Keep Her Clean

Walking through the trails of the Adirondack mountains allows those on the trails to admire the beauty of the wilderness in its natural state. The sights can be breath taking. This is in vivid contrast to the sights that most of us see walking down our streets or driving to the store. I was on my daily 30 minute jog through my neighborhood and I couldn't help notice all of the trash and litter that lined many of the streets. Highway 81 heading to Cortland from Syracuse and back, a trip I make at least 4 times a week, is just as bad if not worse. I often see everything from cigarette butts to shreds of tires from large trucks on the side of the road. Most of us pass it off as normal and this is partly why the problem has progressed over the years. Some of us are even guilty of contributing to the problem by throwing stuff out the window as we drive or dropping stuff as we walk and not picking it up. Raising awareness is the first step in fighting this problem and following principles such as the 7 set by an organization know as Leave No Trace can be applied to our home environments not just the wilderness.

Leave No trace is an organization that looks to educate people about the outdoors and teach them about preserving the natural beauty of the outdoors and lessen the impact that they may leave while enjoying the outdoors. Leave No Trace offers seven principles to follow to help their mission to be successful. They are:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

4. Leave What You Find

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

6. Respect Wildlife

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Following these seven principles can greatly reduce the impacts that we make on nature and can help to preserve the beauty of the wilderness. Many of these same principle can be applied to daily life to help reduce the impacts that we leave in our home environments and thus reduce pollution and create a healthier, cleaner environments for all of us, and our children, to enjoy. Enjoy the earth, and help her stay clean.

Cascade Mountain Trip

Got my fix for hiking the High Peaks this past weekend as my fiancee and I took a trip to Cascade Mountain for a day hike. What a beautiful weekend for hiking. The morning started off quite rough for us. We woke up an hour late, we couldn't find the directions and trip itinerary that we had initially planned, and we were both bickering with one another because we were both feeling a bit stressed. We decided to split up the duties so we could get the things we needed to get done finished and we could do it without stepping on each others toes.

We got those things done, and we were off. A nice 4 hour drive at 7 am allowed us to catch up on the last week and talk about plans for the near and far future. We arrived at the trailhead around 11 am, geared up, signed the registry and things couldn't be better. We hiked up Cascade Mountain, a gorgeous trail and pretty easy, enjoyable hiking the entire way, in just under 2 hours. Apparently Cascade Mountain is quite the popular trail for hikers. When we were hiking up the mountain, we only passed about three other groups on the ascent, but as we reached the summit, there was barely a spot to sit and each lunch. However, we found a ledge for ourselves, ate lunch, laid out in the sun for a while and took a bunch of pictures before beginning the descent.

The descent was pretty easy and we made it down the mountain back to the car in just over an hour. We headed back and stopped off at some of the local stores to look at some kayaks, canoes, and other gear before heading back to Syracuse. My only regret for the whole trip was the missed opportunity to hike Porter Mountain, another high peak, that same day. As we were heading to the summit, there was a trail junction with a sign that read “Porter Mt. .7 (ascent 270')” with an arrow indicating to take the trail to the right. We decided that we would finish the ascent to the summit of Cascade and decide whether or not to make the trip to Porter on the descent. Upon our descent, we decided not to hike Porter because we were a bit tired, the knees were a bit sore, and we had a long drive back home ahead of us. When I got home that night, I read some information about Porter Mountain and found out that it was one of the 46 high peaks and one that I had not yet done. When I read this, I was a bit disappointed because I could have been one mountain closer to being a 46er, but I didn't lose much sleep over the missed opportunity. Live and learn I guess. Overall, the trip was a wonderfully enjoyable experience that I was able to share with my fiancee and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I Think I'm Obsessed. Is That Bad?

What is it about hiking that has fueled this obsession? Why do I feel like a junkie with an addiction? Why can't I go even one day without thinking about hiking a mountain, or backpacking some ridiculous distance? Is this bad? God, I hope not and if it's wrong then I do not want to be right ever again. I don't know why I began hiking or when I fell in love with the sport, but I am glad I started and I have most definitely fallen in love the the sport, and fallen hard. There are so many benefits associated with the sport that I can't even think of them all and there are probably so many more that I don't even know of, but I do know there are quite a few reason why I have become obsessed.

One of the main reasons I have become so obsessed with and have developed a love for hiking is because how fresh the sport is to me. I have only started hiking last year so the sport is still new and I have only scratched the surface of all that hiking has to offer. Because it is still new, each time I go off on another excursion, it is a totally unique experience for me and I don't think that this will change no matter how long I continue to hike. I also enjoy the sport so much because each time is a learning experience. I usually learn a lot when I'm on the trails. It may be something about the mountains, about hiking technique, history, or even about myself.

