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A 10,000 Foot View From Camp Muir! Have you ever wanted to stand above the clouds and see the view from 10,000 feet?   Don't miss this amazing opportunity to achieve a goal that many only stand at sea level and dream they could accomplish! On Saturday, June 18th, 20-30 of us will set out from Paradise lodge (5400 feet elevation) and make our way up the 4-mile trail to Camp Muir at 10,000 feet - the base camp for Rainier summit expeditions. This hearty hike will be a climb you will remember for many years! The purpose of the hike is to raise funds for Legacy's 10 anniversary initiatives for 2011.  The goal for each hiker is to raise $1000 ($250 for HS & college students) through sponsorships. (More on that below.)  What a great way to reach a personal goal, challenge a friend, support an outstanding cause, and become an automatic member of Legacy's Club-10! Q & A Fund Raising Why should I do this hike? How much support should I raise? What will the money be used for? Training Are you serious?  Can I make it that far? What if I can't make it? Okay, how do I get ready for this? Equipment What are the essentials?   What are the nice-to-haves? Safety Is this safe? What about the weather? What are the risks? Three Steps to Start! Let us know you're hiking (email the Legacy team) Start your training! (see training Q&A on the left) Start your sponsor recruiting! (people will support what you are excited about!)     If you have other questions, please email them to Greg Abbott at greg@thelegacyinstitute.com

Fund Raising

Why should I do this hike?

1. The Legacy Institute is the leader in Sexual Integrity resources, and we need your help to expand the work of this great organization!  In particular, there are 10 initiatives set for this 10th year of Legacy, and why we're climbing to 10,000 feet!
   
2. Setting a personal goal.  How many years have you been looking at that mountain thinking, "...I wonder what it's like up there?"
3. Bring a son or daughter (High School and above), or a buddy that needs to achieve a personal milestone. This is one of those life-inspiring moments that spurs us on to achieve something great!
4. We will have lots of fun and great prizes!  (All Legacy events have great prizes!) 
5. You will become an automatic member of Legacy's Club-10 team - receiving 10 percent off all Legacy resources through the end of 2011!
   

How much support should I raise?

We are asking each hiker to set a goal of raising $1000.  The team goal is $20,000.  You can sponsor yourself or ask friends, family, co-workers to sponsor you to reach 10,000 feet for 1 penny a foot - that's a $100 donation. Or, ½ penny a foot is a $50 donation, or any other amount. The Legacy Institute is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.

What will the donations be used for?

The funds will be used to complete 10 initiatives that the Legacy team is seeking to complete during Legacy's 10th year!  These are:

1. Launch the True Beauty Bible Study to reach teen girls with the truth about Biblical femininity.
2. Coffee stand initiative (bikini baristas) to bring sexual integrity back to coffee.
3. The REAL Man Event - a city wide event for men featuring author/speaker David Murrow and Lorenzo Romar. (May 14th).
4. The Map: Directions to Manhood club - after school program form middle school guys on how to become men.
5. Emily's club - after school program to teach middle school girls how to become young ladies.
6. Daily radio show - 3:00-3:30pm on KGNW to reach thousands each day.
7. Legacy website and social media update.
8. Princess and Purity parties hosted by the Legacy team
9. 7th & 8th grade units updated to significantly enhance student learning
   

Training

Are you serious?  Can I make it that far?

That depends.  If your only form of exercise is quickly flipping channels with the remote, then probably not. But if you exercise regularly and walk/jog/run on hills, then you've got a chance.  A 4500 foot elevation gain is definitely a "hearty" hike, but if you can do Mt. Si comfortably (3500 feet in 4 miles) then you're looking good.  The elevation does play a role, it's similar to the end of a workout when you're breathing hard to catch up. However, when you're standing at 10,000 feet and look at that view, you won't even notice!

What if I can't make it?

This is not an all-or-nothing hike.  You can stop at any time and turn back, or wait for the group to pick you up on the way back down.  We will have at least a 'fast' and 'slow' group, and perhaps a 'just want to see how far I can go' group.  Just to go part way and experience the beauty of this mountain is still a marvelous thing. (But getting above the clouds is breathtaking...in every way!)

Okay, how do I get ready for this?

You won't be running up the mountain, so you don't have to run to prepare! (My doctor told me that when my knee was bothering me prior to my 2nd Rainier summit.)  Walking the hills in your neighborhood, or stairs in a building or stadium, are great ways to train.  Make sure that you're going vertical in your workouts.  Walking four miles on a flat road or track is of little value. If you use an eliptical trainer, make sure to spend one third of your time peddling backwards to work your thighs in preparation for the way down. (Note: the wonderful snow pack from this winter will make the trip back down the mountain MUCH easier on the legs - snow is much softer than the rocky trail!)

It's roughly 4+ hours to Camp Muir, and about half that coming back down.

Equipment

What are the essentials?

1. Good sturdy hiking boots. Running shoes or cross trainers will fail miserably. The wonderful snow pack from this winter will be a big help on the body, but you will want to have good waterproof hiking boots to keep your feet dry.
2. Really good sunglasses - preferably glacier rated glasses.  Don't mess around with this one.
3. Clothing - layering is key!  Synthetic base layer, wool or fleece insulating layers, soft shell outer layer (wind/water resistant).  Wise to have your ski jacket tucked in the bottom of your pack...just in case the weather changes quickly.
4. Wool cap & gloves.  Sun hat (I makeshift this with a ball cap and a bandana)
5. Camera!  the squirrels, marmots, deer, beautiful wildflowers, and views are all amazing
6. At least two large water bottles
   
7. A backpack to carry food, water, extra clothes
   

What are the nice-to-haves?

1. Trekking poles or ski poles.  (this is essential for us 'older' hikers ;-)
2. Gators - this will keep your feet dry and warm.
3. Slick pants or large garbage bag...for fast and fun glissading down the Muir snowfield!

Safety

Is this safe?  What about the weather?

During June there are almost always dozens or hundreds of hikers on this trail, so we won't be alone.  That said, weather can change quickly, so we will stay in groups, and have radio contact between the groups.  Each group will have experienced hikers.

We should all have proper clothing, so the mist/rain is not too big a deal (that's a great motivation to get above the clouds!), but the potential of snow is probably not something we'll mess with.Safety is the first priority!

What are the risks?

Anytime you go into the wilderness there are risks. As on any hike in the Cascades, there are rocks, cliffs, and dangerous places. It is always wise to use caution and know your limits.  90% of the Camp Muir hike is just "a normal hearty hike", but there are a couple tricky places. There are no crevasses to cover or catwalk trails on a cliff's edge...nothing like that.  (Note: when my son Tim was 10, we went on this hike and he made it past these tricky parts no problem and all the way to 9200 feet.)