My life has now come full circle.  I started Teaching SCUBA Diving 25 years ago as a means to earn money to help pay for school.  What a life we had.  Working in places like Bear Lake, Lake Powell, Lake Mead and the regular trip to Catalina Island to dive kelp of Southern California.  We had it made.  Good money, travel and work with awesome people.  We made friends for life!  I now have had the best diving days of my life!  I have spent over 6 week of my life under water and over 600 dives none  have come close to the experience of diving with my 3 kids!  Teaching them to breath under water and then going to the Big Island and dive with sharks and  manta rays, priceless!  I now have 3 new dive buddies and can not wait to start diving again on a very regular basis!

 



Big Island Manta Dive!

 

 

 

Let's go Diving!





The Main Event!

It is 7 AM, the Jeep is loaded and Chris and I are just about ready to leave on our adventure.  Thoughts of are we ready?  Did I pack too heavy?  Too light?  Did I bring the right equipment?  Did I work hard enough?  Is my body going to handle the thin air?  We had our map of Google directions printed and hotel reservations for tonight made.  We said our goodbye's and set out on road. I could hardly believe it!  We are about to hike Mt. Whitney!  Our goal for the first day, Mesquite Nevada.  Our plan was one good nights sleep before we hit the trail.  Since we both hate to drive it made the 12 hour ride more interesting. 

Once in Mesquite, we hit the pool had a great meal and got to bed.  The next morning, Wall mart for treats and gas and set sights on Lone Pine California. 

Google maps was our guide and we made through Las Vegas with a hitch.  But somewhere between Area 51 and the middle of nowhere the directions told us to turn left.  This took  us right to the middle of Death Valley!  We knew something was wrong when our map millage told use we were 50 mile from Whitney and the signs said 150+.  Yep!  Google had us way off course!  We made the best of!  We explored Death Valley!  It was Hot!  At 117 degrees we high tailed it out of there.  But we did get >100 feet below sea level.



Once we figured out our directions we Finely  made it to Mt Whitney Portal!  The Portal  sits at just over 8,000 feet with a spectacular view the surrounding mountain.  There is  a lake for fishing, a stream, two camp sites, a few cabins for rent and the store.  The store makes the best Bacon cheese burgers and home fresh cut french fries! The breakfast is awesome!  They make the biggest pancakes I have ever seen! We found our way around and got settled in.  We received a briefing from the camp host about the family of Bears that lived around the camp  ground and how they ripped apart a SUV for 1 candy bar a hiker left in its wrapper in the glove box!  He also informed us that only 20% of the hikers summit Mt Whitney and the Search and Rescue average 5 rescues a day.  He then reassured us we should do just fine! 

Morning came and we got up and ready to go but no permit.  My advice is to get your permit the night before. No worries though.  We got our documentation, packs weighed (me and Chris at 55#, with the rest of our group ranging  25 to 40#). Starting photo taken and we were off!

Our goal was Base Camp 6.2 miles away and an elevation gain of over 4,000 feet.  It is one of the most challenging trails I have done!  Relentless!  But AWESOME!  The view is amazing of the valley and you quickly realize how fast you are gaining elevation when you stop and look back (more like down).

 

 

We hit Trail camp just before 4 pm.  We were beat!  Tents quickly went up and camp was built.  Time for R and R.  We ate dinner re hydrated for the summit  hike and went to bed.

Sun rise on the mountain is unforgettable.  The color of burning oranges turning to red and the deep blue sky!   Truly moving! Most defiantly worth the the hike!

Morning came quickly!  We got up and downed breakfast.  After we filtered water we headed up the 98 /99 switchbacks!  It was awesome! At switch back 55, I started to feel dizzy and a very light headed.  I got out my pocket pulse ox and found my oxygen saturation to be at 73% and my heart rate at 156.  I stoped and rested.  I remember that when I was going up Kings Peak I felt the very same way.  After about 1 minute my saturation's were at 90% and heart rate was now 100.  I felt a lot better and continued on.  My brother Dan reminded me I was caring a pack that weighted about 25 to 30# given the extra water I was caring.  We made a plans to leave a water cash at the top of the switchbacks.

