new year’s resolutions

[larry savage]

Here in the Northwest USA it's winter, [we really only have two seasons winter and mild winter] a time to contemplate, a time to make unreasonable resolutions.
There is no carryover for me from last year, I only had one week left to climb Annapurna and learn to salsa dance, the permitting was killing me for my solo expedition as I actual forgot to apply for a permit lacking the necessary baksheesh. There was a slim window where I might be able to complete the climb and salsa dance on the summit, but alas the sands in the hour glass ran out on this aging mountaineer.
Time to move onto the new and untried, time to dream big, maybe buy some new crappy thing, fire the imagination…so before I post my goals for 2008 maybe a few of you would share yours.[Oh yeah, E.Washington State has 4 seasons-snow,mud,dust,and fire]

[Adam Rothermich]

My goal is to thru-hike the Ozark Trail here in Missouri. To my knowledge it has only been done by one person, though the trail is a work in progress. I'm planning on using my Spring Break this year to do it, so I've got 9 days to do 220-230 miles. I plan on spending the 3 months until then getting myself in to good enough shape to feel like I can do it.
That's my main focus right now, though I'll still have 3/4 of the year to do other things. I'll figure that out later :).

Adam

[Anitra Kass]

Larry,
I have goals rather than resolutions. I noticed that I've never kept something that I called a resolution but I've achieved many goals.

Goals for this year…
First 1/3 of year: Visit my cousin who is living in Colombia (the country) and the Galapagos islands with his family.

2/3: go on a backpacking trip with my father (that's at least a week long).

3/3: move to a better place. I live a very comfortable life but I need to move to a place where the general populace is more into health and fitness, there are health food stores and/or local farmers markets, that the people my age speak English (I live in the high desert of SoCal, currently) and oh yeah, I can get a job that is fun but also pays well. And set my self up for a great 2009.

General and maybe boring but definitely on my most important list for the year!
NITRO

[W I S N E R !]

Hello all:
Here's what I'm shooting for this year

1. Run an ultramarathon trail race (either 50k or 50 mile)
-already have been training for a few weeks, currently working on marathon distances. Last year I went up to running 20 miles in training and got injured (overtraining)so I'm trying to start over and do it right.

2. Summer '08: finish solo of JMT. I bailed on a solo last summer about 6 days into it due to a foot injury. I was doing about 20 miles/day. I haven't decided if I'll start over completely or just finish from where I left off. I'm excited to get out there again and leave everything I didn't use last time at home!

3. Get into the Sierras more period…Living in Pasadena, I can get to Lone Pine/Independence in 3.5 hours- there's really no excuse for not taking more weekend trips up there, even overnighters.

4. Start looking into adventure racing/find a team/possibly go solo.
If anyone has any tips on getting started here, let me know. I'm ok at distance running (not fast, but can go a long time), have completed many ultracycling events (many 100 milers, a few 200 milers), decent at mtn biking, been rock climbing for about 5 years, ok at orienteering.

Cheers everyone, have fun out there!

[Aaron Sorensen]

This year will be an easy year compared to last year.

Lots of Mt bike riding.
About 1,200 miles of running.
Plenty of good kayaking on my new kayak.
As many fastpacking weekend trips as possible.

Primal Quest Montana in June.
Tahoe Rim Trial Unsupported without Resupply attempt early September.
San Francisco 1 day run in Oct.

I had to add this part due to Dougs post.
Get pack-list below 3.5 lbs, (right on, me too).

[EndoftheTrail]

No resolutions per se; just some traveling/hiking plans. Thus far:

1. March – traveling solo for one month to Egypt, Jordan and Israel
2. July – Yosemite hike / Mt. Gregornio hike
3. August – Mt. Whitney hike
4. November – Panama Canal cruise (celebrating dad's 80th)

[J Her]

Craig W:
I just did a 50K with my GF (now fiance) in VA on 12/16. It was awesome! Our goal was to do it together and we did it in 5:33 with aid station stops and race-walking up a few big hills. We were 16th and 17th out of about 100 and my fiance was the first woman. With all training, you don't need to run 30 miles in order to do a 50K. After about 15 miles, it's all mental. You keep the same pace and just keep on going.

