Category Archives: Everest 3.0

Team WHOOSH at the Easter Seals Drop Zone 2011

Posted on August 14, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I had the great pleasure of participating in the Easter Seals Drop Zone 2011 fundraising campaign with friends, Sheilagh O’Leary and Danielle Irvine (a.k.a. Xena and the Casting Fairy). When I first signed on, I decided to see how many … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mountains to Sea

Posted on July 31, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I remember being fascinated as a kid when I learned that all water went to the sea. That the rain that fell in our lake emptied into a creek then joined with a river which eventually flowed to the ocean…amazing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Canoe, Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mont Blanc Hallelujah

Posted on July 17, 2011 by TA Loeffler

(Click the video to play while reading the blog entry)  I’ve heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don’t really care for music, do you? It goes like this The fourth, … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

The Other Side of the Mountain

Posted on July 13, 2011 by TA Loeffler

There was a change in the weather. With things drying on the deck after the big day out on the glacier, I felt an almost imperceptible cooling that signaled, “Its about to rain.” I dashed out to the deck, grabbed … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mont Blanc Day Three

Posted on July 12, 2011 by TA Loeffler

We spent the night at the Orny Hut in Switzerland with the plan to climb back over to France. After a restless night in a room with 23 other climbers, we got up pre-dawn to get a good start on … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Photography | Leave a comment

Mont Blanc Day One

Posted on July 11, 2011 by TA Loeffler

As someone who lives at sea level, my goal for day one was to get my body as high as I could to remind it of the upcoming need for acclimatizing. The wondrous thing about the Chamonix valley is there … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Making A Mountain out of a Molehill: A “Climb” of Denmark’s Highest Peak

Posted on July 9, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Mountaineering is never far removed from controversies of style, ethics, and access. Denmark’s Mollehoj is no exception. It was only crowned Denmark’s highest “natural” point in 2005 when re-measurement and disqualification of ancient burial mounds gave it, the five centimeters … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Slack Line, Beginner’s Mind

Posted on July 4, 2011 by TA Loeffler

After 22 out 24 days of rain in St. John’s, the sun finally graced our presence for the Canada Day long weekend.  After a month of waiting, we could finally try out our new slack line.  Slack lining involves learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Testing 1,2,3…Packing 1,2,3

Posted on July 2, 2011 by TA Loeffler
Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged | 4 Comments

Going Down the River

Posted on June 24, 2011 by TA Loeffler

We spent much of the previous week running down some of Ontario’s rivers near the Madawaska Kanu Centre. Whitewater is so humbling in that it has such force that you need to work with it, rather than against it, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canoe, Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Of Crows, Cats and Cows

Posted on June 9, 2011 by TA Loeffler

It’s funny when life “turns a phrase” on you. Riding a big yellow school bus the other day up the shore, Natelle turned to me and said, “So what was with the baby cow?” “Cow?” I replied. “Yes,” she said, … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life | Tagged , | 2 Comments

3rd Kilimanjaro Summit Anniversary

Posted on June 7, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Three years ago today, I stood atop Kilimanjaro with an amazing group of women! Fond memories abound. Happy Anniversary to the WOKies (Women of Kilimanjaro)

Posted in Everest 3.0, Kilimanjaro | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Of Maps, Penguins, and Toques

Posted on May 29, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I love maps. I love to look at them and dream of being there. Recently, a map of Antarctica I ordered arrived, and already, the corners of the folds are starting to tear because I open and close the map … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

#13 Be grateful to everyone

Posted on May 21, 2011 by TA Loeffler

It’s been a tough yet joyous week.  The joy has come in celebrating the achievements of four friends; all of who have worked and trained tirelessly to reach their own personal Everests.  One qualified for the world championships in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Alan Arnette Summits Everest for his Mother: Memories are Everything

Posted on May 20, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Congratulations to Alan Arnette who topped out on Mount Everest around 05:00 Nepal time Saturday May 21.  Alan, you’ve made your mother very proud and honoured her memory with your achievement today. I tracked Alan via SPOT all afternoon but … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Alan’s Summit Bid

Posted on May 20, 2011 by TA Loeffler

A friend and fellow climber, Alan Arnette is on his Everest summit bid as I type.  I’m thrilled that he managed to beat a persistent chest infection to even be able to make the attempt.  His motivation and passion for … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ripples in the Pond

Posted on May 15, 2011 by TA Loeffler

When you drop a pebble in a pond, it makes ripples that travel out to the shore and then they refract back until they lose energy and dissipate (or at least that is how I imagine it). When we lead … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Turning Left: Iceland on the Ring Road

Posted on April 30, 2011 by TA Loeffler

We chose counterclockwise.  Opposite of how the commentary was laid out in the Lonely Planet guide, we elected to drive the ring road of Iceland the other way.  After our climb of Hvannadalshnúkur, as we headed out Route One toward … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life, Video | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Hammered on Hvannadalshnuku

Posted on April 23, 2011 by TA Loeffler

So much to describe and share and so little time to find the words. Days are passing here like the wind, very rapidly and measured in meters per second, both the speed of the wind and our experiences on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Life | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Day One from the Land of Ice

