What

This will be a little bit of a change for me in that this trip will be guided.

I feel it needs to be as there are many skills required like belaying, rock climbing, rescue, roping up, etc etc.

Fitness levels will also be very important. I learn from each trip, and I know my endurance both mental and physical is decent but my overall body strength needs improving. In that regard I have been trying to build a little strength without growing too much muscle, and weight.  That said I’ve never had a problem of too much strength lol.

My biggest concerns this time are still my knees though they have been surprisingly good. Now I’m also worried about strength and not being able to pull off some of the required skills like straining on steep elevations where the air is thin and climbing vertical rock walls, with long drops, at elevation.

Take a look at my blog posts (below) as they get made, hopefully, daily.

I have two more goals I’d still like to achieve before age finally catches up with me. But first I need to make sure I can pull these 2 off. I’ll need strength, endurance, fitness, and an ability to handle elevation.

If this trip works out Id like to climb Mont Blanc (4809 m) in the french Alps and if that works then something like Aconcagua (6961 M) in Argentina or Pico de Orizaba in Mexico (5636 m).

I feel I need to move in stages to build up and learn. Beyond endurance I need experience with weather, elevation, and exhaustion. 

Then I’ll stop… and move on to scenic endurance hikes but at lower elevations with the grandkids.

The trip I have planned is actually two adventures:

Mount Cline 3361 Meters

&

Mount Athabasca 3491 Meters

Both in the Canadian Rockies near Red Deer Alberta

Interesting videos to Help you Understand these climbs

Mount Cline

Mount Athabasca 1

Mount Athabasca 2

There are 2 for Athabasca because it will be a game day decision regarding which route is taken. Depends on my skills.