Summer 2003 - Wizard camp and Backpacking

This is an awesome photo I took after doing a quick scramble up the side of this mountain.  We were doing a seven day hike of the Brazeau Loop in Jasper National Park.  On day two, I picked a peak during breakfast and committed to getting to the peak in two hours.  I let off a bear banger so that my hiking partners would know I was there and take pictures.  Unfortunately I was much higher than I said I would be and they couldn't find me so I don't have a picture of it from below. I had never let off a bear banger before and didn't know what to expect.  I certainly was surprised to see it shoot another 100 meters or so before exploding loud enough and high enough to echo off quite a few other mountains.  When I got back to camp, I was told that other hikers coming through said they'd heard it all up and down the valley.  I believe I heard at least five echo's myself.  I didn't take our GPS with me, but based on topo maps, I'd guess the elevation to be about 2300 metres or better. (Larger version)   (Larger version) (Larger version) A couple more shots taken while I was up there. This is myself, Deano and Stacey at the beginning of our seven day hike.   The summer started off with a trip to Los Angeles for a convention. Some business partners and I did our annual '9 Holes' and we had an awesome time. I shot not too bad as I remember. We golfed 'Dad Millers' course and it was awesome. Great fairways, great greens and the price was right too. I highly recommend it. It was close to the Anaheim Hilton hotel where we were staying and really cut down on the travel time to and from the course. Last year we had to duck out early and then were really late for the evening events due to the course we picked. This time Paul picked an ace course! yay!   This is the first roller coaster I have ever been on. I have wanted to go to Six Flags amusement park for a couple of years now. The first time I wanted to go while I was in LA we ended up going to Laguna beach.. an awesome experience in itself. The next time I was in LA, we went to Universal Studios instead. Another good time to say the least. This time I planned the whole freaking Six Flags event a year in advance and got people to commit to it. We did the water park in the am and mid afternoon and then the coasters in the afternoon / evening. The only coaster I had ever been on before this was the one in West Edmonton Mall... ok, so I had been on one.. but it wasn't really a roller coaster in the true sense of the word (it was indoors, and that makes it null and void). It was funny while we were at the water park at Six Flags. It was screaming hot and the cement was cooking. We would plan our treks to and from water slides based on where there were water puddles and where there was shade cooling the cement just a little bit. People would bunch up on the shade covered cement parts and run from puddles to puddles to cool their feet. I burnt them good I must say, but it was worth it. The convention ended with a gala dance where we were able to see various professional dancers perform. We saw junior tap, group tap, Salsa, jive, swing and ballroom dancers perform. These were the best dancers in the world in their field. Following the display, we had a dance of our own, and it was a good time in itself. In about the same time, I was in Squamish, BC, just north of Vancouver on the way to Whistler volunteering at Peak Potentials Wizard Training Camp. I had the privilege of working with some amazing people. Eudora and Theda...... it's actually quite surprising finding Eudora in a tent as she spent most time sleeping behind the T-shirts table. Jennifer Steed (noun): A marked innate ability, as for artistic accomplishment. See Synonyms at ability. Natural endowment or ability of a superior quality. A person or group of people having such ability: The company makes good use of its talent. Leadership, beauty, 'the gift that flows through' Deb C. This is an amazing woman! I still remember the picnic table moving 'event' and her attitude towards it. I won't get into it here, but rest assured, she's an amazing woman and I am honored to know her. Aho Deb! Sirus the dog! An amazing being. Big freaking dog too! Geesh! I rented a 2003 Mustang GT convertible following the Wizard Training Camp to spend some time in and around Vancouver. Me at the Capilano Suspension bridge. I finally got to do the Grouse Grind! A 1.5 hour climb up Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver. This is the view from the top. PS, I took the tram going down. A few of us around the campfire at Wizard camp. Over the next few weeks following my time in Los Angeles and Squamish, I did a bit of hiking outside of Banff, Alberta. A few friends and I climbed Mount Yamnuska. Here is a shot from about 1/2 way up the scramble. Click on the photo for a larger version as you can with almost any of the photos above.

Taekwondo: No changes from before, still on leave of absence but committed to completing my quest for my Black Belt..

