Setting a Goal: To Climb a Mountain (Part One)

So I’ve decided to get serious and finally get in shape. Then I read this article about a study that shows people who live to be 100 years old don’t live a lifestyle that is any healthier then those that fail to make that milestone. Talk about a downer. What’s the point if it’s all based on my genetic makeup?

Upon further reflection, I realize that my decision to shape up is about more than making it to the 100-year mark. So it is a worthy undertaking after all. Darn.

There's a lot of work ahead of me. I’m possibly in the worst shape of my life, but instead of berating myself, I need to concentrate on what I can do to remedy the situation. In the past, it has helped to set a goal and for me that goal is almost always climbing a mountain.

Now I’m not talking Mount Everest here. Though I am fascinated by the extreme mountaineers that attempt those expeditions, I’m not into that much misery and any pursuit where your odds of surviving the experience are 1 in 64 is too dangerous for me.

Not even Mount Rainier. I’ve never had the pleasure of reaching that summit although it has always haunted me. Someday I would like to check it off my list. But not yet.

So I came up with a smaller but more attainable goal: the lovely Mount Ellinor in the Olympic Mountains. This 5,944-foot mountain that towers over Lake Cushman is actually a “scramble” as opposed to a climb but that’s just semantics. It’s challenging yet reasonable for anyone in decent shape. And who possess basic wilderness skills and common sense.

I bring up common sense for a reason. I’m not proud of this, but I throw it out there as a cautionary tale for others who might feel that their wilderness experience excuses them from careless mistakes and hubris. Just like I did.

I have climbed Mount Ellinor before. It was a beautiful day three summers ago when we decided to head up to the Olympics. On the way there, we impulsively set our sights on Mount Ellinor even though it was getting late in the day. We had no pack, none of the 10 Essential items every hiker should have, and had broken one of my cardinal rules of wilderness exploration: always let someone know where you are going and when you are expected back.

We were both experienced at hiking, backpacking, and climbing. We had no excuse. We did have the minimal good sense to realize that it might be cold at that altitude so we stopped in Hoodsport to buy light jackets since we were wearing T-shirts and shorts. Thank goodness we had at least this much foresight.

(To be continued... Check back on Friday to read the second part of the blog.)