Tag Archives: Seven Summits

Out of the Bardo: Elbrus Update #1

Greetings from Moscow, The bardo, in Tibetan, is the place between death and birth; a transition zone between the last existence and the next.  For me, in this life, the airplane is the nearest experience to the bardo I can … Continue reading

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Off to Elbrus

Happy Saturday Night, “It’s Saturday night and I don’t got nobody…I got some money because I just got paid, oh how I want someone to talk to…”  Writing a bit early this week because I’m home alone, laid up with … Continue reading

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This Little Light of Mine

Happy Solstice, As we were eating breakfast yesterday, we heard a siren.  And then another.  And another.  One more.  Hearing this much action on Duckworth drew me to the window and I saw four police cars round the corner.  Behind … Continue reading

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Wear Blue and Climb Birthday Bash on Signal Hill

Greetings from the Ides of June, OK…perhaps dancing on Saturday night wasn’t the smartest move given how sore my leg is today. But it is such a rare event that I feel comfortable enough in a setting to dance that … Continue reading

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Step by Step

Greetings to All, Thanks to all who jumped aboard my Facebook Group!  (http://bit.ly/TAEverest2010) For those that don’t do Facebook, have no worries, I’ll continue to send out weekly updates via email as well!  I backpacked to the summit of the … Continue reading

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Filling my Boots

Good Morning, I’m up early on a Sunday morning and thought I’d start the day by writing my weekly update. The biggest news of the week is that I sent off the deposit to join the 2010 Peak Freaks Everest … Continue reading

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Happy 2-4!

Just one month to my birthday…I do like celebrating it twelve times instead of just once. Thanks for all your kind support of Elbrus: Climbing for my Dad. It means a lot to me and I know it will touch … Continue reading

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The Hemoglobin is Definitely Gone

Greetings on the Cusp of December, When I thought about writing you last week, I would have entitled the update, “The hemoglobin is gone.” Since I didn’t get it together last week, as I skated on the ice this week, … Continue reading

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Home from Pumori et Al

Hello from St. John’s, I arrived back from my whirlwind tour of North America on Wednesday morning and I’m pleased to say I am already unpacked from the expedition. It usually takes me a week or so to finally get … Continue reading

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Back in Canada

Namaste, The last few days have been a whirlwind of flights and airports. On the 28th, I had breakfast in Lukla, lunch in Kathmandu and supper aboard a plane for Hong Kong. I had to make a very quick decision … Continue reading

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Clarity

Hi This is TA calling in from Pumori base camp, all tucked snuggly in my sleeping bag, its chilly here tonight as it has been. I’m calling a little bit later because I wanted to have the full update to … Continue reading

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From Pumori Base Camp

Hi This is TA calling in from Mount Pumori base camp 5284 metres. I’m sitting here in my tent, in my ultimate layer otherwise known as my sleeping bag because the sun has gone behind the clouds and when that … Continue reading

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Last Update from Kathmandu

Howdy to All, I’m battered. In a good way. Perhaps battered and fried. In the best tradition of St. John’s fish and chips. All of my senses have been filled to overflowing with the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of … Continue reading

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Greetings from the Nirvana Garden

I’m sitting in the shade being quite delighted at the magic of wireless. A gentle breeze carries the caw of nearby crows, the toots of horns, and the crinkle of bike bells to my ear. The garden is adorned with … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna Conclusion

Happy Midsummer’s Night’s Eve, I know it’s been awhile since I wrote. It always seemed that Sunday evening snuck up on me and I was out of gas to write. The past few weeks have been filled with dental surgery, … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna: The Stories are in the Telling

Jambo to All and Happy Birthday to my Niece Rayne, A story saves a life a little at a time by making us see and hear and taste our lives and dreams more deeply. A story does not rescue life … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #21

Happy One Month to my Birthday, ☺ The team completed its last training hike today with a front side, back side, back side, front side on Signal Hill. Since the weather was gorgeous and we started a little later than … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #20

Happy May 2-4 Weekend!, It’s a funny holiday in Canada. Celebrating Queen Victoria’s Birthday, May 24th, the holiday is set as the closest Monday to May 24th without going over. So this year, even though May 24 actually falls on … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #19

Happy Mother’s Day, Seven days later, the weather on Signal Hill was not nearly as hospitable. We traded warm sunshine for fog, drizzle, freezing rain, and ice pellets. The wind scoured the hills as if trying to scratch an itch … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #18

