Friday, January 24, 2014

Industry News: Big City Mountaineers and Backpacker Magazine Announce Mount Shasta Climbing Fundraiser

Doing a little research and found this press release from mid-December:

Industry News:


Here's the content:

For Immediate Release
Carl Johnson
Backbone Media
Carl.johnson@backbonemedia.net
970-963-4873 x131
Golden, Colo. , Dec 16, 2013 -
December 16, 2013 (Golden, Colo.) – Big City Mountaineers (BCM), the leading non-profit that instills critical life skills in under-resourced urban youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions, has partnered with Backpacker Magazine to organize two Summit for Someone fundraising climbs on Mt. Shasta in June 2014.

“In the January 2014 edition of Backpacker I extended an invitation to our readers to join me on the Mt. Shasta climb,” states editor-in-chief Dennis Lewon. “Participants will receive guiding and instruction from local experts, $750 worth of gear from BCM sponsors, and a chance to see their picture in an upcoming issue.”

Summit for Someone (SFS) is a unique program that gives participants a chance to travel and climb the world’s premier mountains under the instruction of top-tier guide services, while positively impacting the lives of under-resourced urban youth. The vital funding raised through SFS enables BCM to help thousands of urban youth across the country in need of positive adult guidance, in challenging and restorative wilderness environments. BCM programs have a proven track record of improving integrity, self-esteem, decision-making abilities, and communication skills that keep kids healthy, active, in school, and motivated to strive for success.

Joining Lewon on the climb are The North Face athletes Cedar Wright and Sam Elias. Additional partners and sponsors include Lowa and Liberty Bottleworks, with more to come. For more information and to register for this special mountaineering fundraiser, visit http://www.backpacker.com/shasta.

In addition to the Shasta climbs, the SFS climb opportunities include Mt. Rainier, The Grand Teton and Mt. Kilimanjaro, along with 15 other world-class mountains. To find the climb that is right for you and to help even more youth experience BCM’s life-changing programs, please visit www.summitforsomeone.org/climbs.

About Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers (BCM) instills critical life-skills in over 2,000 under-served young people each year by getting them outdoors with volunteer mentors for life-changing wilderness experiences.  BCM’s unique model of 1 to 1 mentoring is proven to develop integrity, responsibility, improve communication skills and decision making abilities in youth from risk-filled environments through a nationally recognized developmental analysis tool.  Given the opportunity to develop these skills alongside caring volunteer mentors creates positive lasting change in these youth who become more likely to stay in school and avoid drugs, gangs and violence. To learn more, please visit www.bigcitymountaineers.org.
- See more at: http://www.outdoorindustry.org/news/industry.php?newsId=19346&action=display#sthash.TlXpem4O.dpuf

Monday, January 20, 2014

Climbing Among the Zombies

When you live in 52 feet above sea level in a town that is the US Capitol of Bicycling because of how flat it is, one has to find any possible way to climb…


With about 30 pounds in my backpack, I climbed up and down, walking and half-running, 10 times. There was a "Zombie vs Humans" war brewing on the lower level so it was interesting seeing that develop as I went up and down. Fortunately I finished just as they were starting so I was not at much risk for being shot by Nerf darts!

Please donate to give urban youth the option of the outdoors: http://support.bigcitymountaineers.org/goto/summitjourney


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Fundraising Ideas

Lorrie's niece and her niece's boyfriend spent a part of the weekend with us. Her niece has some experience with fundraising so over breakfast this morning we were talking about ideas we have. She gave us a couple of really great new ideas. So start looking around your house, garage, attack, and storage spaces for any art that you may be interested in getting rid of but never felt it right to throw away. We'll be taking donations soon!

We are also thinking about either a 50/50 raffle or a raffle with the winnings being a percentage of the money collected. I have done neither of these so any feedback would be appreciated! Suggestions, warnings, etc. Finally, we are looking for donations of items from a  variety of businesses that could be another raffle, the same raffle, or another fundraising endeavor altogether. I'm still figuring all this out.

A couple of friends have volunteered to host a fundraising event as well. It's SO wonderful to have such incredible friends!

Please donate here: http://support.bigcitymountaineers.org/goto/summitjourney



Friday, January 17, 2014

Slow Training Start

I'm working to find the balance between pushing myself to really be getting into shape for this climb and being safe as I do some exercises for the first time in a long time. I've always been an athlete so I'm used to feeling completely fatigued when I've had a good workout. Now I need to do a little more work on my core, which I have neglected and am working out a weight training plan. I would also like to start doing some indoor rock climbing but joining a gym and a rock climbing gym seems a little pricey!

I am also in the midst of a pretty intense month-long course that requires quite a bit of my free time outside work. So I have given myself January to get moving physically without much structure except to walk or hike on Saturdays with some weight in my backpack. Then I'll be at about 9800' the first week of February so I plan to see how I handle that elevation and do a little working out during that time as well. The main purpose I'll be there is for a conference at which I am presenting so I'll have only so much time for exercise.

THEN… it really starts! I'll have a plan when I return and I'll be hitting the ground running. Literally!

The Physical
For now, it's a lot of yoga, stairs, body weight squats, lunges, ab work, and walking around with extra weight in my backpack. A minimal start to be sure!

The Mental
I have begun imaging myself on the summit of Mount Shasta. I have a print of Mount Shasta at work that I see every morning and throughout the day. Sometimes I pick it up and look at it intently seeing myself climbing ever so slowly toward that snowy peak. I practice my deep breathing, which is obviously a physical activity, but the purpose for the breathing is to help me manage my energy, emotions, and lack of oxygen as I climb.

The Emotional
FREAKED out!! I'm really excited and then I wonder what the heck I've gotten myself into! I feel confident that my body and mind will be ready to climb so I'm not worry about that. And with 4 guides and at least 1 professional mountaineer from The North Face, I kinda feel like we'll be safe. What I'm most worried about at this time is the fundraising. $4000 is a lot of money to me and 2 months seems like a very short time to raise it! So that's what gets my heart pumping a little at this moment.

Please donate here: http://support.bigcitymountaineers.org/goto/summitjourney


Friday, January 10, 2014

Let the Fundraising begin!

Got my first donation today. Thank goodness for supportive parents! Even though I'm sure my mother is wondering how I am possibly her daughter with all these crazy fundraising endeavors. She definitely worries about the dangers of these outdoor experiences. My aunt made the suggestion that I could bowl or rock in a chair for charity as well. Maybe down the road!

Donate here: http://support.bigcitymountaineers.org/goto/summitjourney