Just signed my life away

Sent in my forms that say "if you hurt yourself, or meet you demise on this trip, you're ok with that". With the quality of Adventur International's trip planning I have full confidence that we'll all come back with only excellent and awesome stories to tell!

21 Days: 3 weeks UNTIL 3 Peaks 3 Weeks

You know you're getting close to leaving when:

You start having dreams about items you forgot to take with you!  Unsettling to say the least.  I dreamed last night that I forgot not only my rain-pants (waterproof pants), but my sunglasses.  Two essential items, but if I had to pick one to bring it would definitely be the sunglasses.  I have had the same pair for the past 2 years or so, and cannot imagine being out in the sun for long periods of time without them! Polarized sunglasses are an absolute eye saver.

Nothing better than some Smith District IIs

Also, they are wayyyyy more effective than my other pair of sunglasses:

Good for some laughs and stares, not so much for sun protection.

Rain pants are something I actually wear around here in North Carolina, what with all the coaching I do in monsoons.  A good rain jacket, some rain pants, and duck boots and I stay dry while my players get soaked. I think they'll come in handy on the mountain if it becomes extremely windy near the top...they'll be good to keep out blowing snow!

I am getting my packing pile ready now, and going through my checklist so hopefully when it comes time to go, I will be all set.  Thanks Mom for the good list making skills.

22 days...3 Peaks 3 Weeks Official Website!

Here's the link to our official 3 peaks 3 weeks website...

3 Peaks 3 Weeks Info Site

Peaks Foundation Blog

The Peaks Foundation blog should have some updates while we are away, and I am planning on updating this blog as well.  Our guides will be texting down from the summits when we make it with a satellite phone (I have mixed feelings about this), so I'll let you know when I find out how to subscribe to that.

23 Days...Fundraising Challenge!

As I get closer and closer to the departure date, this trip is starting to feel real!  Both of my visas are taken care of, I got my shots and prescriptions ordered (Malaria pills and altitude medication), paid my final deposit for the trip, have plane tickets, all my gear...etc.  To date, I have raised about $15,000 for the 3 organizations we are supporting in Kenya and TZ.  In the month of December, donations are being matched 2 to 1 by a really cool foundation.  Just this past weekend, I received a $500 donation...which will be met with $1000 from the foundation!  If I can get a few more gifts of support...we'll have a crazy amount to send over and make a HUGE difference for these causes.  As a team, we've raised nearly $100,000!  Help us get farther along and make even more of an impact.  You can visit my FirstGiving page to make a donation.

FIRSTGIVING PAGE...CLICK HERE!

Every bit helps...and remember, a $25 donation turns into $75, so you know what that means for a $5,000 donation.....:)

24 Days...Happy Independence Days Tanzania and Kenya!

Celebrate!

Remarkably, Kenya and Tanzania celebrate their Independence Days within the same week in December.  Tanzania gained independence December 9th 1961 (or 1964), and Kenya gained independence on December 12th, 1963.  During World War II both countries were territories of the British, and transitioned to independence in the 50s and early 60s.

• Tanzania was known as Tanganyika until Zanzibar united with them...the name Tanzania comes from merging the names Tanganyika and Zanzibar somehow.
• Kenya is an incredibly diverse country, with loads of different ethnic groups and tribes represented

25 days until I arrive in Kenya!

I can't believe I'm only 25 days away, excitement is building. Each day leading up to my trip from here on out, you'll get a small update about what's going on with my preparations. I got my passport back in the mail last week, so now I have my Kenyan and Tanzanian visas ready to go. Whop whoop.

Linville Gorge

This past weekend I found some time to take a hike!  Labor Day weekend was my last weekend off until Thanksgiving, so relaxing and finding some time to get out of town was great.  I headed to Linville Gorge, near Asheville, NC with two friends to hike and swim. Located in Pisgah National Forest, the gorge encloses the Linville River for 12 miles.  There's a 1400 ft. drop from the top of the gorge down to the river, so hiking out at the end was a great workout!

This guy freaked me out when he greeted us near the top of the trail.

We had some nooks and crannies to work through.

Someone lost a shoe on the trail.

Made it down to the Linville River!

I did not make this arch. Or bring the tire down.  The arch is awesome. The tire is not.

Arch framing our private swimming hole. And by private I just mean nobody else was there.

Janel adding to the epic rock tower.

We took turns jumping off a giant rock. Robert.

Janel's turn. Shoulda been a cheerleader.

My turn!

This is the only footbridge that crosses over the Linville River in the Gorge.  Naturally, we clamored over rocks in the river to reach the bridge.

Bridge!

Made it back to the top! Great hike!

I always like feeling a "good sore" the next day.  After our climb back up, switchbacks for nearly 40 minutes, we were sweating big time, and my legs were slightly like jello the following morning.  All part of the preparation for some insane Africa hiking.