CalStateTempe wrote:I'm thinking about taking up mountaineering...and setting a goal of climbing Mt Shasta in 2018.
Update. I'm really doing this.
Reading "Freedom of the Hills" like it's the Bible or Harrison's medical textbook.
4day backpacking trip in marble mountain wilderness June 2017
2 day rock climbing, ice self arrest, and crevice rescue course at tioga pass Yosemite in July
3day thru hike in desolation wilderness in august.
A ton of backcountry skiing winter 2017-2018.
3day Avalanche course in truckee feb 2018.
Shasta expedition march/April 2018.
With some planning and knowing where to get the technical gear (not rei) the only major expenses are the courses and the expedition. I already have all the backpacking and ski gear. Will have to probably update to more lightweight versions along the way.
Main goal now is to continue to get fit and work on endurance, so I can get up an back safely. Nutrition too.
I'm not a runner, but I can imagine this is similar to training for a marathon, it forces you to evaluate and make complete lifestyle changes. And I'm ok with cutting out the regular beer and wine if it keeps me from these goals.
Also, I absolutely love living in Sacramento. As a metro area it fits me perfectly, and geographically is within 6hrs of anywhere I'd want to go (LA, SF, Tahoe, Reno, Sierras, Shasta, Napa/Sonoma, Yosemite, Southern Oregon). The only downside the is the airport is still largely a "regional" international airport and that won't change being so close to sfo. But the rare drive to sfo for a flight I want isn't that bad, especially with a place to crash at the inlaws.