Dave, Doug and Jeff decided paddling around Boston Harbor, biking through Wompatuck State Park, climbing in the Quincy Quarries and hiking the Blue Hills Reservation would be a good way to spend a day.

We had a bunch start in kayaks behind the Federal Courthouse in Boston Harbor

From there we paddled across Boston Harbor to Nantasket. We grabbed some pizza and switched into biking gear. Then it was 20 miles of biking down to and through Wompatuck State Park.

Then it was back in the kayaks, paddling across Boston Harbor to Wollaston Beach, up Black’s Creek to a transition point.

Then we were on foot running/walking to the Quincy Quarries. There we had a rappel down the K Face in the Quarry. Next was a zip line from the Q Face to the M Face. At this point the sun was setting and we had 30 miles of hiking through the Blue Hills Reservation. Just to keep us awake, it started raining. We saw a few teams huddle up under emergency blankets.

Back to Wollaston Beach and the kayak. We paddled to Thompson Islans, paused for a cruise ship to cross our route and paddled back to the finish line at the Federal Court House on Fan Pier.

A short 25 hours.

Here is a story about another team we met during the race:

Here is an interactive map of the race route (Or, at least as much as I can remember of the route. You pan, zoom and click on the markings for more information.):

View Balance Bar 24 Boston Adventure Race Route in a larger map

June 15, 2002

The Muddy Buddy features a 7 mile course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, one team member runs and other rides the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike, and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, racers will crawl through the infamous Mud Pit crossing the finish line together!

It was a cold rainy day for Joe and I. Several other FitBooters also came to race, including Charla. The biking was terrible. The “dirt” at Myles Standish Park is sand. Soft sand. It was a tough slog on the sandy portion and bone-jarring on the pavement. The mudpit ended up being more brown water than sand.

L to R: Joe (Grandpa), Charla, Doug (Commando), Judith, Paul (4), Kris and Roland

Results:
Joe and I finished in 53rd place at 1:01:09

Muddy Buddy Boston Race Results

(Charla came in a minute behind us at 1:02:43)

October 21, 2001

Action Dave, Jeff an I ran, biked and paddled this race down in the Bronx, NY.

We finished in 4:21:45 in 45th place. See the full results Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series #8 New York, NY, October 21, 2001

Action Dave and Jamie Liu ran, biked and paddled this race with me. This race is a favorite since it happens at night. Getting lost in the woods in the dark is more fun than being lost in the daytime.

We came in at 4:30:06 in 50th place (out of 138 teams) in the coed division. The last team came in at 7:24:17 and first place came in at 3:29:20. See the full results for the Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series #6 Hartford, CT, September 8, 2001.

A blazing start:

Emerging from the lake after a kayaking leg:

Dave, Jamie and Doug trying to figure out where we are and what we are supposed to be doing.

Setting the pole for Jamie to climb.

Jamie climbing.

Jamie tying.

Doug and Dave in the dark. Where’s Jamie?

The wall is the last obstacle before the finish line:

Crossing the finish line:

Mt. Whitney, at 14,495 feet is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. It is also the most sought after peak in North America. During the summer months it is normal to find several hundred hikers ascending the peak on any given day via the Mt. Whitney Trail.

In the spring, Mt. Whitney is a different mountain. It becomes a climber’s challenge. Our route of ascent was the Mountaineer’s Route on the east side of the mountain. What is a third class loose rock gully in the summer becomes a snow climb on terrain up to 45°.

Jeff and I had George Dunn guide us up the mountain. Unfortunately, after making it up the gully the conditions prevented us from making the last few hundred feet to the summit.

Camp One, by Lower Boy Scout Lake:

Our kitchen at Camp One:

The view from Camp One:

Camp Two, by the East Face of Mount Whitney:

The view from Camp Two with Lone Pine in the background:

Jeff climbing up the gully:

Me, George and Jeff just below the summit:

We climbed up there:

To just about there:

Jeff and I ran this with last minute substitute Meredith in the dark of the Hartford night.

Other coverage of the race:

• Circle of Love Hartford/Farmington, CT – Winding Trails (Night Event)

The sloped snowfields.

You may realize that it is uncomfortable and dangerous to sleep on sloped snowy surface. So Phil announced that we would have to start digging. Out came the ice axes to chop through the snow and cut it into shoveable chunks. Out came the shovels to clear the snow and flatten out a platform.

Up go the tents. Digging in the stakes into the snow and using our hiking poles for additional stakes.

