Sunday, December 17, 2000

Saturday, November 11, 2000

Mount Rogers, Virginia (5,729)

11th High Point Visited
19th Highest State High Point
16th Most Difficult

summitpost.org
wikipedia.org


This was a Heman Woman Hater's weekend road trip taken with Mike, Dave, and Scott. We drove from Columbus leaving about 5:00 pm and arriving at Grayson Highlands State Park by 11:30pm. We had planned on winter camping. We knew it was going to be cold, but when we arrived the temperature was 24 degrees with major winds. It was a cold night, but after some warm oatmeal everyone was in good spirits for the 5 hour 8.5 mile roundtrip hike to the summit.


 The trailhead was close to the camp ground and the trails seemed clearly marked. We hiked through a winter wonderland of frozen trees. We passed many hikers and back packers along part of the Appalachian trail we had to take. We ended up taking the horse trail for most of the way that runs along the Appalachian. Most of the hiking was wide open until the last half mile, which was heavily wooded. There is no view from the summit. When we arrived we had lunch and took a few photo's before the trip home. We found the Appalachian trail on the way home more beautiful and full of great views. We were surprised on the way up by the ponies on the trail. We paused for several photos with them. We decided to go back to Beckley, WV for the evening. We had dinner at Outback and cheered the Buckeye's to a victory. Scott & I camped Saturday night, but Dave and Mike got a hotel. We met in the morning at Tamarack and headed home. The weekend was fun, especially since it was the last weekend for the Z3! Mt. Rogers (5,729) was my 2nd highest peak, next to New Hampshire, but since a train was involved there, this is the highest hike.








 
Mount Rogers (5,720), Virginia - State Highpoint #11
 

Sunday, October 22, 2000

Marine Corps Marathon (Washington D.C.)

October 22, 2000
Marathon 13 (Age 32)
Washington DC
3:41:41
https://www.marinemarathon.com

 
















Saturday, October 21, 2000

National Mall



Ebright Azimuth, Delaware (448)

10th High Point Visited
49th Highest State High Point
49th Most Difficult

summitpost.org
wikipedia.org

 
1st high point with Homeyra as well as first out of Columbus road trip! Drove from Columbus to Wilmington, Delaware (470 miles) on Friday night leaving by 4:00pm, arriving at Bed & Breakfast called Darley Manor Inn Bed & Breakfast. We didn't arrive till after 11pm after driving 7 hours straight in the BMW Z3 which I had won as a sales promotion for the week from MOM. We had the top down from start till about 59 degrees half way through Pennsylvania. Lot's of cops, but dodged them with radar! We arrived and were amazed by the antiques about the place. The inn keeper invited us in and showed us to our room on the second floor. We awoke to a wonderful breakfast at 8:00am that we had ordered the night before. We were entertained by another couple that were guests and also the owner who was from North Carolina. We looked at the local maps and realized we were only a couple miles away from the HP, Ebright Azimuth, 448ft. This is the lowest HP in the states next only to Florida. Arriving at the sight was anti climatic. We found a sign on the corner of the road, no marker for this HP. We took several photos, and as we drove away Homeyra read about the history of the HP. On then to DC for the Marine Corps Marathon.



Ebright Azimuth (448), Delaware - State Highpoint #10

 

Friday, September 1, 2000

Black Mountain, Kentucky (4,129)

9th High Point Visited
27th Highest State High Point
42nd Most Difficult

summitpost.org
wikipedia.org


 After spending 3 days with the MOM Columbus team at Lake Cumberland, I chose not to drive home, but rather to journey across KY to summit Black Mountain (4,139). I took the trip solo on my 95 VFR. The day was beautiful, with threats of rain all around, but I managed to escape the rain. The trip on the bike was a couple hundred miles from Cumberland, but I didn't mind the drive because the back roads that I chose were splendid full of many twists. I approached from the KY side all the way up the very winding road from base to top.

The approach is mostly a drive up, turning right onto a private drive that is one lane paved road leading back to a FAA long range radar facility. I drove up the path, passed the radar, and spotted the stone trail up to the summit. I was very excited after all the trip to finally make it here. I was pressed for time to make it back to Ohio before dark, so didn't have much time. I didn't even take off my one piece motorcycle suit as I walked the .2 miles to the top.

I noticed an abandoned look out tower that had to be climbed, although it was difficult because it had to be scaled to get to the first level of stairs. I crawled up and held on for dear life. A storm was coming and it was very windy. I took a few pictures from the top and quickly came back down the rickety tower. Once on ground again I made a phone call or two to friends back home to tell about my adventure.







 

Sunday, July 30, 2000

Ironman USA Lake Placid (New York)

July 30, 2000
Marathon 12, State #7 (Age 32)
Lake Placid, New York
11:56:24 (Marathon 4:27:07)
3rd Full Ironman Triathlon

Race Swim Bike MPH Run Pace State Country Date Time
Ironman USA 1:10:17 6:08:46 18.22 4:27:07 10:14 New York USA 7/30/2000 11:56:24