#Adventure4Life: My Colorado Triathlon

** I had originally planned to share my recap of the Knife’s Edge on Capitol Peak with y’all today, but there was a death on the mountain this weekend. In light of that tragedy, it seems tacky and disrespectful, so I’m choosing to wait a week or two. This climber’s death was a reminder that mountaineering, no matter how “fun” or trivial it seems, is inherently dangerous. Thanks for understanding.**

A few months back, I was contacted by Lauren Rains of Outdoor Minded Mag, an online publication that is considered a hub for people who love the outdoors. She was assembling a team of 25 individuals from across the United States for a project called #Adventure4Life. In short, each person would be embarking on a personal adventure of his choosing, all in order to fundraise money for a nonprofit called Epic Experience. EE is a grassroots organization that offers free, one-week outdoor experiences for those who have or are currently battling cancer. Obviously, offering outdoor programs such as this isn’t free, nor is it cheap. That’s where the #Adventure4Life experience comes in!

Starting yesterday, July 21, myself and the other 24 adventurers will take off on our personal challenges in hopes of raising $25,000 for EE. As of this moment, we have already fundraised closed to $5,000, but there is still a ways to go. For those that have read my blog for awhile, you may remember that my Aunt died last January from a long battle with cancer, and I still miss her every day. She helped with my delivery when I was born since my parents didn’t make it to the hospital in time; she went hiking with us in the mountains of Colorado when we were kids; and she was always one of those family members that held a special place in my heart. I agreed to join the #Adventure4Life experience in her honor.

As for me, I will be embarking on my epic adventure next Sunday, July 28. What will I be doing? My own version of a Colorado triathlon! However, instead of the traditional swim-bike-run, I decided to put a twist on the sport that makes it far more adventurous….and much more my style! I will be summiting Mt. Sherman, a 14er here in Colorado, mountain biking the descent, and then inflating a packraft before paddling the rest of my way down the valley. So, instead of swim-bike-run, I guess I’ll be looking at a day full of hike-ride-paddle!

This Colorado triathlon will be an adventure for a variety of reasons. First of all, I have never EVER descended a 14er with a mountain bike! I carefully analyzed the 14ers because I wanted to find a peak that I was sure I could ride down without breaking my face, and I’m pretty confident that Sherman will lead me to success. Additionally, this will be my first go-round with packrafts, and I’m really hoping that I easily pick up the sport. Packrafting is a critical element of our Alaska trip next month, so I’m using my #Adventure4Life experience to help prepare me for Gates of the Arctic. Fortunately, Amy Hatch of Jackson Hole Packraft: Packraft Rentals Anywhere agreed to help me out with a raft by offering to ship out packrafts via her business for me to use next weekend. I owe her HUGE for this and am beyond thankful!

Keep your eyes peeled on Twitter and Instagram this week for the hashtag #Adventure4Life: many of the other adventurers are embarking on their own challenges including a 48-hour trail run from the Continental Divide, kayaking the Greek islands, and literally rock climbing a vertical mile. And, of course, I’d love for you to donate if at all possible. I didn’t set an individual goal for myself, but I know how important this is to thousands of cancer survivors, and I want to show them as much support and love as I can. If you can afford to donate, please click here.

Thank you!!!

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