Some of my goals for 2008 are:
*Get engaged! DONE
*Mt Rogers hike
*A pair of 14ers in CO (havent decided which ones yet)
*Hike the Maryland portion of the AT
*Work on my MYOG projects
*An Ultra or 50 Miler (possibly the JFK 50)

[Michael Skwarczek]

Congratulations J Her!

pour moi:
My first Olympic distance Tri, toward qualifying for the Escape From Alcatraz in SF.
Conditioning for 25mi pack distances on consecutive days.
Further afield without a GPS.
Daily meditation.
A consistent 16oz boil on 1/2oz fuel with a Heine pot.

I could probably accomplish the meditation goal while waiting for all those test pots to boil.

-Michael

[Doug Johnson]

Complete the Triple 50- 3 back to back 50 mile days on the PCT in Oregon. I tried this a couple of years back and had to bail due to snow overload. So this year I'm on track and going for it again!

Sub goals:
-lose 15 pounds
-lift weights through June while slowly building on snowshoeing and mountain biking and moving to long mileage days
-get my SUL pack to sub 3.5 (yeaH brother!- giggle, giggle)
-remain joyous as I plan, train, and finally put the rubber to the trail. I'm stoked!

I'm also jazzed to take my son Henry for several summer backpacks and to watch this super energetic toddler explore beautiful places.

Last, I'm applying for jobs as an elementary principal this Spring. Wish me luck!

[Jeremy Cleaveland]

Doug, LUCK!

those are big goals. 50 miles 3 days in a row?? do you ever sleep? that's like ultramarathoning, but unsupported.

my unofficial goals (all in my "backyard" in the San Juans):
attempt Half Peak's steep, chossy Northwest Ridge. It may be a first ascent, with good reason. the rock is terrible.

telemark ski some 14ers.

work on ultra-length trail/mountain runs

I am gear manager and food manager for a wilderness program that has a serious weight problem for the backpacking trips, so I'd love to drop some major weight from our camper's backs.

[Stuart Burke]

My two main goals for 2008 are get in to pharmacy school and hike the AT. I realized (after discussions with my wife) that if I get into pharmacy school that this would be a good summer for a long hike because we will be in a state of transition. The one down side is that I only have 100 days to hike because I am in school until may 10th and pharmacy school starts after labor day. I am making plans as if I will hike the whole trail but am willing to change my plans and hike less of the trail if I have to.

[Graham Sims]

Get into much better shape.
Take the old man hiking.
Lots of sewing and tinkering
Long Trail no resupply

[Sam Haraldson]

1. Go on at least three more winter overnighters.
2. Go on at least one canoe trip.
3. Do the annual backpacking trip with my not-so-ultralight buddies (and get them to work towards going ultralight).
4. Put together a truly SUL kit.
5. Turn current ultralight kit into a ultralight/ultradurable kit.
6. Add a MYOG pack and quilt to my MYOG kit.
7. Start to collect thriftstore gear for distribution to programs dedicated to youth backpacking.

[larry savage]

The challenge for me with realistic goals or resolutions is to honor the physical changes that are occuring to me as an aging mountaineer.
The heart of a lion, the body of an injured wildebeest as they say…
1. Absolutely limit my solo trips to shallower wilderness forays.
2. A couple of epic mountain bike trips.
3. No more pure ice climbs, no more pure rock climbs … only mixed mountaineering routes and peak bags.
4. One epic trail run this autumn carrying ul bivy gear and food.
5. Sort and scan 4 decades of wilderness slides and prints. [a multi year project I've got to get started on]
6. Coach Special Olympics cross-country skiers this winter.
7. Balance my various work loads [teaching and engineering] with family and friends.
8. Continue harassing art directors with my cartoons.
9. And for Dave, less "whack" posts here at BPL.

[Author]

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