We now had our home for the next three days.

e would also need a kitchen, so we dug a hole, wind screen and shelf for the kitchen. Three days on the mountain meant we would have to take care of other bodily actions. So down the slope we dug a piss hole.

After setting up camp we put the kitchen to use and cooked up some dinner. Hot dogs for everyone with some pudding for desert.

After dinner we had the Phil said to hit the sack if we were tired. I immediately dove in to the tent and went off to dreamland.

In the middle of the night I had this dream of tumbling down the mountain repeatedly slamming my head into the snow and ice. Half awake I realized that I was not moving but the tent slapping back and forth. Stopping when it hit my head only to send it back out to balloon out and ricochet back into my head. As I became more conscious I learned that the wind was blowing at gale force and was slapping our tent around. Groggily, I slipped on my boots and jacket while the tent kept sending shots to my head. Ed was still sleeping like a baby since he was on the lee side of the tent. Out into the night air, I vainly tried to tighten the guy wires and re-secure some loose stakes. After a few minutes of messing around with the supports it looked like I had tightened up the sides enough to allow me to get some sleep.

Mount Rainier is the highest mountain in the northwest United States, towering in the backdrop of Seattle and Tacoma. I decided to climb it. Well, actually Jeff decided to climb it and convinced me to also climb it.

After dislocating my elbow in the months leading up to the climb and losing my luggage and climbing gear just before the climb, I finally made it to the mountain.

The climb starts at Paradise (5,400 feet). We hiked with our gear up to Camp Muir (10,600 feet) which about 4.5 miles and takes most of the day. We set up our tents just below Camp Muir.

The second day was glacier training, self-rescue and mountaineering training on Cowlitz Glacier.

Then at midnight, we wake early to head up to Cathedral Gap to our first rest stop.

The view from Paradise Lodge

Jeff and Connie resting on the Muir Snowfield

Ed resting on the Muir Snowfield

After hiking up the snowfields, we set up camp: Rainier: Camp Muir.

Ed learning to ice climb

Other climbing teams passing behind our camp at Muir

The view from our tent

A climbing team coming up from Cathedral Gap to the first rest stop

Another climbing team coming into the first rest stop on the Ingraham Glacier

Coming out on top of the Ingraham Glacier

Ed at the second rest stop, with Mount Adams in the background

Phil pulling one of guys out of a steam vent at the summit

In the summit crater (I am the pumpkin on the left.)

Thanks to the Guides at RMI


and our head guide: Phil Ershler

Each individual participating on a summit climb or seminar MUST have the items listed below. Do not jeopardize your safety, comfort or success – bring every item.

• lug-sole climbing boots*
• longjohns (top & bottom)
• crampons*
• ice axe*
• ski poles*
• backpack*
• sleeping bag (rated to 32° F)**
• parka (down or synthetic fill)**
• rain/wind jacket and pants**
• gaiters**
• wool or pile/fleece pants**
• 2 wool or pile/fleece sweaters**
• 1 pair light wool or synthetic liner gloves
• 1 pair wool, pile/fleece mitts or gloves**
• 1 pair wind/waterproof shell mitts or gloves**
• 2 pair wool or synthetic socks
• wool or synthetic stocking cap
• sun cream and lip balm
• 2 one-quart water bottles
• 2 trail lunches
• 1 dinner
• 1 breakfast
• eating utensils
• 3+ large plastic garbage bags
• glacier glasses with side protection**
• headlamp and 2 sets of new batteries**

Optional Equipment

• Hiking Shorts
• T-shirt
• Sun Hat
• Bandana
• Earplugs
• Facemask
• Ski Goggles (for foul weather or if you wear contacts)
• Tennis Shoes or Light Hikers

Provided Equipment

RMI provides the following equipment for all Expedition Programs:

• Harnesses
• Helmets
• Avalanche Beacons
• Ropes
• Avalanche Probes
• Shovels
• Technical Hardware (pickets, carabiners, ascenders, ice screws, etc.)

* Available for rental in Ashford at Summit Haus and in Paradise at the Guide House. NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
** Available for rental only at The Summit Haus next to Whittaker’s Bunkhouse in Ashford (360) 569-2142. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

Action Dave and I enjoyed a beautiful spring day in New England by hiking to the top of Mt. Washington.

We had bluebird skies as we hiked up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, to the Lion’s head Trail and up to the summit.

The disappointing part of the climb is encountering the tourists at the top who were driven up there in a tourist van.

On the summit. From 1999 Mount Washington

Yes, the building is chained down.

Action Dave and one of the weather experiments.

The legendary Mount Washington Observatory