Terrible Analogies

Whelp, that time of the year that I always look forward to is here.

The Mt. Whitney lottery is officially open!

This year marks the introduction of their online lottery system. With only 100 day use passes available per day between May 1st and November 1st, here’s hoping that this new online lottery doesn’t suddenly develop a bug and ace me out of a spot on the mountain.

Stats on Mt. Whitney:

• Height: 14,505 feet (2.75 miles straight up)
• Trailhead: Whitney Portal
• Elevation gain: 6,100 feet (1.8 miles)
• Length of trail: 22 miles round trip

Three years ago was my first attempt up this mountain, and I accomplished the round trip in 10 hours.  Two years ago I drove back up to Lone Pine but fell incredibly ill and had to abort.  Last year I started my new job and couldn’t break away.

I’m hoping to equal or better my time of 10 hours.  This time around I have altitude sickness medication, which should curb the nausea and splitting headache I experienced during my last trip up.  Last time my gear included nothing more than shorts and a tank top.  As I stood on the peak a snowstorm rolled in, and I definitely felt the chill on the descent.  Will be sure to pack a windbreaker along with my Camelbak!

And so, the training begins in earnest, under the assumption that I’ll secure a permit for a trip up in September.

See you on the trails!

By the time you read this I’ll most likely be in Lone Pine, picking up my permit and getting psyched for tomorrow’s run up Mt. Whitney.

I’m unsure if I’ll be able to keep up with my daily posts for the next seven days, but I’ll do what I can while on the road.

Picture from last year's run, looking down at the Crabtree Lakes from 13,600 ft.

Here’s hoping that the cold I picked up yesterday eases up a bit for my (hopefully quick) ascent up Whitney Trail. I’d like to complete this in under 10 hours, but this cold has me very worried.  I trained quite hard these last few months, and now feel that I might be sidelined with a damned cold.  Typical.  Fly in my chardonnay indeed…

Regardless, Karin and I will have a great time.  After Whitney we’re heading off to Mammoth to hunker down in a cabin for a few days to relax.  We’ll be spending our 3rd anniversary taking in the scenery and a good meal or two.

Man…three years of marriage have gone by so quickly.  I guess that’s what happens when you’re married to the woman you love who also happens to be your best friend.  How did I get so lucky?

Whelp…see you when I see you!

Gearing up for my Mt. Whitney run next week I decided to go on a nice, easy five mile run after work yesterday. The route I took skirts a local golf course and lazily snakes through a quiet residential neighborhood. At roughly the four mile mark in my run I saw a woman approaching me on the sidewalk pushing a stroller. As I neared her I noticed that she was sporting a pair of old radio headphones with antennas extended, the kind thing you would commonly see people wearing in the 70′s, and she was clearly rocking out to something motivating.

As the distance between us quickly closed I could make out that she was the grandmotherly sort, pushing mid-sixties, yet doing so in style with brightly colored clothes and a skip in her step. I was close enough to make out the smile wrinkles in her cheeks, and could now very clearly hear her loudly belting out the tune “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”, with one hand pushing the stroller while the other wildly circled above her head as if she were swatting away at an unusually persistent dive bombing insect.

Looking down as we passed I saw a small dog, possibly a Yorkshire Terrier, strapped into the five-point harness of the stroller, wearing a bonnet and a pacifier strapped around its neck.

Mind. Blown.

In preparation for my Mt. Whitney attack next month I did my yearly run up Mt. Baldy to see what I need to tweak prior to taking the trip up to Lone Pine.

It’s nice to know that I need to concentrate on squats and lunges at the gym, and that I have time to round out my training and improve what needs improving. The run up Baldy this year was rougher than I expected. My legs felt like they were filled with lead during the final 700 foot scamper up the steep trail. I’m now beginning to doubt that I’ll break my 8 hour runtime goal up and down Mt. Whitney.

But then again I felt the same way last year and did quite well on Whitney. I guess it’s all a state of mind…

"The Devil's Backbone"

Looking down at the I-15 Freeways as they snake their way towards Las Vegas

The blur that is the weekend doesn’t linger around long enough to wipe away the stink of the work week, but doing what I could with those fleeting hours that bookmark the drudgery of Monday to Friday I managed to:

Go running at my favorite training trail.  Me and my mutated right foot had a great time running the Ellie Lane trail at Iron Mountain.

Cleaned up the house.  In this picture, Nemesis takes up a defensive position to guard herself against her sworn enemy…the vacuum cleaner.

Started and completed the collected series of Concrete.  If you haven’t read Concrete, I highly suggest that you take a peek.  It’s one of the finest examples of independent comics from back in the day when the word “independent” really meant something.

Started and am now halfway through Chuck Palahniuk’s newest novel, Tell-All.  Man, that Hazie Coogan sure is one possessive, controlling woman.  If you’re an aging movie star, for God’s sake steer clear of her.

Got in a few sessions of running through all of the Cubes.  I geeked out hard on this, but I find it relaxing.

Played a round of Arkham Horror.  My poor investigators never stood a chance againt the onslaught of ancient horrors that infested the good town.  Chalk one up for the bad guys…

Watched a few movies from the collection.  Managed to squeeze in Green Zone (Bourne IV it is not), The Book Of Eli (chock full of post-apocalyptic goodness), and Shutter Island (this movie requires multiple viewings).

And to top it all off…bath time!

And that, my friends, was my weekend.  Hope yours was just as relaxing and enjoyable!