Posted on April 19, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I think my senses must be heightened by the process of being squeezed six across into a long aluminum cigar that is pressured to 8000 feet that rapidly teleports me to a new place. I leave the airport and embrace … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Sport as Spiritual Friend

Posted on April 17, 2011 by TA Loeffler

My last three days have been filled with three things: Buddhist retreat, hockey playoffs and packing for Iceland. One wrapped up yesterday, one will wrap up today and one must be wrapped up by 4:20 tomorrow afternoon. This morning as … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Epically Wonderful Day on Signal Hill

Posted on April 10, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Yesterday was the sort of gorgeous spring day with the sun streaming out hourly invitations to throw off the parka, throw open the doors, and throw ourselves outside. And we accepted. Graciously. For about seven and half hours on “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mount Vinson or Bust (and Bust)

Posted on April 2, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Every spring since 2005, I’ve scrutinized all of the major climbing outfitters websites looking at their Mount Vinson offerings. And every spring, summer, and fall since then as well, I’ve decided that Mount Vinson’s mountain of a price tag was … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Be A Super Hero in the Drop Zone

Posted on April 2, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Easter Seals of Newfoundland and Labrador is doing an exciting fund-raiser this summer called “Drop Zone.” They approached me, as your local neighbourhood adventurer and climber, to see if I could recruit some participants for the event. As an adventurous … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Season for Both Peaks and Valleys

Posted on March 26, 2011 by TA Loeffler

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Snow Day: Skiing Downtown St. John’s

Posted on March 25, 2011 by TA Loeffler

My latest helmet cam adventure…Skiing Downtown St. John’s on a snow day! The conditions were quite good except for where the snow plows had been!

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Week that Was

Posted on March 20, 2011 by TA Loeffler

I’ve been speaking to a number of Grade Four classes of late about being an explorer and the challenges that explorers face. I find myself wishing, despite the developmental impossibility, that we could all remain ten. Grade Fours are my … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What’s TA Climbing Next? Hvannadalshnúkur, Yding-skovhoj, and Mont Blanc

Posted on March 12, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Congrats to Trien…She’s taken my set of wild clues and solved the puzzle. I’m climbing to three (no, actually four) country high points in the next few months. In April, Marian and I will be climbing Hvannadalshnúkur (the highest peak … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Vinson | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 9

Posted on March 11, 2011 by TA Loeffler

So put what’s going on in this picture together with yesterday’s clue and I’m hoping it will lead you to the first high point…what’s on the go in this pic? Put on those thinking caps, put google to the test…bing … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 6 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 8

Posted on March 10, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Another clue for the first climb…glad folks have started to work together because this is being harder to crack than I imagined it would be…on the plus side, we’re breaking records for site visitations left, right, and centre. I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 7

Posted on March 9, 2011 by TA Loeffler

OK…thinking that I need to get a bit more concrete with the clues…here’s a chance to put two and two together to come up with peak number two…or at least a significant clue towards peak/high point number two…guess away!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 17 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 6

Posted on March 8, 2011 by TA Loeffler

OK Peeps…One’s been guessed…I’ll let the cat out of the proverbial bag and say that there are three peaks that were, at first, in fairly close temporal proximity but are now slightly spread out time wise but not necessarily geography … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 6 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 5

Posted on March 7, 2011 by TA Loeffler

OK…so maybe it’s been a bit too tough…clues a bit obscure, details a little short…here’s a recap of the clues thus far…you’re looking for high points…and I’ve circled the part of the photograph that was the clue…see if this gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 8 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 4

Posted on March 6, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Alright…here is the fourth clue…can you put all the pieces together? The clues are coming from my own photo library so you may have to think outside the box to get it all to fit. Get your google fingers going … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Running Towards the Biting Phone

Posted on March 6, 2011 by TA Loeffler

The Tibetan Plateau muted my senses. Its colour palette draws most strongly from the autumn family of ochres, tans, beiges, browns, but there are also the most intense sky and water blues imaginable. Other than blue, there were no bright … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddhism, Everest 3.0, Tibet Bike, Vinson | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s TA Climbing Next II? Clue 3

Posted on March 5, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Here’s clue three…remember since the clues are coming from my own photo library you have to think creatively and put many pieces together! Get your problem-solving thinking caps on. Post your guesses in the comments section below…the person who guesses … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 2 Comments

What’s TA climbing Next II…Clue 2

Posted on March 5, 2011 by TA Loeffler

Here’s clue two…remember since the clues are coming from my own photo library you have to think broadly and laterally! Get your creative thinking caps on. Post your guesses in the comments section below…the person who guesses the correct mountain(s) … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next II?

Posted on March 4, 2011 by TA Loeffler

What’s TA climbing Next? That’s the question on many people’s minds (and has been on mine for months). We had such fun guessing the last time, I thought I would offer up the game again this time. The clues may … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Everest 3.0

Posted on February 27, 2011 by TA Loeffler

One of the first questions I’m asked when people find out that I wasn’t able to summit Everest is, “Will you try again?” I wonder if they ask people who make it to the top the same question. Typically not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Everest 3.0, Life, Vinson | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments