Thank You Boss

Chris Berlin, GM at Oakland Hills has been a big supporter of fundraising for the staff and for my Wish Climb. Chris has been at Oakland since 2009, cares deeply about servicing the members, readily accepts change and allows the staff to run their respective departments.

Thanks Chris and Jennie for your generous support of my Make-A-Wish project.

Donations Continue

Thank you to all the donors who have now pushed us over $18,000! Contributions continue on an almost daily basis and we have already granted our first wish. More details on that upcoming.

I continue my fitness plan at D1 in Bloomfield hills and Crossfit Justice in Milford. Along with strength training, stretching, hiking and swimming I'm feeling great ... and confident.

Gear Check

The recent snow was a great opportunity (5degF) to take a hike and check gear and with winter leaving us soon in Michigan, these opportunities won't last long. Pack, mountaineering boots, layering system, gloves etc. Using all these pieces in cold weather is critical to success on the mountain at altitude. Walking with 60#'s in deep snow is a chance to work on posture: walking upright smoothly and deliberately takes practice and will be important on Ama Dablam.

If you'd like to be a Wish Granter, you can donate here:  http://friends.wish.org/022-000/page/Steven-Cook/Steve's-Wish-Climb.htm



Island Lake state park

Today

I spent the week last week getting back to the gym and working on my fitness. For the next several weeks I'll be focused on strength and base cardio, then when the weather turns I'll take those gains outside.

The snow yesterday and today was a great opportunity to check my gear and layering systems. I won't have that opportunity again when spring arrives. Maneuvering gloves, hats, boots and eyewear is much more difficult with large gloves on, gloves that cannot be taken off at altitude. So getting comfortable changing and handling gear with large gloves is critical. Any wasted energy handling gear is energy not available for climbing. Efficiency is key!

climbing on Ama Dablam