Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.-Mother Teresa
Okay grandson, here is a little bit about your Uncle, his road to becoming a doctor, and his trip to Mount Rainer. He just visited a few days ago.
You're Uncle experienced some personal joy by finishing all his medical training (although he'll study forever) and by climbing Mount Rainer this July. He felt personal satisfaction and joy. It's something he's wanted for a major portion of his life. He's kept in shape, both mentally and physically - and this past year he has been training physically, for his climb of Mount Rainer.
He's a physician - 33 in August (I must have been a baby when I had him - Lol) and he's just finished his 'official' training - a sub- fellowship of a sub fellowship. 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 3 years residence, 3 years of a sub fellowship, and 1 last year is a sub specialty of a sub fellowship.
Ascend 90 feet to the apex of one of the tallest free-falls on the planet
Get flung downward with a force far more powerful than gravity
Make a big splash—nine stories below. This is a picture of you!
Then his having to decide what kind of doctor he wanted to be. Being yelled at by the attendings (paying his dues I guess). All the papers he had to write and speeches he's had to give. Holding his breathe and finding out if he matched to the school he wanted for his residency. 15 years of his life. Determination.
And I think some kudos goes to us (his family) how we helped and what we had to give up - including time with him, a life with him - to see him achieve his goal. And we all prayed a whole lot of prayers every night. A whole other Blog for sure.
I can remember some funny stories. We moved him once and had to leave him a flea infested apartment - we can laugh now, but I cried then. Before one of his interviews we went and had dinner at a real dive then we had to send him on his way -the food was so bad we were worried about him being food poisoned! A lot of memories that's for sure and now it's over. I really do need to write them down so I won't forget them, but today's Blog is on Mount Rainer.
Mount Rainer's website of information and you can see some videos of a climb:
http://www.rmiguides.com/rainier/climbing_footage.html
"Mount Rainier, at 14,410 feet, is the most extensively glaciated volcanic peak in the contiguous United States. (Mount McKinley is in Alaska - it's taller). The Mountain, as it is known to locals, offers limitless mountaineering possibilities to both aspiring and experienced mountaineers. Indeed, the combination of high altitude, various route choices, and Northwest weather make climbing Mount Rainier a truly challenging experience.
Mt. Adams, at 12,276', is the second highest peak in Washington State. Like Mt. Rainier to the north, Mt. Adams offers a wealth of climbing terrain and is is the perfect training ground for climbers looking to develop their mountaineering skills in pursuit of bigger peaks such as McKinley, Aconcagua or the Himalayas.
The goal of the Mt. Adams Expedition Skills Seminar is to build a solid mountaineering foundation for climbers while making a summit attempt via either the North Ridge or the Adams Glacier. The route we choose will depend on route conditions, but the ascent will put our training to the test.
Getting safely up and down mountains is just the beginning of the story at Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (RMI). Founded by legendary Northwest mountaineers and staffed by the most experienced and talented guides in America, RMI has built a three-decade long legacy of safe, successful, and enjoyable mountaineering adventures.
Experience matters in the mountains, and that is exactly what we have gained over the last 38 years. There is no substitute for the years of expedition guiding around the world, 250 Mt. McKinley Expeditions, over 70,000 climbers on Mount Rainier, and some of America's first ventures into the far reaches of the Himalaya. "
The above is taken off their site.
Notice he didn't just get up one morning and say, I'm going to climb a mountain. He prepared himself. He trained himself - physically - mentally - spiritually too. Sometimes you must work hard to realize your dreams. Some dreams don't come easy. With some dreams come a price.
The climb to the top was started about 2:30 am. They had to climb to the top and could only stay a little while because it was so cold. Then they climbs right back down.
He was attached to his guide (thank God) and two other people. If the weather didn't cooperate they would not let them climb. It would be quite (!) disappointing for him at that point after all the planning, but all went well for his group. He had his crampons, ice pick, helmet, and all the other equipment he had been gifted in the past couple of years as birthday gifts from us!
The day he arrived at camp some man who was climbing had his face severely hurt when a falling rock hit him. That's one of the biggest dangers there. He was with 3 men and one woman. They are all tied to each other. One for all and all for one. Part of the training was if one falls they practiced how to dig in and hold on. They HAD to be a team and depend on each other. Trust.
It was the experience of a lifetime for him. When they did get to the top the girl was a tad bit sick and her lips were blue so they only stayed 20 minutes. It took about 14 hours to climb. Every hour or so they had to consume 150 calories. And no one did, but if they had to use the bathroom, they'd have to do it right there and then collect it. Yikes.
In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest."– Henry Miller
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