Another reason I have become obsessed with hiking is for the scenery. The beauty of nature that you can experience while out in the wilderness is nothing short of breathtaking. From the majestic views from the summit of a mountain to the fantastic flora and fauna found throughout the area. While I am out on the trails in pursuit of a summit, I find myself at a whole other level of living. I am so much more in touch with nature and with myself. I love all of the personal reflection that I experience while trekking the mountains. Each time I set out on another Adirondack adventure, I leave as one person and come back a changed man, more in touch with my inner self and a step closer to the man I desire to be and man I am becoming.

I also enjoy hiking because it is an escape. I leave all of the troubles and worries of my daily life behind and I am on a mini-vacation with a clear mind. No technology to distract or annoy me. I can go on these vacations alone or with a friend or even a group. I can take a vacation for a day, like the one I have planned for tomorrow. Yes, I am so obsessed with hiking that I couldn't wait all the way until October 2^nd to go again, so I planned a day hike to Mount Colden with my fiancee for tomorrow. I'm like a junkie who needs his fix. (I am so excited I want to leave right now, I can barely focus!)

Finally, I know that a major reason that I am so obsessed with hiking is definitely the athlete in me. With any sport or game I play, whether it's foosball or baseball, I play and practice and train until I am better than anyone else I know and then I train, play and practice some more. Hiking is no different. I am obsessed with being the best I can be at it and being a 46er before any of my friends who have been hiking the high peaks much longer than myself. (Shhh, don't tell them.) Maybe I'm too competitive, but I love that drive and the adrenaline. I love the challenge of hiking. Every summit I strive to reach, presents many challenges and obstacles and I love it. You know what they say, “If it was easy, everybody would do it.” I'll be the first to tell you, it's not easy. That's probably why I love it too. I also love the exercise factor. I love the cardio workout it provides and the muscular strength and endurance it helps to build. You can get the workout that you want out of it everytime because you can challenge yourself as much as you want to. I love to push myself as you all probably know by now and I push it everytime. I also love the fact that you can set goals during hiking and you can be a goal-oriented hiker. I have plenty of hiking goals already, such as becoming a 46er and hiking the highest peak in all 50 states, and I have only been hiking for a year or two. I can't wait to see what my goals are one year from now. I often set out to conquer a mountain and cross it off my list, but as Sir Edmund Hillary once said, “ It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”

These are just some of the reasons that I have become so obsessed with hiking and why I love the sport so much. Why do you love the sports that you do?.

Hiking for Healthy Living

Hiking is a sport that improves many aspects of health Not only will it improve physical health, but the mental and social health benefits are equally rewarding. Many people classify hiking and kayaking and other sports of this nature as “individual” sports, but I find that it can be as much of a team sport as you want it to be. For me, it is a group sport, and I prefer it when it is just my fiancee and I. I like it as a couples sport I guess. Over the past few years, my lady and I have really got into hiking and have developed a real passion for it. It is a great activity that we can share and reap all of the benefits that go along with it.

Recently, we took a whitewater rafting and hiking trip with three other couples, whom are all either related or really close friends with us. It was quite the bonding experience for all of us as a group and especially for me and my girl.

Imagine three days in the wilderness with only the company of your loved ones and the beauty of nature to enjoy. No real cell phone reception, no traffic, and no worries. It was great! We started off with a group whitewater rafting trip, where we all worked together to maneuver down the Black River through the rapids. “3 forward!” the river guide shouted, instructing us all to paddle 3 strokes forward. The thrusts of power we exerted propelled us down the river heading right for some rapids.
“Who wants to try to surf this one?” He asked. “Yea, let's do it” we all bellowed back. After going through the rapid, we turned ourselves around and paddled with all of our might following the commands given to head straight back into the rapid from behind. Once we finally got into it, it was hold on fall in. All form and technique flew out the window in exchange for grab onto whomever and whatever to keep yourself in the raft.For a minute there, I was actually being held in the raft by the raging water slamming on top of me and pushing me into the bottom of the raft. Before I knew it the raft spun out about 90 degrees and I was out of it, in the rapid itself curled up in a ball waiting to be spit out. I'm not going to lie, I was scared for a second.
I made it out okay, looked at my crew, half of whom were in the water with me, and remember yelling to them all “That was AWESOME!” Once we all made it back in the raft the guide called for a paddle check and we all raised our paddles and shouted “Sharkbait hoo ha ha!” a goofy team chant we made up before the event. What a great time we all had.