 



Once at the top of the pass I felt great!  We dumped off our water cash and headed for the summit.  The Views were breath taking and You felt you were on the other side the Moon.

We kept pushing.  It was amazing.  We passed all types of people.  Age ranging from 4 to over 80 years old.  Everyone very positive and excited to make it to the top.  Yep we did pass people that had to turn around and could not go on.  But they motivated us and gave us hope as we passed them.  Once we had the view of the house in sight, we knew we could make it!

At the top we had lunch and headed back to camp.  We had to deal with only one member of our party with altitude sickness and mild dehydration.  Once he was doing well made good time back to camp.  It was time to celebrate!.  Skinny dipping in the river and dinner!  It was surreal!  I had meet my goal!  WOW!  top of the lower 48 states.  14,508 feet!  It felt great!  The time spent with my son Chris made it only sweeter!  We both commented the only thing that would have completed this experience was if my son Scott could had made the trip.

Would I do it again?  If and only if the right people came along!  This was tough but the bonds of friendship made is what made it all worth it! 

Hike Sat's:  22 miles, >13,000 feet of elevation change.  2 1/2 day s on the trail, 25,000+calories burned!

Echo's

 

Personal Echos

We all send vibrational energy out into the world. What most of us forget is that what ever we send out into the universe will echo back at us. It could return very quickly or take its own sweet time. If you want good things to come into your life you must be sending out good vibrational energy.

This starts with good thoughts. The thoughts of today become your reality of tomorrow. Once you start to understand this principle you start to monitor your thinking patterns. You become very careful about what you think about.

Thoughts lead to action, action lead to results. What I have learned is if I want specific results, I must start with that specific thought. Keeping my thoughts on what I want to echo back at me allows the universe to echo back at me what I want. The scary thing is the universe will echo the bad back at me as well. If my thoughts are on all the bad and anxiety provoking. Anxiety and stress and a lot of negative energy is what will echo back at me.

What you think about is what you shall be! The key here is what I THINK about and NOT what I want is the action that will be set into motion. The universe could care less about what I want. Thoughts not wants is what shows up!

Keep up the positive! I know if I keep my thoughts on the good and the wonderful, the good and the wonderful is what eventually will show up on time in perfect Harmony with my life!

Mahalo Ke Akua

Mahalo,  "Thank You".  Ke Akua, "God".

Thank you for the air that I breath, the water  I drink, the food I eat and the roof over my head.  But most importantly, Thank you for all the loving people that have, currently are and will come into my life!

Enough said!

Training Log

 My training log to get ready for the hike.  It is built around the 4 Hour Body  concepts of training for endurance races and mixed with Cross fit and P90X/Insanity.  I will update this on a regular basis.  I am sure it will be boring to read.  But it will give an idea how how much or how little I prepared for my 22 mile hike up to 14, 505 feet.  When ever possible I will record my workout with my GPS that monitors heart rate, distance, time and elevation changes.

Boot Camp:

April 8, 2012:  13.2 miles on my Mt Bike, 3,000 feet of elevation change, Max HR 170, time 3 hours on the trail,  1,800 calories burned

April 11. 2012:  2 mile run, Speed training on my Spinning bike (interval training, of the 45 min 20 min spent in zone 4 to 5 at 95% max heart rate 160)   Week one push up training form Men's Fitness (100 push ups at one time in 6 weeks)  total 70 push ups.

April 14, 2012:  2 mile run,Speed training on my Spinning bike (interval training, of the 45 min 20 min spent in zone 4 to 5 at 95% max heart rate 160)   Week one push up training form Men's Fitness (100 push ups at one time in 6 weeks)  total 70 push ups.

April 15, 2012: 2 mile run,  Speed training on my Spinning bike (interval training, of the 45 min 20 min spent in zone 4 to 5 at 95% max heart rate 160)   Week one push up training form Men's Fitness (100 push ups at one time in 6 weeks)  total 70 push ups.

April 17, 2012:  Mt Bike ride:  4.2 miles, 2,000 feet elevation change, Max HR 168, 1 hour  on the trail (Clarks time trial) 500 calories burned.

April 21,  2012:   2.5 mile run,  25 min.