Good Monday Morning, I’m late. It doesn’t happen often as my dad taught me that punctuality was right up there with godliness. I’m so on time that a friend once said, “TA, if you are a minute late, I think … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #17

Good Evening, I know I’m dedicated to weekly updates when I sit down to write one at 10:47 pm when every cell in my body is screaming out, “I want to go to bed.” But since there was already one … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #16

Happy 111th Day of the Year, Life seems to vacillate between mountaintops and valleys. Though frequently I think, we wish it would stick only to the peaks. My week had both summits and canyons, often in close proximity to each … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #15

Hello April Showers, The snow is beating a hasty retreat with all the rain and warm temperatures. As people are thinking of warmth and gardens and summer, I dream of cold, high places. Hmm–I may have to do something about … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #14

Greetings from a Gorgeous Sunday Afternoon, We’ve been treated to a most delightful weekend of weather this weekend. The warm sunshine is breathing energy and light into my winter weary cells. The Newfoundland WOKies (Women of Kilimanjaro) had a fabulous … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #13

Happy Festival of Hygieia (Greek Goddess of Health), Just in from an inspired run on a delightful Sunday morning. Soft flakes of gently falling snow rubbed shoulders with the flowing angular light of post equinox inviting me to fall under … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #12

Happy Easter and Spring to All, It was a whirlwind week that alternated between flurries of activity and hours of sitting “doing nothing.” I spent as much of the week as I could, in a meditation retreat learning to work … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #11

Happy Break in the Storm to Everyone, One year ago, I was very nervous. I was leaving the next day to fly to Nepal to fulfill a lifelong dream of climbing Mount Everest. My heart went out to all the … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #10

Happy Ides of March to All, Hopefully we all fare better than Caesar as we approach this year’s ides. I’m tired tonight so this will likely be short update unless I catch a sixth or seventh wind. Another training phase … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #8

Happy Leap Year to All, I had a great training week with lots of energy and focus–that was a treat. I traded off my cement legs for the week and enjoyed a sense of greater strength throughout my entire body. … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #7

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to All, There is magic in a moon shadow. That there can be enough light in the dark to cast a shadow sometimes defies logic and inspires a sense of “the special.” Five of us braved … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #6

Heartfelt Greetings to All, My thoughts are buzzing around in my head and quickly plugging the outlet as they compete to come out through my fingers. I’m listening to Con Te Partirò (Time to Say Good-Bye). It was one of … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #5

Howdy from St. John’s, I sit to write once again with a heavy and saddened heart. My friend and colleague, Frank Butler, passed away suddenly this week. He was well loved by so many of his students and colleagues. He … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #4

Greetings from a Frosty Sunday Evening, I’m sunk into my chair. I guess you are getting the idea that I always write from my chair. Something about the act of plunking myself down into my IKEA haven signals my mind … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #3

Greetings from a Snowy Evening in St. John’s, I am once again in my chair–no ice this time–trying to find words to describe my week. It was the second full week of a more intense training schedule, so by Friday, … Continue reading

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Kili Karuna #2

Hello to All, I’m just back from my long run and am sitting on my favorite chair icing my leg trying to keep ahead of my irritable IT band. I spent much of my run ruminating over the past week … Continue reading

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Happy New Year and Kili Karuna #1

Happy New Year and Happy Old Christmas Eve, Here in Newfoundland, and I’m sure many other places, this is the twelfth day of Christmas. A time for one last Christmas party, taking the tree and decorations down, and begin to … Continue reading

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Everest-007 January 2007

Another Rich and Full Week 1/27/2007 Another busy week has unfolded on the Road to Everest. I received a gift from my niece in the mail. Rayne is four and a budding artist. She painted me a picture of Mount … Continue reading

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Everest-007 December 2006

Last Day of the Year 12/31/2006 Hello to All, I’m back in Mendoza after several long days of hiking off the mountain. Thanks so much to all for your kind thoughts and prayers and well wishes. I’m sure they helped … Continue reading

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Everest-007 November 2006

Greetings from Early Morning, 11/26/2006 Last evening was a rare event. I was in bed at 8:50 pm. I was so tired I said, “Stick a fork in me, I’m done.” It must have been braving the pre-Christmas insanity at … Continue reading

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Everest-007 August 2006

Test Number Two-Check! 8/31/2006 Hello All, Today was another great day in Russia. We hiked up to the Khasktash Glacier to do some crampon training. We had more weight on our backs as we carried up our big plastic boots, … Continue reading

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