Me - Age 34; Height: 5’7”; Weight:120lbs
Hiking/Mountaineering: I have been hiking & camping from an early age and recently started exploring mountaineering in high altitudes.
Experience includes hiking in Tatra Mts. (Slovakia) with Denise and Jakub in ’96; mountaineering/glacier climb to Reinwaldhorn (Adula Mts. in Switzerland) in August ’06, reaching summit at 3,402m; mountaineering to El Plomo (Andes in Chile) with Jakub in October ’06 to 5,000m (turned back before reaching summit at 5,200m); climb to Villarica - active volcano – in December ‘06 (Chile) at 2,847m.
Rock Climbing:
First rock climbed at age 16, but haven't been that active in the sport until recently. Started rock climbing (Jan. 2008) at an indoor rock gym (Go Vertical) in Philadelphia 1-2 times per week.
Thoughts about Rainier:
Since my climb with Jakub to El Plomo in Chile, I’ve been increasingly interested in mountaineering & backcountry camping. I am 95% “in” for Rainier and really look forward to the climb!!
As far as doing Rainier with/without a guide, I think we should all prepare and educate ourselves in an attempt to do it guide-free, but perhaps re-evaluate our group in the summer and then make a decision. For me personally, I do not have specific/technical knowledge of mountaineering, especially not in emergency situations. I am planning to take a basic mountaineering course in Spring ’08 which addresses these issues.
Training:
I am currently running 2-3 times/week; 30-40min. each. Runs will increase in duration over time. Use of bike for transportation; Capoeira (heavy physical fitness class) for 1.2hrs, 1-2 times/week; rock climbing 1-2 times per week; occasional hiking; skiing/snowboarding this winter.
I will continue with above workouts when possible, but also do more exercises to build upper-body & lower-body strength. Supposedly, Jakub has a "training" plan for us to sleep in tents when we go skiing in a few weeks! ;-0 Maybe even build ice caves!
In terms of "intellectual preparation", I will continue to read books, info. on the internet and training guides about mountaineering in general, in addition to specific information about Rainier.
I'm going to India, Nepal and Tibet in Spring 2008 where I plan to take a mountaineering course and trek in the Himalayas. Trekking includes the Annapurna region (Nepal), reaching elevations of 3,500m. & Everest Base Camp and surrounding area (Tibet) reaching elevations of 7,000m. I’m still researching various organizations in India and Nepal for my training course, so please feel free to email me if you have any suggestions. So far, India has been recommended over Nepal. Right now, I’m looking at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi, India or the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, India.
Contact:
Veronika Simon
ahojveru@volny.cz
c# 267-752-7254
PS - GREAT JOB ON THE BLOG, DENISE!!! ;-)
2 comments:
Cau Veru - nice job on the blog! I think this will allow all of us to 1) get to know one-another and 2) monitor one-another's training remotely. As far as suggestions on training in the Himalayas are concerned - I've never been to Darjeeling, but I almost put off med school to do the month long course in Manali:
http://dmas.nic.in/
As far as I can tell, it is a part of the same Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.
Go Veru! Go Veru! Go Veru! Go Veru! :-)
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