April 26, 2012:  2.5 miles run, 25 min

April 27, 2012, Insanity,Cardio Power, 45 min.

April 29, 2012, Mt Bike, Fire Road, Ghost falls and Gas line trail,  9 miles, 3,000 feet elevation change,  Max HR 168, 1 hour and 30 min.  Calories Burned 830.

April 30, 2012,  Mt Bike ride Clarks Time Trial with Guy, 5 miles, 3,000 feet elevation change, Max heart rate 161, (22min to the top of Clarks 4 min shorter than my best this year and 4 min longer than my PB), total time 50 min, Calories burned 500.

May 2, 2012:  2.5 mile run

May 4, 2012:  Men's Fitness Push Up work out, Stair Stepper work out (Jane Fonda style)  with 25# weights in each hand.

May 5, 2012:  4+ miles with >3,000 covered vertical feet, White pine/Red Pine Hike with Chris.

May 6, 2012:  Mt Bike ride, Clarks time trial with my son Scott,  he set a new PB (his first time up the trail) up Clarks at just under 13 min,  I came close to my PB at 19 min.  We covered 8.21 miles in under 1:20 minutes, 3,200 ft of elevation change, 880 cal. burned, max HR 162, Max speed 24 MPH and average HR of 135 bpm. 

May 7, 2012:  Hike up Mt Olympus, 3.5 miles, 3,000 vertical feet in elevation change, time  1:35 on the trail, calories burned 700.

May 10, 2012:  Insanity upper body weight training,  50 min.

May 11, 2012:  Mt Bike Corner Canyon,  Clark's Time Trial,  00:18:50, 10 seconds off my PB.  But did set a PB for the loop at 1:09:20.   7.93 miles,  3082 feet in total vertical, max HR 163,  Average pace 8.3 MPH, Max speed 22 MPH, total calories burned 811.

May 14, 2012:  Mt Bike ride, Corner Canyon, Anne's trail, Clark's Time Trial new PB 00:17:45, 8.17 miles, total time 1:34, total elevation 3,000+ vertical feet.  Calories burned 793,  Max heart rate 164, Max speed 24 MPH.

May 16, 2012:   Power weight training, upper body, chest, back and arms, 60 min.

May 17, 2012:  Sprint training on Spinning Bike,  5 minute warm up the 3 full on at 100%, followed by 2 minute recovery, (3 on full, 2 recovery) for 30 minutes.

May 20, 2012:  Hiked the Great Western Trail, 4.5 miles, 2,000 calories 3,000 ft total elevation change, 45# pack.

May 21, 2012:  Mt Bike with Jaren, New PB up Clark's 17 minutes and 30 seconds (Jaren 11 minutes and 4 seconds up the trail.), a sprint up the fire road to set a new Max heart rate at 173 and sustained for over 2 minutes, total elevation changed 3,600 vertical feet,  total time 1:21, total calories burned 900,47 minutes spent in zone 4 or higher!  Thanks Jaren for the push!

May 24, 2012:  Mt Bike the Race for the Corner Canyon spring race,  11 miles in 1 hour 42 minutes, total vertical feet 3,600 ft, 981 calories burned, average pace 9.1minutes per mile.

May 26,2012:  Mt Bike ride today! 26.1 miles in 3 hours 37 minutes, 2,300 calories burned, 8,200 vertical feet at a average pace of 9.1 minutes/mile! Awesome! Oh ya, it started snowing at the top so we had to turn back early. :(  The first 10 miles all climbing.  No rest. Straight up from 5,400 ft to just shy of 9,000 feet!

May 28,2012:   Red Pine Hike 7.57 miles, 7,400 vertical feet, 2,178 calories burned, max speed 8 miles/hour and it took us just over 3 1/2 hours to complete the hike.

May 30, 2012:  1 hour Upper body and back weight training.

May 31, 2012:  Mt Bike Clarks Time Trial New PB at 16 minutes and 55 seconds, followed by a ride total of 8 miles, 1 hour and 10 minutes, 3,000 total vertical feet of elevation change, 792 calories burned.

June 3, 2012:  Bells Canyon; 4.91 miles, 4,520 vertical feet in 3.0 hours and burned 1,535 calories.

