I conquered this duo on my "Do the Deux"expedition
As the great John Muir once said, "The mountains are calling and I must go!" The "Do the Deux" or "Do the Two" (in plain English) expedition was a success summiting two of the six major Cascade Range volcanoes back to back with Paul, whom I met on Mt. Rainier the year before.
In my prior entry for climbing Rainier, was simply, "because I had to!" 2019 was very different. First, this expedition isn't because I have to. It is because I want to! I want to be in the mountains, I want to push myself to my limits and I want to see the views from the summits, because pictures and words can't explain what I saw and experienced on the summit of Mt Rainier and ultimately on Mt. Hood and Adams. Ultimately, the mountains were calling!
Mentally, I was in a much better game with work and life. Despite my "rope mate" aka Lauren, living in CT and me in PA, I had a better perspective on things. I learned a lot on Rainier about the sport of mountaineering, life and what I am made of. Mentally, I now know what it takes to climb these massive mountains, and I am better prepared to handle whatever comes at me. Physically I was strong, (not stressed) which made for more effective training.
Much like being unable to explain or provide words to describe my Mt. Rainier experience, words can't describe why I had to do this expedition. Interestingly enough John Muir who I quoted above once said that, "The mountains and wild places that we visit continually teach us new lessons." Mountaineering is the toughest, yet most rewarding thing I've ever done, mentally and/or physically, even compared to cycling at the pro level at the velodrome. I learn something new about myself and the skill of mountaineering each time. As mentally and physically ready that I am, I look forward to the continued challenges and lessons of each expedition.
Mt. Rainier taught me that nature provides me an inner calm, much like yoga does for many. It disconnected me from the chaos of the world and while on summit day at one point simply hoping for my body to be recovered from a deep aqua crevasse, to a spiritual high of inner peace. Rainier taught me as EriK Weihenmayer would say, "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way." Like a Jedi, or simply like Erik W or John Muir I am, and forever will be a student... of the mountains.
Climbing Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams gave me a renewed spirit, focus and priority. I am in a different space literally and figuratively, compared to a year ago, and I feel that I have the ability to do anything I put my mind and focus on, which is something that was missing a few years ago. This year, I realized how much I love my escapes from the world, leaving reality at the parking lot and gaining my inner calm and a clear mind, as the only voice I hear, is that of the nature around me.
Mike Libecki a climber and explorer once said, "The time is now! Why ration passion??? Dream BIG...and live those dreams!"
Climb On!