Sterling Ropes Partnership

The Hound Summit Team proudly announces a partnership with Sterling Ropes! Please check out their top quality gear at www.sterlingrope.com 

More Lewis-McChord soldiers seek mental help

More Lewis-McChord soldiers seek mental help

Trainig Update

June 22 - Mt Washington Training Climb. Meet at WTB parking lot on Pendleton at 0800.  (Have at least a camleback of water, munchies food, 1 x extra socks, dry shirt, jacket, ball cap.

July 1 - JBLM hill drills. Meet at Solo point at 0700 (if this time needs to flex, let us know) be dressed ready to run up hills. Have water and maybe a change of clothes if you want.

July 6 - Weighted Pack walk. Meet at WTB 1500 hrs. (3pm) Have a pack with at least 30-35 lbs. to include at least a camel back of water, light hiking clothes, good socks, and trail type shoes/hiking boot, munchies, and dry clothes to change. After the training session we will have a meal (TBD) and talk about the upcoming climbs of Baker and Rainier.

HST Training on the McClellan Butte

The HST had an awesome training session on McClellan Butte in the Snoqualmie area. We expected a good conditioning hike to or near the summit block, but the day turned into a great alpine training day when we reached the snow level at 3200 feet. We decided to jump on this opportunity and move up along one of the coloirs on the north side. We were able to go over crampon and movement techniques on the way up the 50 to 60 degree chutes, and we traversed the summit block with an entertaining but exposed scramble to lunch. On the way down we went over some belaying and rappelling in the sketchy spots, but once we got cold and bored, we plunged down to the car for sandwiches and beer in North Bend.

Mike Pickerel and Fred Prince Scrambling on McClellan Butte

The HST Welcomes Specialist Fred Prince to the Wounded Warrior Mount Rainier Climb

Specialist Fred Prince, currently assigned to the JBLM WTB, first served in Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division 3-25 Cacti. He has been deployed to Iraq, and earned his Combat Infantryman's Badge in operations in the Eastern Desert south of Tikrit. He served for three years before re-enlisting for change of station to Ft Lewis. Three weeks later he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a highly aggressive blood cancer. It was diagnosed just in time as another few more days would have likely resulted in him not being here to write this. Fred Prince remains committed to continuing service in his chosen MOS, that of 11B, Infantryman. If possible, this experience has strengthened his determination and dedication to do what is necessary to close with and destroy the enemies of freedom who would bring terror to our shores. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast with a great love for the mountains and forests of the western United States. He comes from a background of working for 13 years, before joining the Army, in every aspect of the construction industry.

Mount Si Training Report

HST First Training Walk

HST conducted our first training walk for the August Rainier Summit, going up Mt Si, in North Bend WA.  A good starting point.  We learned that keeping a moderate pace is a good thing.  Some want to go fast, others enjoy the walk, still some bring all but the kitchen sink, and some grandmothers still prefer cotton over synthetic materials. Something was learned and enjoyed by everyone involved.  I was thoroughly impressed with the ability of a bird to eat PBJ sandwiches right out of one hikers hands, have no milk, and still chirp out a song.   Thanks to all who came and look forward to the next.

