AMS mountaineering course, May 4th – 13th, 2002

This mountaineering course was my first serious experience with mountaineering. Before this, I had done some moderate technical routes – Mt. Shasta’s Avalanche Gulch, Green Butte, and Sargents Ridge routes; and a high-altitude climb – Mt. Kilimanjaro’s Arrow Glacier route. But, these routes could not compare to the intensity of this course.

In my journal from this time, I compared this course to Navy boot camp and submarine duty at sea. A particularly telling phrase was this entry on May 7th: “This is advanced stuff. I’m cold, tired, worn out and wondering how I’ll make it the whole trip. My tent is totally disorganized.” Still, I progressively adjusted to the challenge. On May 11th, I wrote, “Overall, I had an awesome day. Sitting here, writing this, I feel totally calm and at peace. I’ve become comfortable here.”

The picture at right is a younger me updating my journal at the "high camp" of 8,200'. My journal has been a valuable reference in my preparation for this expedition.