Eat the Frog

Today was Eat the Frog, an exercise program based on TRX. Class meets 3 times a week. I am trying to build core strength and cardio endurance. I am not very good at some of the exercises but it all helps.

Mount Rainier National Park

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday my hiking buddy, Laurie and I were at Mount Rainier National Park. We decided we better find out if we could share a tent before we get to Kilimanjaro. I think we came close to getting booted out of the campground for too much laughter, so I think we are well matched. 

It was great weather and great scenery. I had some boot and pack issues but I think those are being resolved. And we now know how quickly we can cross a creek when a black bear came jogging up the creek bed towards us. We did not stop to take a picture of the bear!!!

Laurie always serves tea on our hikes and this one was not any different. Enjoy the photos we took. 

Oh, by the way, today, August 29 is the day the Lord called Roy home to Heaven. Somehow I think he is cheering me on.

Hidden Lakes Peak

Laurie and I hiked to Hidden Lake Lookout on August 20th. Laurie will be trekking with me on Kilimanjaro. We teamed up with the Girgus family: Todd, Michelle, Cameron and Ashley.  Laurie and I met them in Idyllwild, California on another hike in April and found out they lived in Brier, WA, about 60 miles south of Anacortes where I live in summer. 

The hiking books describe this 8 mile hiking trail as “a difficult hike and rock scramble”. I had been up there many times with my husband Roy. The trail is steep and rocky and the scramble at the top was a challenge for my short legs, but not impossible with Laurie cheering me on. The scenery on this hike is some of the best in the Northwest. The photos below are all taken by Tedd Girgus, who has a fabulous website as a professional photographer. Visit his website and be in awe.

www.TeddGirgus.com

Mount Pilchuck Training Hike

One of the peaks we hiked last week was Mount Pilchuck, elevation at the lookout is 5,341 feet. It was 6.2 miles (2,400 foot elevation gain) on a very rocky trail, including a boulder scramble which was a stretch for my short legs, but I made it to the ladder and up to the top. Roy helped restore this lookout in the 1990s -- looks like the ladder might need to be replaced. This trail was one of the rockiest I have done in years!

Trek Details

• Date of trip: September 16 - 26, 2019
• Location of Mount Kilimanjaro: Tanzania, Africa
• Starting elevation: 7,800'
• Summit elevation: 19,341' (Elevation gain: 11,541')
• Total mileage (ascending and descending): 42 miles
• Number of days on foot: 9
• Climate zones: 5 (lush tropical rain forest to snow and ice glacier)
• Temperature range: from 80 degrees F to -10 degrees F
• Accommodations: on the ground (sleeping bag and tent)
• Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak on the African continent and the highest volcano in the world

Mount Kilimanjaro Bound

I will be making a trip to trek Mount Kilimanjaro and will use the trip to raise funds for the SongShine Foundation. Note: All of my trek and travel expenses have been paid by me personally.

Why?

To honor the memory of 40 years of hiking and mountaineering with my husband, Roy, who passed away on August 29, 2018. Roy and I were avid mountaineers, hiking thousands of miles together and summiting many peaks over 14,000 feet, including Whitney (14,505’) and Elbert (14,439'), the two highest in the continental U.S. When we talked about Kilimanjaro before his death he said: “Go for it! And take me with you!”

September 16-26, 2019 I will be trekking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in memory of Roy and to honor all the “SongShiners” living with Parkinson’s, stroke or other neurological disorders. I am asking you to pledge whatever amount you can for each 1,000 vertical feet I ascend. The funds will go to help with projects and much needed staff. Flat donations may also be made using the PayPal button on the SongShine website.

P.S. Roy is going with me--I will sprinkle a few of his ashes at the summit.

Ruthanna Metzgar, Creator and Founder of SongShine