-Mike Pickerel

Summit for Someone Climb with Big City Mountaineers on Mount Shasta

The HST had an an amazing weekend with our Summit for Someone Shasta Team and the Shasta Mountain Guides. We met up with the guides and the rest of our team at the Fifth Season in Shasta on Friday morning. After a layout and an initial briefing, we headed up to the base to start the climb. From the base, we moved to Hidden Valley at 9000 feet, where we established our camp and then went through some mountaineering training with the other climbers. On the way to camp, we stopped at the Horse Camp at 8000 feet, where we refilled our water in the springs from under Mount Shasta, possibly some of the "best water in the world." Once school was over, we put on our warm "snivel" gear and were treated to an awesome dinner of gas stove cooked mac n cheese and veggies and sausage. Over dinner we were entertained by classic jokes and the legend of the Lemurians living inside mount Shasta. We finished off the evening with a nightcap of hot chocolate, and then we made our final preparations for the climb before crawling into our bags. During the short nap before the climb, TJ struggled to sleep during my snoring and I fought off his attempt to steal the whole tent. We woke at 0200, struggled into our gear in the cold, then enjoyed some hot oatmeal before moving out for the top at 0300. We quickly established a good pace and a smooth rhythm up the mountain with solid coaching from the guides. We slowly progressed through the dark and the cold, breaking for a strict 10 minutes for food and water every hour or so. As the sun began to rise on the opposite side of the mountain, we were treated to spectacular views of the surrounding Cascades. Everything was shaping up to be an epic day on the mountain. Around 0800, clouds and light snow began to roll in, but we continued to push with one eye on the weather. At around 0830, just below the top of the West Face at 12000 feet, we were quickly overtaken by high winds, snow, and whiteout conditions. The guides decided to wait out the weather to see if the un-forcasted storm would pass, but as time went on, conditions continued to worsen as the storm dropped lower and lower down the mountain. Around 0850 the guides made the right decision to head back down to camp as it was unsafe to climb any higher in those conditions. While we could have tried to wait out the storm at the top of the west face, there was no guarantee the weather would clear in time to descend safely. So, with heavy hearts, we began to down climb the mountain. After a few hours of post-holing in sugar snow and cursing at the weird weather, we reached camp. I quickly had some target practice in the rocks, then we fell into our tents for a nap. With wet snow and more cold forecasted, we decided to head back to town instead of holding out over night at hidden valley. Once back in town, we turned in our team gear, got into some clean clothes, and tried to cover our stink with some Old Spice spray. We headed over to The Goat with Polly, Orion, and Mike for an after action review over cold beer and amazing burgers.

First and foremost, the HST would like to thank all of our friends and family who contributed to SFS climb through donations to Big City Mountaineers. You are the reason this climb was possible. Together we raised 7200 dollars, which will result in upwards of 600 teens benefitting from their program.

Thanks to Darin Fearday and Summit for Someone for setting up the climb. We look forward to working with you guys in the future.

We'd also like to thank our fellow climbers for good company and a great climb. Finally, I'd like to offer a special thanks to Polly, Brian, and Joe from Shasta Mountain Guides. Not only were you guys knowledgeable and professional, you were awesome company as well.  It's no easy task to train and lead a group of strangers of varying degrees of experience up a mountain, and you guys did it exceptionally well. Thanks for making the smart decision on the mountain.

 TJ and I are already planning on bringing our ladies here next year for a long weekend in the town and another climb on the mountain with the rest of the HST.

 The SFS Shasta 1 Team

 (Left to Right) Darin Fearday of BCM, TJ Laynor, and Joshua Brandon over dinner.

Josh and TJ at the Hidden Valley Camp with Mount Shasta in the back ground

 Josh and TJ just under the top of the West Face enjoying the surprise weather

Calendar

The HST training calendar is up! Details for the individual training sessions will be put out on the blog.

https://www.houndsummitteam.org/Climbs.html

HST Mount Si Training Climb

The HST will train on Mount Si on Saturday, June 11th. We will meet at the JBLM WTB (outside the physical therapy office) at 0800. Climbers can ride in the WTB van or drive themselves. Travel time is a little over an hour, and we will be back Saturday afternoon.

Packing list: hiking boots or hiking shoes, camel back or Nalgene bottles (2-3 QTs), sunglasses, day pack or small backpack, change of socks, lunch, and power snack food (gels, trail mix, etc... that you can eat on the move), a jacket, wind-breaker, or shell (water resistant), and sunscreen. Trekking poles, gps, sit-pad, are optional. If you want to challenge yourself with a higher load, clear it through Mike Pickerel (Lead CLimber) and Lou McGranaghan (Team Physical Therapist).

Trail information: http://www.mountsi.com/

We are finishing up the HST training plan this week and will have the dates out to you this week.

We've reached our goal of 7200 dollars for the SFS Shasta climb!

Thank you to all who donated to the climb. You can follow us on the climb on Facebook from 10-12 June. Check back for the trip report.

31 May WTB Brief

We will be meeting with prospective climbers at the JBLM WTB physical therapy office at 900 AM, on Tuesday, May 31st. Please contact us to set up a meeting if you can't make it.

Remember our Fallen Brothers on Memorial Day

Hound Summit Team's Fallen brothers in Arms

SSG Morgan Kennon, LTC Paul Finken, SGT Eric Hernadez, SFC Dae Han Park, SGT Israel "Izzy" O'bryan, CPL Chris "Boo Boo" Yauch, SGT Corey Dan, SFC Chris Brevard, CPL Alexander Jordan

8 May Article in the Fort Lewis Ranger

Ranger Article

26 April Seattle Times Article

http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014883453_ptsdclimbing27m.html