The next day we woke up bright and early and got ready for another adventure. We drove to the trailhead of Ampersand Mountain. Here we started as a group, but since we all had different paces it ended up more of a couples hike. My girl and I spent most of the hike talking and enjoying the beauty of the hike, sweating and keeping pretty good pace all the way up to the summit. What a view. We must have spent 20 minutes sitting atop the mountain in silence, sitting next to eachother, just enjoying the company of eachother and the majestic beauty of the Adirondacks.
The outdoors can provide many health benefits and probably more benefits when activities are shared with a partner or group. Take hiking for example. Hiking is great calorie burner, cardiovascular workout, and terrific for building leg muscle. This also provides many opportunities to bond with your partner, with nature, and provides a multitude of opportunities to get in touch with yourself and time for personal reflection. These are all terrific for your mental and social health. There are so many benefits that it is hard to name them all. So next time you are looking for a great exercise and way to spend time with your partner, go for a hike, climb a mountain or go rafting down a river. I guarantee you won't regret it.

What Drives You?

I am competitive to say the least. My friends often say that sometimes I am too competitive. Is there such a thing? I don't know, but where does this competitive drive come from? What fuels me to push on and strive to excel?

For example, SUNY Cortland requires that all P.E. majors complete the Outdoor Adventure Education for Teachers class at Raquette Lake (PED 308). Part of the course involves a 5 day extended wilderness trip where students choose what type of trip they would like to go on depending on their abilities and preference. There were many choices for us to choose from including 90% paddling (canoeing), 50/50, Peaks & Paddle, High Peaks Moderate, and High Peaks Intense. After taking some time to think about it, I decided that I wanted to push myself; test myself if you will. I signed up for High Peaks Intense. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. What motivated me to sign up for this trip? Was it the thrill of pushing myself? Was it the people in the peanut gallery whispering that the intense trip will be too hard? Maybe it was my friend Shawn, pumping me up to go home having hiked more high peaks than all of my hiking buddies who have been going longer than I have. Who knows?

The day before the trip I met with my group members and our instructor and TA who would be going on the trip with us. We formed our team, Team 18, and discussed the goals for the trip after some team building exercises on the high and low ropes courses. We really began to bond during these exercises and learned about the many strengths and weaknesses of our team and the individuals within the team. That night we were all very excited about the trip. In planning the trip with our instructor, we decided that we were very motivated and we wanted to try to do something that noone else in the sixty year history of the program has ever done. We wanted to hike 18 Adirondack high peaks in 4.5 days. The previous record was 15 high peaks as an entire group, and the individual record was 16 high peaks. I think that was a huge source of motivation for my team and for myself. Going down in Cortland history among 60 years of Physical Education majors has to be motivating and quite an achievement. That's what I kept thinking all night long before the trip. I was also thinking 'What am I nuts? Are we all nuts? Obviously there is a reason the record is what it is. This is going to be brutal.'

Without getting into too much detail, 6 out of us 8 team members hiked 18 of the Adirondack Mountain high peaks. The other 2 hiked 6 mountains. There were many times along the way where I began thinking 'Why did I sign up for this? This is too hard. I want to quit.' I never succumbed to those thoughts, however. I remember one point in particular that was a major test of my drive and desire to complete this task. We had just climbed Mt. Marcy (the highest point in New York State) for the second time, we had to go over it to get to get to other peaks, and my instructor who was following behind me noticed some bruising on the back of my knees. After further examination, we noticed that there was quite a bit of fluid building up in my knees and the backs of both of my knees were very bruised from overuse. At that point, my instructor looked at me and said, "Maybe we should call it for you (end my climbing). What do you think?" I looked at him and told him," I'm getting my 18 mountains. I'll take it day by day because I don't want to risk permanent damage, but I think I'll be o.k. and I want 18." At that moment, I knew I had it in me and I was going to achieve my goal. He gave me the okay and after 7 more high peaks I achieved my goal. I hiked 18 high peaks in 4.5 days.

That was by far the most grueling, brutal, and challenging physical activity that I have ever done. In the end, I think it was the one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of my life so far. But what drove me to thrive, with all of the forces against me achieving my goal pushed me to succumb? There were many motivating factors. There was the intrinsic reward and the beauty all around me. There were the whispers of others in my head that I heard saying 'You can't do 18. That's crazy. That's way too hard.' There was the support and desire of my entire team wanting to achieve this goal together. I give them a lot of the credit. Without those guys with me, I never would've been able to accomplish this feat. However, my biggest inspiration was my fiancee and my family at home. Before I left for the trip, I wrote my lady a letter and in the letter I told her that I was going to make her proud and break the record and hike 18 high peaks. When I was out on this trip, I thought about achieving this goal and making her proud of me for making it. I also thought of my Mom. My mom is an amazing woman with more drive and determination and she exhibits more selflessness than any other person I have ever known of in my life. I wanted to make her proud too. I knew that when I came home and told her of my adventure that she would be proud of me. Who doesn't want to make mama proud? I also thought of my Dad and his love of the Adirondacks and how proud he would be. My other motivating factor was my 5 younger brothers and sisters. I wanted to set an example for them and show them that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. This is what motivates me to excel.

What motivates YOU?