Hello from Maui everyone,I thought I'd let you all know what's been going on with my training for my upcoming fundraising climb in the Alps. The first two photos here are what I have to look forward to if we do the Grand Traverse. The other photo is a view from the Skyline Trail on Haleakala. I have to admit I was pretty nervous about this climb but I'm feeling a little better the more I train. The first part of it where we hike around the base of the mountain (Tour du Mont Blanc) is a no brainer. Just hiking at altitude which I'm pretty good at. But the last 3 days will definitely be a challenge. There are 2 routes to the summit that we are considering. The guide will spend the first day reviewing our ice ax and crampon skills before deciding which way to go. The easier route has a higher success rate but is very crowded and apparently not as interesting. I'm attaching a YouTube clip of part of that route which, frankly, looks pretty damn interesting to me. Yikes!
The alternate route is called the Grand Traverse and actually includes 3 peaks. Solid ice ax and crampon skills are required (I've only done one technical mountain, I don't know how solid I am) but it is less crowded, has a more comfortable hut to sleep in and is supposedly much more spectacular scenery. Of course I want to reach the summit so I don't care which route we take but part of me really wants to rise to the challenge and do the harder route so I have been training my ass off. Literally. My jeans are falling down.I'm doing 6 days a week like last year but this year my favorite training run is on the Skyline trail on top of Haleakala. I start just below the observatory at 9500 feet and jog down about 3-4 miles then scoot up two little vent cone craters at about 8500 feet. Then, what goes down must go up, so I jog/walk back to the top. The jog/walk ratio is improving every week and I'm feeling a bit more confident since shaving 27 minutes off my best time last week. On Tuesdays I do my usual 7 mile trail run in the Makawao forest reserve. 2 days a week in the gym, interval training on the track and a long road run on Wednesday mornings keeps it balanced. The gym has this torture machine called a Versa-climber that I train on. It's an arms and legs workout that simulates climbing a ladder I guess. I'm whipped in 15 minutes! I don't know how I can run 8 miles and can't stay on this thing longer but I feel like it's helping me greatly. Fundraising is going slowly this year, understandably. Some of my big donors from the last 2 years have substantially lowered their contributions. But I'm confident I will reach my goal of $5000.00. I am hosting another benefit night at Flatbread Pizza in Paia and have gathered some fantastic items for my silent auction. To those of you who have already donated I give my most heartfelt thanks. Those of you who haven't yet, please know that no amount is too small. Even $5.00 donations add up in the long run. One of my steady supporters donates in installments. On the web page there is an option for this. She committed to $250 but only $50 comes out of her account every month. Below is donation information again.
On Line:
By Mail:
Check payable to Breast Cancer Fund
to Marie DeJournette
P.O. Box 791298
Paia, Hi. 96779
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