Okay, if you’ve been following my blog then we need to back up before the PCT.  Consider this a flashback amid the other flashbacks.  While I was on the Appalachian Trail in 2005 I realized how important family was.  And in the January 2006 I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with family – on Mount Kilimanjaro.

There she is…

I wasn’t necessarily a prime candidate for climbing Kilimanjaro.  I had never been mountaineering, I didn’t like being cold, and I was poor.  But two very important family factors made it possible for me to go to Africa.  First of all my cousin Wende married someone famous, at least I think he is famous.  He is a mountain climber and photographer and an overall phenomenal person.  His name is Jake Norton and he and my wonderful cousin live in Colorado (that is a state shout-out for all you local mountain shoppers).  Jake has been up on Everest a couple times and he was even part of the expedition that found Mallory’s body.

So yes, Jake was 50% of the equation.  I tried to make a mental note not to go mountaineering when I saw several of his groomsman missing digits [Read More]