Fitness: Things have been really good in this area.  I've been doing three to five days of high intensity aerobics first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before breakfast combined with three to four days of weight training in the evenings.  I've gotten leaner and my aerobic capacity has increased big time.  During the scrambles you see above I wasn't winded at all, in fact I was encouraged to push on harder and faster in some cases.  I've really gotten into this mountain climbing thing.  I have no actual 'Climbing' training so have been doing scrambles.  Scrambles have been described to me as the most extreme end of hiking that you can do without actually using climbing equipment.  It's piqued my interest enough to want to climb Mount Robsen here in Canada (about four hours from where I live).  I have committed to the training and the learning the techniques including climbing, ice and glacier training, mountain first aid and crevasse rescue training in an effort to reach my goal of summiting Mount Robson before I'm 40 (four years to go).  I've realized that a person has to balance weight gain with fat loss and to work with what natures given me.  I seem to gain more muscularity in the spring (Kapha time of year) and get cut a bit better during the summer and fall.  I'm going to now assist that whole natural process by eating more during the spring along with training harder and heavier and cutting down on aerobics.  Then follow that up in the summer by eating lighter (Pita time of year), doing higher reps with lighter weight and increasing my aerobics.  Working with nature.  Last months Backpacker magazine had a great article about hikers fitness.  To summarize, they say that a hiker carrying a 30 pound pack and using poles burns over 900 calories an hour.  I have a few more scrambles planned for the end of this year yet, Mount Kidd and Mount Temple here in Alberta (Kananaskis country), as well as a few easier three day Mount Robson backpacking hikes.  Next summer, 2004, a few of us will be doing the famous West Coast Trail (WCT) and I'm also looking at doing the Chilkoot trail in 2005.  These seven day trips with a few more long weekend trips will add a little variety.

Reading: well, to keep the theme for the summer, I've been reading a lot of hiking, backpacking and compass skills books so that I can learn as much as possible about backcountry hiking, first aid and survival skills.  I've been anticipating the latest Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5) for some time now and still haven't gone to get it.  Yes, I've read all the Harry Potter books.  They're awesome, and yes, I'm 35. I began reading them when my ex's daughter gave me the first book. I though we'd have something to talk about if I knew the content. I simply couldn't put the book down, and on it went book after book.  Currently I have 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill, 'Prophecy by Robert Kyosaki' and my very first Tom Clancy novel, 'Rainbow Six' on the go.  I love his movies, but have never read any of his books.  Saw an autobiography of him on A&E a few days ago, so went and bought the book.  So far, so good.  Oh, I also picked up Harvey Diamonds new book 'The Fit for Life Solution' on Amazon and am looking forward to starting that.  See what Harvey is up to.  He's going to be on my show when it's back on the air.  Another book has found it's way back into my life 12 years after the fact.  I was gifted 'Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life' by Theda.  I began this book which was loaned to me 12 years ago and then was taken away just as quick.  I've wanted to read it for years and now just seems to be the right time I guess.  Thanks T!.  One last book (I just went and checked my night table), 'Blisters and Bliss, a trekkers guide to the West Coast Trail' by David Foster and Wayne Aitken.  Heard lots about it from other hikers during our Brazeau loop trail trip and thought I'd pick it up before we did the trail next year.  Being prepared is a good thing.

Radio Show: Did 10 shows and absolutely loved them.  I'm currently off the air until I get sponsorship.  I'm actively seeking sponsorship, so if you know anyone in the health, fitness, wellness, nutrition or personal development industry who wants global exposure on the most awesome fitness radio show, point them in my direction, or give me their contact info so I can contact them.  Thanks.  In the mean time, you can listen to archived shows on my website

Take care everyone!, eat well, be well!  Get out a go for a hike!

Summer 2004, Backpacking and cruise
Wizard Training Camp and Backpacking Jasper National Park - Summer 2003
Valentines Day, Vegas and Warrior Training Camp - Feb 2003
Graduation 2000
Halloween 99 & Green Belt testing
Camping in Cadomin Alberta - July 99
Innocent White Belt May 23 1999
April 99 - Out to the ballgame 
Feb 26 1999 - Oilers vs Buffalo
Jan xx 1999 - Cold January
December 04 1998 - at school learnin'