This will be the longest of my
journal entries. The first day of an
Outward Bound trip is very long and packed full from sunrise to well after
sunset. Both of the trips I've been on
have started the same, dealing with the mass of humanity that airports bring to
ending the day sleeping in the backcountry.
Nothing like an “alpine start” to a
mountaineering trip, I was up at 0330 for a buddy to pick me up and drive me to
the airport for my early morning flight.
He dropped me off at the terminal about an hour before my flight and
with my early departure I moved through security quickly and easily. With time to spare before my flight the
waiting game and people watching is about to begin.
I started
to reread Ed Viesters Will to Climb
on the flight. I find this book very
enjoyable and inspirational. Ed has made
some amazing accomplishments while balancing it with his family life. It really helps to read about how someone as
accomplished as he is in the world of mountaineering still struggles with the
guilt of leaving his family to do adventures.
Even though
these Outward Bound Veterans trips are very important to me I still feel guilty
leaving Amy to take care of things while I’m gone. Over the past 20 years between the military
and adventures she’s had to take care of the home front over and over again,
she’s pretty amazing. McKinley hasn't
made this one any easier on me, when we put her to bed last night she was
crying. While I was in Detroit I called Amy, I guess McKinley was
crying on the way to school. I’m sure
she’ll pay me back someday when I’m taking her to the airport to head out on
adventures of her own. Elias is sick
with a seal bark cough. Boy this doesn't get any easier on my guilt; I've
dumped a lot on Amy for this week. While
in Bend I did
get to Facetime with McKinley, which I think did make both of us feel better.
The flights
were pretty good other than the kid in his twenties I had to sit by on the
flight from Portland to Bend .
It is amazing how some people don’t realize if you’re going to be in the
close confines of an aircraft you need to shower! Pepe le Pew would have been better to sit by.
Once on the
ground in the Bend
terminal it is pretty obvious who all is in our group. Tony our coordinator, who I've spoken to on
the phone, is carrying a clipboard and wearing an Outward Bound
sweatshirt. All the other guys standing
around with short hair and military bearing are obviously on our trip. Even Sammi, the lone female, stands out; her
military bearing is unlike the college students milling about. John, an amputee (right arm below the elbow),
and Scott were roommates overseas but didn’t know each other were on the trip
and hadn't seen each other since the day John was hit. Tony (different from our coordinator) and
Fred deployed together but the rest of us don’t know each other, yet.
After quick
introductions we loaded the van make a stop at a grocery store for any last
minute needed items and we were off for the Three Sisters Wilderness area. One thing is for sure I don’t care what
branch of the service you were in get a bunch of military guys in a van and
everyone quickly makes friends. It was
about an hour and a half drive to the trailhead with another stop at a coffee
shop of course.
At the trailhead we met our guides Drew and Justin both
really nice guys. Justin wears an Emler
Fudd hat and is really down to earth and laid back. Drew is “Joe Cool”, but without any type of
attitude. We quickly move right into the
shake down of our gear and packing. On
these Veteran’s trips you’re treated very much like adults. During 
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