As I promised about two entries ago, I would give a detailed description of what I am carrying up the Gavin Hill/Harbor Mountain Trails in the event I run into a bear, wolverine, avalanche or Taliban. If you are familiar with SE Alaska you know the only thing we have not confirmed as being up in the Baranof Island mountains are Taliban. Anyway, I was going to provide a detailed description of the Emergency Action Pack, but since I have a small attention span, I keep getting interested in other things (ooo, butterflies!) and the pack planning keeps getting sidetracked. So far, the EAP consists of a Camelback water system, whistle, knife, light and Vaseline. I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with the Vaseline, but since I told my buddy Feve I would bring it, I figured I should because how often does something suggested as an offhanded joke and then discarded be needed later on in an actual emergency? I know, I don't want to take that chance either.
By the way, anyone who can come up with a reasonable explanation for the preceding sentence, that does not involve mental deficiency as the primary reason, will have a $25 donation to the memorial fund made in their name. If you can diagram the sentence and email to me, I will donate $50 and post it on the blog (the sentence diagram).
Ok, so another reason why you are not getting the full EAP list are the recent news items that Usama bin Laden was an avid email correspondent. Now I'm sure there were dozens, probably hundreds of emails about bringing down Western civilization and starting the Islamic Caliphate to stretch once again from the Western Med to the Pacific, but I have to believe there were a couple of run of the mill "admin" emails from a guy who did not leave his house for over, apparently, five years:
Dear Ali,
I got your last email, thank you for paying my late fine to the Abottabod Blockbuster for the third season of Lost. I haven't seen season four and I don't want to get on the late fine watch list with that shop. If you have a chance, could you pick a magic 8 ball on your next trip to the market? My eight kids are getting kind of bored cooped up in here and I also could use another resource when making major decisions. Hope all is well. Talk to you soon,
binnie
Sorry for the digression, but I think it's possible, however remote. So the training continues for the BIG RUN. Swam twice this week and ran once so far (if you've got a chance to check out the Sitka FAA weather cam today do it-it is awesome out), plus I walked across town (once again, harder than it sounds for someone like me).
I see there is a question in the back, go ahead, "Mike, you can't swim up Gavin Hill can you? Why are you swimming so much?" Great question, I'm really glad you asked.
As part of the whole training process I am undertaking (specialized diet, positive mental attitude, hyperbaric sleeping chamber, HGH), I am trying to get into aerobic shape without getting so sore that it takes just over 12.5 hours to finish the 7 mile course (Marty Martenson, I understand, 4.5 miles in an hour and 15 minutes is slow, but the Alpine Run is STRENUOUS, it says so four times on the flyer). I figure swimming is a good full body workout, it makes me feel like running is actually easier because I don't feel like I'm drowning and my wife seems to enjoy it when I wear my bathing suit. Another fantastic unintended consequence of this training regimen is that I intend to compete in the Julie Hughes Triathalon, Couch Potato division. This triathalon has been going for over 20 years up here in Sitka and it raises money for cancer research.
Another big upside is you can pick one of the three stages and use a golf cart to complete it. If you do use the golf cart option, you have to go 30 seconds in Eliason Harbor with an orca.
I'm kidding, there is no couch potato division and the golf cart option was outlawed 4 years ago after the orca sprained its dorsal fin. There is a Julie Hughes Triathalon and it is a great event-I highly recommend you check into it because it is fun for all ages.
One final piece of admin business. I have unfortunately provided some bum information regarding the Sitka Alpine Run. The official Sitka Alpine Run is run by the Horan family and is not affiliated to the Sitka Adventure Sports website. If you want to get on the waiting list for this year's Alpine Run please contact Chris Horan at horan@acsalaska.net.
Next week I will get another update into the blogosphere on my race/triathalon preps, release the actual run date and give you my observations on nostril hairs in your mid-30's and the risks of teaching your children how to read. Hello to all my viewers from the UK, Turkey and Malaysia!
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