June 4, 2012:  Mt bike ride with Ryan,  8.1 miles, 1hour 33 minutes, total elevation 3,000 total vertical feet, 800 calories.  Max heart rate 176.

June 9, 20112:  Mt Bike with Jason H.  11.3 miles, 1 hour 53 minutes, 1,162 calories burned, 4,100 total vertical feet.

June 10, 2012:  White Pine Hike;  8.5 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes, 6,700 total vertical feet,  1,790 calories burned.

June 11, 2012:  Mt bike with Guy,  5 miles, 41 minutes, 500 calories.

June14, 2012:  Mt Bike ride, 13.25 miles, 2 hours 11 minutes, total calories 1,418, total elevation change 5,300 vertical feet.

June 16, 2012: Beach run Cannon Beach 3.2 miles, 282 calories.

June 18, 2012:  Beach run, Cannon Beach 2.1 miles,  328 calories.

June 23,24,25:  King Peak Hike

Total elevation change 12,000 feet over 3days, hiked 28 miles and burned 15,000+ calories.  I lost 3 1/2 lbs.  Adaptation changes:  First night my pulse was 113 resting and oxygen saturation after the hike 86%.  At Dollar Lake Heart rate at rest 90 and oxygen saturation 91%.  During the summit hike at 11,911ft heart rate was 90 and oxygen saturation 85%, at the top of Kings Peak, heart rate 88 and oxygen saturation 93%.

July 1, 2012: Mt Bike ride Up Clarks, across Brocks, down Ghost, down gas line to BSLT, up fire road back across Brocks, down rush to Jeep, 11 miles, total elevation change 4,000 feet, 1,073 calories in 1 hour 35 minutes.

July 5, 2012:  Sprint training on spin bike,  5minute warm up, 5 minutes full 100% zone 4 to 5, 3 minute rest, 5 minute on.  45 minutes.

July 7, 2012:  Mt bike ride 15 miles 1: 40 minutes, 4,000ft total elevation change, 1,500 calories burned.  Max heart 178!  (back side of Jackob's ladder no hike a bike, made all climbs).

July 8, 2012:  Bells Canyon; 4.91 miles, 4,520 vertical feet in 3.0 hours and burned 1,535 calories.

July 11, 2012:  Sprint Spin work out plus upper body weight training,

July 14, 2012:  Sprint Spin work out (5 minute warm up, 20 minutes full on 100% out of saddle zone 4 to 5 sprint, 5 minute cool down).

July 15, 2012:  25 minute upper body weight training. 40 minutes of Sprint spinning (3 minute warm up,  followed by 8 to 10 minute sprint intervals and 3 minute recovery and a 3)

July 16, 2012:  Push up work out with upper body and spinning base training, 45 min.

July 22, Mt bike ride 3,600 total elevation change, 1 hour 11 minutes, 870 calories.

Aloha!

Aloha! Stand up and say it real loud ALOHA! Does that not feel really good! Did you ever wounder why the Hawaiian people used one word for hello and good by? I have always pondered this. I used to think it was because they are considered by the Western world to be a primitive culture. I beg to differ. What if they really get it? Aloha, the meaning of life! Why we are here on the planet earth. Think about this. If you understand that life is circular and what goes around comes around. Then why not have one word for hello and good by. You are never really saying either. Eventually you will see one another again. It may not be in this life but we will see one another again. So the logic works (if you have a knowing that we all come from and return to the same source).

So lets take this one step further. The Aloha Spirit. What is it? If you have ever spent time in the Hawaiian Islands you quickly come to understand the Aloha Spirit is the spirit of unconditional love. You must first love yourself unconditionally then you can began to love others unconditionally. Understanding the Aloha spirit means you understand you are a piece of God (source) just like everyone and every living creature on this planet. Therefor to love your self unconditionally you must then love everyone else the same way because we all come from the same source! We are all one in the same! It is the same energy beating all our hearts! The Aloha Spirit in action, unconditional love!

So say ALOHA! Keeping in mind we all are from the same source, one great Love on the same adventure back to the source we call God! So fill your heart with the Aloha Spirit and love your self and love one another! ALOHA my Friends!