Self Created Podium.

The return to NY

Notice the difference, sitting without helmet stuffing our faces.

100 miles, 2 flats, 8 bottles of water, 10 gels, 1 pack of shot blocks, 3 oranges, 2 bananas, and one bug later.

Saturdays Century Ride

This is Mark and I on the Upper West Side of Manhattan before our 100 mile attack of hilly NJ. Notice the smiles.

Mountain biking

Marc and I after 4 hours of mountain biking in wet but beautiful location. Gambrill State Park in Maryland.

Completing 59 summits

My good friend Scott Parazynski, has completed climbing 59 mountains in Colorado, that are all over 14,000 feet, they are very cleverly named 14teeners.  While Scott and I met on Everest in 2008, I had only been on the mountains in other countries because I wanted the travel experience, I figured I could climb the 14teeners when I get older.

I would have to say that I had no idea how much fun I was missing.  In the 5 days I spent in Colorado, 3 of them I spent with good friends climbing 14teeners.  It took Scott 21 years to complete this dream of his.  I admire the fact that he is the type of guy who does what he says, no matter what, or how long it takes.  It was totally fun to climb and meet his friends, Don, Gene, Keith, Cindy, my other Everest pals, Nikki and Jaroslaw brought back some great memories.  All the other people I met on the mountain resonated that wonderfully joyful tone of happy hearts and tired feet.

Now I have another possible goal.  Since I have been on the summit of two of the mountains, I have that taste to knock of a few more.

Thanks Scott, as if I do not have enough things I want to do before I die.

Check out Scott's Blog CLICK HERE

Nikki Created this Album that I posted on my Photo site

Climb High, Don't Die
Bob

Summit of Castle

Nikki and I on the summit of castle.

Summit of mount Massive

Scot and me on the summit. 14,411, beautiful day out

4:55 start

We are off to the trailhead for Mount Massive. We want to start walking at 6:30 so we can miss the typical storms and get to Aspen early.

Bob
www.boblowrys.blogspot.com

Louis getting started

Joe navigating the outcrop

Mark and I were in the podium

Well we did it, took 5th in our team age group, 6 minutes behing 4th
place. Maybe if I did not have those 3 hard falls we might have caught
them. The next one will be better with a little practice.

It was a great event, looking for the next one.

Holy Cow

We are in fifth place, had no idea. This is the first time I have rode
a mountain bike in 15 years. Mark has not ridden in about 5. Feeling
good about what we have done so far.

No matter what the outcome this has been a great day.

There are a few rough spots where you have to dismount. There is also
a huge puddle up high that has turned into a lake. When I ride through
it now, half of my crank is under water.

Chillin again while Mark is hammering.

Bob
www.boblowrys.blogspot.com

Chillin after my lap

The race started

Cranky Monkey

2 laps down. Mark and I did both first laps in one hour, it was a bit
rough. I am waiting at our staging area because is out there doing
another lap. There are some great views, hills, mud, rocks. If I was
ever wondering why they call this rocky gap, now I know.

The people are all really cool and fun, tunes are jammin, grills are
grilling, pedals are hammering.

It's the Cranky Monkey, 9 solid hours of biking. Mark and I are a team
so he rides one, I ride one, etc until the 9 hours are up.

Living the good life, team Climb High, Don't Die.

Bob
www.boblowrys.blogspot.com

The next Adventure

Not international at the moment, going to ride the 9 hour Cranky Monkey Bike Race with my buddy Mark on May 12th.  We will see how many times we can go around the 9 mile course within 9 hours, relay style.  Look for some cool crashes and two beat up guys in May

The final saga

I spoke to Todd, President of Alpine Ascents and he offered me a trip
at cost. He said he spoke to Lapka and thought it sounded like I had a
chance to go up.

Bummed that I missed my chance, but glad they worked something out for
me.

Talk to you soon, next Mountain might be Russia, Elbrus. Before that a
bike ride or two.

Bob
www.boblowrys.blogspot.com

This is a good view of Camp 4 at 20,000 feet

Back in DC

Thank you Mike for taking the time to update the blog, I got home later last night so all I have been doing is getting back into civilization.  Spent time working on a slow drain for my tenant, doing laundry, going through mail, paying bills and looking at an empty fridge.

I did just complete the trip evaluation form for the outfitter, I am having Mike look at it before I send it so I am certain I captured the facts well.

I have updated some photos, you can click on my photo's link over on the side and find a few photo's, as the team gets theirs together I will update my photo page some more.

Many have asked about my emotions during the missed opportunity.  I can always say that I enjoyed the mountain that I was climbing and most importantly the life long friendships I have developed.  Many of the people on the trip are people I would want to keep in touch with, like many I talk to even today.  There will be another adventure and another time, because there just always will be.  Hopefully you will follow again and it grows so that all of us have an adventure to share.

Talk to you again soon, when I get more settled, maybe by this weekend, I am sure my work emails are all backed up.

Hope you are having a wonderful start to the new year, I wish all of you the best, and I will update you later with Alpine Ascents response to my comments.

Climb High, Don't Die tm
Bob

Camp one

This was 15,000 feet amoung the pentatentas, I was running out of
battery power on cell phone, pictures will be from my other camera.

Base camp

This was my home for 2 days at 13,000 feet

Base camp water supply

There were about 6 - 50 feet hoses that ran over to a glacier run off
to these blue tubs. Each tub drains into the next and each has a
purpose. One to wash, one to drink one to cook.

The trail head

These are our first steps