulas and out the Horcones Valley, effectively circumnavigating the mountain. In the mean time I have ramped up my training locally taking advantage of the unseasonably warm temps we have had in the Eagle River area.