Working at Keystone!!

I have been trying to figure out how to optimize my training regimen and figured, why not work in the mountains then I could train everyday!  I applied for a bunch of jobs at Vail Resorts and finally got a position at Keystone Resort.  I will be making snow!  I'm really excited for this position because I will be working on the mountain 4 days a week.  Hopefully I'll have some good stories to tell you all soon!

Training Postponed

After that wonderful training run on Monday, the reality of having hemophilia jumped back into the forefront.  I'm not exactly sure what happened but I ended up with a pretty intense bleed at the base of my neck.  I don't know exactly how it happened, I thought maybe I slept in a strange position but by midday Tuesday, it was clear it was a bleed.  I infused but I'll need to rest for a few days before I get back at it.  I'll keep you posted about training when I am healthy again, which I hope is soon!

Best song to end a run!!

Went out for a couple mile run this morning and was dragging a bit at the end until I heard this song!  Might not be everyone's taste but it really got me going!  Definitely going to use it skiing the moguls this season too.

More real by the second!!

Today I purchased my plane tickets for my travel to South America! I still can't believe this is happening! January is right around the corner so training is about to get intense! I'll keep you posted but it looks like another 14'er is in my near future!

First Training Climb for Aconcagua!

Starting on the trail

Early this past Monday morning, two friends and I ventured into the Rocky Mountains.  We set out to climb two 14'ers, Grays Peak and Torrey's Peak.  We reached the trail head at about 6:20 A.M., threw on all our gear and started up the trail.  This would be my first cold weather 14'er.   A recent snowstorm here in Colorado left a coating of snow on most the trail and in some spots, snow drifts made travel a bit slower.  Most of the trail up Grays Peak was a gradual incline.  Watching the sunrise over the peaks was amazing and the cold air felt strangely uplifting.  This is exactly where I love to be.  It took us about 4 1/2 hours to reach the summit of Grays.  We probably could've climbed faster but the stunning views paused our ascent.  I could try and describe the incredible views from the summit but I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Sunrise on Grays Peak

We spent a few minutes on the summit of Grays Peak before continuing on to Torreys Peak.  Our descent towards the saddle between Grays and Torreys was a little hairy.  It looked like only one other person had gone this route since the snow storm and the snow completely hid the proper trail.  The rocks were icy and sometimes a step led to your foot disappearing into knee deep snow.  It difficult terrain but I was having a blast!  We made it down to the saddle between the peaks and began the trek up Torreys.


The trail up Torreys seemed short and easy but man was it steep!  To make matters even more difficult, deep snow covered most of the trail.  I had to kick in foot holds most of the way and it was exhausting but I was determined.  It only took us about 30 minutes to reach the summit of Torreys from the saddle but my legs shook from exhaustion at the summit.  The view once again was spectacular and I didn't want to leave and head down.  I could have sat there all day.  The descent was quick and easy to the saddle but then things got interesting.

Summit of Torreys Peak (14,267ft)

During the summers a skinny trail usually connects the saddle between the peaks back to the main trail.  Well...there was a problem, snow drifts hid the trail.  We began making our way through the drifts to where we believed the trail was only to find that the layer of snow made it very difficult to traverse across the mountain.  In some spots the snow was over knee deep while in others it was almost to thin to get a firm foot hold in place.  The thin spots were especially scary.  We were terrified that if we didn't have a good hold, our feet we slip and we would rocket down into the rocky mountain side below.  It took us 20 minutes to navigate this treacherous part but we made it without incident and the remainder of the decent was uneventful.  It took us two hours to reach our car, dragging our tired bodies the entire way.









It was an amazing day and we finished it off with trip to my favorite restaurant Chipotle for an awesome burrito.  Although the day was an resounding success and one of the best times I have ever experienced on a mountain, a thought about my hemophilia did pop into my mind.  Even though I am on prophy, what if I had twisted my ankle badly on the mountain?  Could I infuse with it being that cold outside.  I have now realized that my training cannot only be about physical conditioning but also my preparedness with my hemophilia.  In the upcoming months I will be attempting my infusions in cold environments to see the challenges in a more controlled situation before I leave for my trip.  I have infused outside in the mountains before but not in the frigid temperatures I may experience on some of my futures endeavors.  I will post about these experiences soon!

I hope you all enjoy the pictures of my trip here on my blog.  Check out my Facebook page for tons more!

New Training Toys!!

With winter just around the corner and my trip only a few months away I need to get started training and there is no better way to train than throwing on some brand new telemark ski boots and skinning up the mountain.  Skinning is probably the best workout I have ever had!  Basically you strap on your tele skis and boots, then you put "skins" on the bottom of your skis.  Skins let your skis slid forward but not backwards so you can basically hike up a mountain on your skis!  Awesome right!  Now I just have to wait for some snow!  I'll post pictures when I start skinning so you can get a better idea.

I'm also going to climb a 14er on Monday!  Not sure which peak yet but I'll post pictures and a little story either Monday night or Tuesday!

The Dream Continues! Aconcagua 2013

First of all, its been along time since I have posted.  Life has gotten crazy!  Summer was pretty wild.  I was able to go to hemophilia camp in Colorado again which was an absolute blast, climbed a 14er, went downhill mountain biking, flew a plane and started a small business.  Unfortunately, I lost track of my blog.  I am going to try hard to keep posting consistently and with some new news, that should be easy!

It's official!  I am continuing my quest to be the first hemophiliac to climb the Seven Summits!  I am heading to Argentina this January to climb the highest peak in South America.  The peaks name is Aconcagua and stands at a massive 22,800ft! It's the highest peak in both the southern and western hemispheres.  I'll be climbing with guides from Mountain Professionals (www.mtnprofessionals.com).  They have tons of experience on big mountains and I cannot wait to learn from them!  I have tons of training to do to prepare for this amazing adventure but I am excited for this undertaking!

The best part of this climb is probably going to be trying to raise money for a cause near and dear to my heart, Save One Life.  I have mentioned Save One Life several times on my blog and have seen first hand the needs they are trying to fulfill.  Hemophilia in the developing world is a desperate situation and I'm hoping, with your help to raise a bunch of money to further the cause.  I will be working with Save One Life to set up a web page for donations so keep checking the blog, facebook page and my twitter account for information about donating!

Also, if anyone is interested in joining the climb let me know!  Send me a message on my facebook page and I'll give you all the details of the climb.  And I'll leave you with a picture of the mountain itself!  I'll keep posting more about my training and the details of our climbing route soon!  Thanks for all your support!